Xerox Has Its Sights Set on Growing Specialty Photo Applications at Photo Marketing Association Show
Press release from the issuing company
LAS VEGAS-- Xerox Corporation is reinforcing its commitment to the fast-growing specialty photo market at the 2007 Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show. The company scored a pair of awards and is showcasing technology and initiatives that demonstrate the strength and reach of its digital photo specialty and photo book offerings. This is Xerox’s first major showing at PMA, the world’s largest annual photo imaging trade show.
“Xerox is serious about being a key player in this growing and profitable photo specialty market,” said Quincy Allen, president, Xerox Production Systems Group. “We’ve come to PMA with superior digital technology and the solutions and partnerships to help customers capture a wide variety of revenue-generating photo applications from retail storefronts to centralized production labs.”
According to InfoTrends, the North American market for photo books, greeting cards, calendars, posters and various novelty items will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 24.5 percent through 2010, reaching $800 million in revenues.
Xerox made a fast first impression at PMA with its print-image-quality victory in the Digital Imaging Marketing Association’s 12th Annual Digital Printer Shoot-Out, announced today. DIMA is the premier trade association devoted to expanding the global digital imaging market, and traditionally holds its annual conference immediately prior to the PMA Show.
The Xerox DocuColor 250 Digital Color Printer won in the digital press category. In the shoot-out, competitors were given a target file and a color-accurate target print and asked to produce the best possible print within five working days. A panel of expert judges evaluated entries on image-quality characteristics including shadow detail, flesh tones and other criteria. The print from the Xerox DocuColor 250 was selected as the winner of the shoot-out, with quality surpassing higher-volume competitive digital presses priced two to three times higher than Xerox.
Xerox’s flagship iGen3 110 Digital Production Press was also recognized by DIMA with an Innovative Digital Product Award for its innovative technology. Since the iGen3 press was launched in 2002, print providers have produced jobs including photo memory books, greeting cards, personalized direct marketing campaigns, brochures, posters, personalized calendars and short-run books. The 110 page-per-minute press is helping customers worldwide generate more business and profit and is the winner of a GATF (Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) InterTech Technology Award.
In addition, the iGen3 press was cited for its image quality software, where even flawed original photos can be automatically corrected and enhanced. The software maximizes color consistency, making it easier to know when to reset the press for optimum performance, and more effectively rendering photos.
MyPhotoFun Web Application
Xerox announced that in conjunction with MyPhotoFun, it is offering print providers in the U.S. a Web-based application designed for the iGen3 press to create personalized photo books, calendars and bound collections of digital photos. The new software, available through Xerox, allows printers to get started in the photo business, and consumers to easily create and lay out their digital photos using templates.
MyPhotoFun was launched by a Dutch-based digital printer and is now an independent company. It has seen success in Europe where an average of 1,500 people download its software every day. MyPhotoFun company revenue grew 250 percent in 2006 and predicts substantial growth in 2007.
Binding to Create Case-Bound Photo Books
Also at the show, Xerox announced an agreement with Powis, a leading manufacturer of desktop bind-on-demand technology, to provide an innovative binding and finishing device for Xerox digital production printers. The Powis Photobook Binding Workcell, on display in the Xerox booth, uses a special binding process for creating hardcover books with a choice of customizable covers to produce elegant photo books. Books are produced near the printing system with minimal setup and can be produced one at a time or in larger runs with suede, leather and other high-quality cover materials.
Availability
MyPhotoFun and Powis are Xerox Business Partners. Their hardware and software is tested and validated to work with Xerox equipment as part of a fully integrated system. Both are available by calling 800-ASK-XEROX.