(Norwell, MA) February 10, 2004… New research conducted by CAP Ventures reveals that inkjet has become the top technology in the digital proofing arena. Wide format inkjet and narrow format inkjet printers are the leading proofing devices among companies, accounting for 57% and 50% of survey responses, respectively. Today's inkjet devices are popular because of their cost, functionality, and speed. CAP Ventures' new research report entitled Opportunities in the Digital Proofing Market examines digital proofing market and the growing penetration of large format inkjet printers for proofing applications. The report also discusses and determines market requirements for hardware and supplies. CAP Ventures conducted the research for this study in conjunction with Digital Output Magazine. 300 Digital Output subscribers completed electronic surveys. “One of the most important conclusions that can be derived from this research is that the digital proofing market is currently transitioning to digital printing technologies, and increasingly, large format digital printing technologies,” commented Tim Greene, an Associate Director at CAP Ventures. “This provides large format hardware and supplies vendors with an opportunity to participate in this niche.” Although these printing technologies are currently dominant in the proofing market, electronic or “soft proofing” is becoming increasingly popular. The chart below illustrates the number of proofs that are hard copy and those that are “soft proofs.” While the majority are hard copies, more than 30% of proofs are electronic. When asked about how their proofing methods would change over the next two years, survey respondents expected to be producing more electronic proofs for works in progress and contract proofs, clearly demonstrating the shift to electronic delivery. “The increasing popularity of electronic format represents the single greatest threat to vendors within the inkjet and laser printer markets. Increased adoption of electronic proofing is expected to further accelerate the decline in high-end proofing systems,” Mr. Greene concluded. CAP Ventures’ research report is available immediately to clients of the Visual Communications Technologies Consulting Service. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, please contact Stewart MacDonald at (781) 871-9000, ext. 175 or via e-mail at [email protected].