PHILADELPHIA, May 16 -- The nexus taking place between high quality digital printing technology and consumer demand for personalized photo gift items is creating a burgeoning market for graphic communications providers. KODAK NEXPRESS digital color presses, color science and workflow software, combined with new marketing, sales and product development support, open exciting possibilities for offering a range of profitable products. “With the growth of digital photography, digital production color presses are finding a home in the photo industry. As photofinishers and graphic communications providers capitalize on new business opportunities, such as producing customized photo books and greeting cards, the quality and speed of digital presses make them well suited for this environment,” said Patti Williams, Consulting Partner, IT Strategies. Photo books to capture family milestones, greeting cards with personal photographs, and personalized calendars and planners are a few of the popular items that can be produced quickly and cost efficiently with KODAK NEXPRESS presses. “We are seeing dramatic growth for many of our customers because of the potential for photo-rich imaging applications made possible by digital printing. In addition to traditional print providers, photo service retailers now have the opportunity to tap into a growth market because of the quality, speed and flexibility that the KODAK NEXPRESS digital production color presses provide,” said Mike Howard, Vice President, Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak, during the AIIM ON DEMAND Conference and Exposition held in Philadelphia May 15-18. “There is a new level of one-to-one communications this technology makes possible that is in sync with how consumers view and want to share photographs of family, friends, special trips and memorable events.” The KODAK NEXPRESS technology helped Rocky Mountain Printing in Orem, Utah, launch an entirely new business. “After we acquired our first KODAK NEXPRESS 2100 press, we started thinking of different applications that could use digital presses in a new business. The idea of greeting cards came up and we literally could not sleep at night because we were coming up with so many new ideas,” Rocky Mountain Printing President Teague Bengtzen said. “The beauty of Card Café for consumers is they can schedule all of their greeting card needs ahead of time so they don’t forget important events. With the NEXPRESS technology, we can personalize the cards with signatures and business logos. We’ve even added the ability to add a gift card, chocolates or popcorn to the order.” By visiting www.cardcafe.com, consumers and businesses can select from hundreds of greeting card designs for holidays, birthdays, and special events and occasions. They can add personal messages and signatures to the cards, which Card Café then digitally prints on the NEXPRESS 2100 digital color press, inserts into a personalized envelope that carries the customer’s return address, and mails using an actual first class postage stamp. Customers can also choose to have their own photos or artwork used for the cover of the card, which then receives a protective high quality gloss coating. Kodak features the KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 digital production color press at AIIM ON DEMAND. The recently launched KODAK NEXPRESS 2500 press is designed for even greater productivity and reliability, leveraging Kodak’s award winning digital production color press technology, and building on the renowned Kodak strengths of quality, consistency, reliability and uptime. Printers and photofinishers can create additional revenue streams and attract new customers by configuring a KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solution to deliver spot color, watermarking and protective coating, and enable high-impact glossing. The KODAK NEXGLOSSER glossing unit enables additional printing opportunities for image-rich applications, including book covers, digital photo prints, coffee table books, greeting cards and brochures. It features KODAK NEXPRESS clear dry ink that delivers enhanced image quality and a laminate like gloss for higher marketing impact.