NEW YORK, NY -- October 24, 2002 -- TrendWatch Graphic Arts today released their 2002 Stock Photography Report, which indicates that despite the economic times, stock photography is enjoying increasing demand and use. According to the report, use of stock photography is up in every segment that TWGA tracks (ad agencies, graphic designers, Internet firms, book and magazine publishers, catalogers, printers and service bureaus), and that all types of stock photography and illustration use are on the rise. And while demand for stock photo is up, expectedly interest in traditional chromes and slides is down in favor of digital images. The report, titled "Stock Photography: A Hot Commodity in a Cool Market" is available for online purchase at the TWGA eStore in PDF format. For more information, please go to the TWGA website (www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com). Why the Demand... According to the report, the need for high-quality, accessible images has burgeoned. Assignment photography isn't practical or affordable for the vast number of jobs that could use color images, so publishers, designers, and other creative professionals have turned to stock photography, stock illustration, and clip art. This opportunity was not lost on stock agencies and commercial photographers, which have begun developing libraries specifically for this voracious market. The use of stock photography is migrating into many new and unexpected areas as well. With the explosion of home PCs and the growing sophistication of small and home businesses, even small business owners, students, and individuals are using stock photography. While this has not been a big focus for most stock agencies (since the revenues are far smaller than the professional market), it speaks to the product's pervasive influence and broad appeal. According to the Report... -- 89% of large graphic design shops (20+ employees) plan to purchase royalty-free imagery compared to 46% of smaller shops (less than 10 employees); -- 36% of printers and service bureaus say they purchased stock images online in 2001, up from 28% two years earlier; -- 33% of Internet ad agencies and PR firms plan to purchase traditional rights-managed images in the next 12 months; -- 26% of Internet firms plan to purchase royalty-free images in the next 12 months, rising to 60% of Internet ad agencies and PR firms; -- Plans to purchase traditional slides and chromes dropped from approximately 33% of creative professionals in 1997 to about 11% in 2002. Researcher's Quote... "The stock photo and illustration marketplace is not only growing, but evolving," adds Vince Naselli, Director, TrendWatch Graphic Arts. "The market has experienced a tremendous amount of churn, with rapid consolidation and the emergence of new players. Creating differentiation is becoming a more difficult task than many agencies would like to admit. So understanding who is purchasing images and why has never been more important than it is today." About the Report... This latest report from TWGA documents these major trends in the marketplace and provides the latest data on the usage of stock photography, stock illustration, and stock video among the four key segments that TWGA surveys: creative professionals, publishers, Internet firms, and graphic arts firms. It also tracks key stock usage trends through the TWGA historical database, allowing purchasers to see how these trends have emerged over time. And with 84 different charts, the report offers both analysis and visual evidence. Availability... The TrendWatch Graphic Arts Stock Photo report is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the report is $1595. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.