Product category:
Printing Pre-Press Systems and Materials (Repro, Platemakers, CTP, Workflow, Document Management, Design Software, etc.)
News Release from: Kodak Graphic Communications Group | Subject: Nexpress Photo Bundle
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 September 2006
Kodak's Digital Bundle Offers Photo
Profit Chance
Tremendous growth in digital photography presents exciting new revenue opportunities for digital print providers, according to Kodak's Graphic Communications Group.
Tremendous growth in digital photography presents exciting new revenue opportunities for digital print providers, according to Kodak's Graphic Communications Group The new Kodak Nexpress Photo Bundle is said to feature a set of components that helps photofinishers and graphic communications providers create valuable photo services products
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 1 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Adopt far reaching marketing to redefine printing
Kevin Joyce, who has been appointed as chief marketing officer at Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, believes that the printing industry needs to take a fresh look at how it markets itself.
Kodak's flexo printing system's technology award
Kodak's Flexcel NX digital flexographic system is one of 10 products to win a PIA/GATF Intertech Technology Award.
The Photo Bundle includes the software and hardware components needed to enhance a Kodak Nexpress system for digital photo applications.
The professional advisory services, also included, provide tailored assistance, training and workflow consultation, said the company.
With digital camera ownership growing at a high rate, consumers continuously seek new ways to use and display their digital images beyond standard 4" x6" photographic prints.
Further reading
Platesetter, Workflow Lead To Better Productivity
UK commercial printer, Printhaus, ordered a new Kodak Magnus 800 Quantum platesetter at Drupa 2008, together with a Kodak Prinergy workflow system, version 4.0.
University's Digital Print Strengthens Mailings
The University of Surrey is claimed to have become the first UK higher education establishment to benefit from Kodak Graphic Communications Group's (GCG) Nexpress 2100 digital colour press.
New Server Technology Serves High Volume Needs
The introduction of a new Creo Color Server system has been made by Print On Demand Solutions (PODS) Group, an independent unit of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group.
Popular applications include photo books, calendars and greeting cards, said Kodak.
According to the Photo Marketing Association (PMA), the value of the custom service market approaches US$1 billion and projections call for it to more than double in the next two years.
Photo books, one of the most popular products in the digital photo printing market, generated more than US$200 million of sales in 2005, according to PMA.
The 2006 PMA camera and camcorder digital imaging survey showed that 34 per cent of households that made custom products created photo books.
Personalised photographic calendars were the second most popular items at 28 per cent of households.
The Photo Bundle consists of a Start Up Assist program, a professional service for shortened time to market with photographic products, better operational knowledge for lower cost and improvements on up-time performance.
Hardware products in the bundle include an upgrade for the Kodak's Nexstation front end to improve throughput of large file sizes and one-off production typical of photographic services applications.
There are also new operator replaceable components that are claimed to enable access to longer peak performance and reduced maintenance.
Software includes premium ICC colour profiles designed for optimum photographic performance of output with one profile tuned for closest reproduction of professional photographic paper tonescale, colour balance, hue and saturation and a second profile tuned for tonescale simulation of photo output but with higher saturation in primaries, added Kodak .
The bundle also provides an add-on module to Kodak's Professional Digital Print Production software, that is claimed to allow for greater connectivity between professional laboratory workflows and a Nexpress press.
Kodak's Custom Colour Tools for tuning colour profiles are also featured, along with a new photo application creation, ordering and production tool that complements printer or laboratory workflows and extends it directly out to customers to create products and aggregate demand, added the company.
There is also a new screening algorithm for claimed improved colour consistency and highlight detail.
Dry inks with improved fade resistance round out the Photo Bundle.
Important to safeguarding the longevity of any printed colour product, the new inks help reduce the damaging effects of light over time, it is said.
The Nexpress 2500 digital colour press is the performance model from the Nexpress press range, for high-volume print production of up to 1.9 million pages per month, said Kodak.
Customers can upgrade presses as they grow their businesses with options to select desired paper capacity, increase processing capability, and add a fifth imaging unit for delivery of spot colour, watermarking and protective coating with the GATF Intertech award-winning Nexpress fifth imaging unit.
The fifth imaging unit is said to also enable high impact glossing in conjunction with the Kodak Nexglosser glossing unit.
Beyond image quality and personalisation capabilities, the Nexpress press is claimed to offer a number of other advantages for the photographic services market, including speed, which enables print service providers to deliver on the quick turn-around times that customers want when ordering custom photo applications.
Kodak added that the Nexpress press boosts productivity with features such as in-line booklet making and perfecting capabilities.
The booklet maker for Nexpress presses is available in-line, or off-line, for collating, stitching, folding, trimming, and creating standard or square-back booklets of up to 100 pages.
A variety of finishing options and qualified substrates allow for a range of product configurations and give photo books and other applications a published look and feel, said the company.
Kodak's products are backed by the company's service and support from its worldwide service organisation.
Named best support organisation at the 2006 International Business Awards, the service includes more than 3,000 professionals in 120 countries that are fully qualified to help customers control costs, maximise productivity, and minimise business risk, claimed the company.
Mike Howard, vice president of marketing at Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, commented: "Continued growth in custom photo applications amongst consumers and professional photographers makes this an ideal time for existing or new owners of digital production colour presses to expand their businesses with photo services.
Combining photo applications with digital printing's strengths in areas such as very short run printing, perfected output and sharp text and graphics creates a more valuable, personalised product.
The Photo Bundle facilitates rapid start up and improved return on investment.".
• Kodak Graphic Communications Group: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Printingtalk email newsletter
• Printingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
