InPrint Issue 5 2012

in print FROM THE MAKERS OF PIXEL MAGAZINE

RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL Volume 1 Issue 5

DKS Generation 4 Do More, Pay Less Up to 12”x36”, 30x90 cm

Photobook Builder Photobooks on silver halide paper, from your existing minilab PLUS: WHAT’S APP? CONNECTING TO CUSTOMERS ON THEIR MOBILES - CANON’S BIGGER PICTURE RESEARCH: YOUR THOUGHTS - WHAT TO DO WHEN “PRICELESS” PRINTS ARE InPrint 1 LOST - THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE. InprintIssue5.indd 1

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Retail Photo Gift Solutions Mitsubishi Electric’s latest photo retail solution Gift Kiosk has been designed to offer ID photos, instant print and personalised gifts quickly and easily.

Gift Kiosk enables customers to create and print personalised calendars, albums, gift & greetings cards, mosaic and collage prints and instant prints, using their own images stored on memory card, USB memory stick, CD / DVD or via their online Facebook and Picassa accounts.

Mitsubishi are currently offering Gift Kiosk bundle packages starting at £3899 which includes hardware, starter media, point of sale material as well as installation, training and warranty.* For more detail contact Mitsubishi 01707 278684 email printer.info@meuk.mee.com or visit our website! * Check availability

All of our systems include passport photo printing services and Mitsubishi’s integrated biometric ID software makes the process of making a passport or ID photograph, very simple and quick; instant prints are available in 6"x4", 5"x7" & 6"x8" formats in either a gloss or matt finish.

2Tel: InPrint 01707 278684 | Fax: 01707 278541 | vis.mitsubishielectric.co.uk | printer.info@meuk.mee.com

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contents issue five

05 - News

News and updates, facts and figures from the world of printing.

10 - What’s App?

How manufacturers are helping us reach customers on their mobiles.

14 - Case Study

in print

What can you do when a third party lets you down and loses irreplaceable film? We ask the experts.

FROM THE MAKERS OF PIXEL MAGAZINE

RETAIL SOLUTIONS FOR THE PRINT PROFESSIONAL Volume 1 Issue 5

24 - Launchpad

DKS Generation 4 Do More, Pay Less Up to 12”x36”, 30x90 cm

A concise showcase of the latest products and equipment for the printing business.

Photobook Builder

30 - PRINTED

Photobooks on silver halide paper, from your existing minilab

A conversation with sombody doing something a little different in our trade.

PLUS: WHAT’S APP? CONNECTING TO CUSTOMERS ON THEIR MOBILES - CANON’S BIGGER PICTURE RESEARCH: YOUR THOUGHTS - WHAT TO DO WHEN “PRICELESS” PRINTS ARE InPrint 1 LOST - THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE. InprintIssue5.indd 1

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CREDITS & CONTACTS Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 411601 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Subscriptions: Alex Weeks 01323 437941 alex@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Sales Director: Simon Skinner 01323 433700 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Accounts: Clare Fermor Amelia Wellings 01323 433708 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editor: Laura Knight 01323 437946 laura@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production Design/ Editorial Assistant: Harriet Weston 01323 411601 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Published by: LMG SE LTD Park View House 19 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3YD 01323 411601 www.lifemediagroup.co.uk

Printed by: Ambassador Litho Limited Bristol BS16 3HH 0117 965 5252 www.ambassador.co.uk All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in InPrint Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of InPrint Magazine assume no reponsibilty for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisment contained within InPrint Magazine. All prices featured in InPrint Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

Copyright Life Media Group LTD 2012 ©

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4 InPrint

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07/11/12 12:31 21/11/2012 17:10

news Iconic Photos of Manchester United Players by Walter Iooss and Epson

0

Epson has teamed up with Manchester United and renowned photographer Walter Iooss to capture spectacular high-resolution images of the team’s star footballers.

The latest challenge for Iooss, who is known globally for his iconic shots of stars such as Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods and for five decades of work with Sports Illustrated magazine, was to take studio still shots of some of the biggest names in world football. The results were remarkable, as Iooss used a Hasselblad H4D 60 and Hasselblad lenses to sublimely capture the intensity, determination, and raw power of players including Wayne Rooney (England), Shinji

Kagawa (Japan), David De Gea (Spain) and Javier Hernandez (Mexico).

“With our rich heritage in photo printing we were very excited by this opportunity to collaborate with Walter Iooss, one of the world’s greatest photographers,” said Ian Cameron, general manager responsible for global communications at Epson. “And as the Official Office Equipment Partner of Manchester United we saw synergies among parties who are truly at the top of their game. Our state-of-theart photo printers more than do justice to these fantastic works of art, which I am sure will excite and inspire our customers worldwide.”

Beginning this autumn the

Wayne Rooney

images will be rolled out to Epson Group companies worldwide for use in print samples and other promotional materials.

Real Chooses Kodak to Offer Onsite Photo Service Products to Customers

r y.

Real has chosen Kodak for its onsite printing service in all self-service stores across Germany. The partnership with Kodak will give REAL customers the convenience and ease to create high quality photo products in minutes.

The multi-year agreement will see KODAK Picture Kiosks installed nationwide in 316

REAL stores across Germany.

“We are delighted that REAL has decided to move responsibility for its onsite printing to Kodak,” said Darren Johnson, Regional Director and Vice President EAMER Retail Printing and Film Products at Kodak, “We are proud to be a leading company offering exceptional customer service

and a unique consumer experience. This collaboration is an excellent opportunity for both Kodak and REAL to continue growing the retail printing market, inspiring our customers with a diverse range of high quality, personalised photo products.” www.kodak.co.uk

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news

Royal Academy Appoints First Epson Digital Print Media Tutors The Royal Academy Schools, the only Barton supervise all the work in this area, guiding independent three year postgraduate art school students through the possibilities of a project, in the world, has appointed Guler Ates and instructing on related software, facilitating projects Barton Hargreaves as its and teaching how to first Epson Digital Print use the equipment.

Media Tutors.

Students are encouraged The Royal Academy to take responsibility Schools has had a long for the creation of and fruitful collaborative their own digital prints, relationship with Epson banners, photos and including sponsorship of light box imagery as digital media with the RA well as supplying postSchools, and for the last production film positives, 12 years, the luxury of its Left to right - Guler Ates and Barton Hargreaves, Epson which supports the other Digital Print Media Tutors at the Royal Academy own purpose-built Epson traditional printmaking Digital Media Suite. mediums such as etching The Epson Digital Media Suite is equipped and screen printing. with Epson’s full range of Stylus Pro large Before becoming Epson Tutors, Guler and format inkjet printers, Epson inks and media.

Barton both worked as Digital Fellows within As Epson Digital Print Media Tutors, Guler and the Academy.

Veritek Presented with Queen’s Award Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for East Sussex, Mr Peter Field, presented the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Veritek’s Managing Director, Jim Edgar, welcomed the Lord Lieutenant to the official presentation ceremony at the company’s HQ in Hampden Park, Eastbourne. Civic guests included MP Stephen Lloyd and Robert Cottrill, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Chief Executive.Mr Edgar escorted the Lord Lieutenant and guests on a tour of the offices before assembling in the conference room along with members of staff, to accept the cut glass rose bowl in recognition of the company’s overwhelming success.

Jim Edgar, Managing Director, said, “The Queen’s Award is amongst the most prestigious business awards that the UK offers. I am delighted that Veritek has been identified

as a worthy recipient and I acknowledge the tremendous efforts of all of the people within the company who have made this possible.”The technical service and support company was given the prestigious award for its pioneering business acumen in the European market place. It is here, as well as in the UK, that Veritek’s team of highly skilled engineers maintain complex estates of technical equipment in multiple sectors, such as diagnostic imaging, digital cinema, graphics and photo imaging. It operates in the areas of healthcare, commercial enterprises and retail outlets.

In May last year Veritek achieved 12th place in the Sunday Times 2011 International Track 100.

The list ranks the 100 British private companies with the fastest growing international sales over the last two years. www.veritekglobal.com

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www.pixel.co.uk Your brand new trade portal is now LIVE!

• All of the latest news, back issues of the magazine, Pixel TV and the ever controversial Pixel Forum are all now live.

• Come and take a look, let us know what you think and get involved. Every element of the new site is connected so it’s never been easier to share the news via social media.

• All usernames remain unchanged, members will need to reset their password so it couldn’t be easier to log on and communicate with YOUR industry.

Further developments are in the pipeline...

The Pixel Imaging Guide trade directory - a comprehensive directory, including every manufacturer, supplier, event and publisher across the imaging industry.

InPrint - Back issues of the UK’s leading retail print title, all at the touch of a button.

www.pixel.co.uk - Your Industry - Your Website 8 InPrint

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news

Canon Customers See the Bigger Picture at Canon UK Forums Following the publication of Canon’s latest Insight Report, The Bigger Picture: Your customers’ view of the value of print, Canon hosted a series of forums focused on the research.

The forums gave Canon customers the opportunity to discuss how it can help them to grow their businesses.

Michael Moradian of Print Express in London says: “The forum gave me access to insight that, as a small company, I otherwise wouldn’t have access to. The Bigger Picture gives a better idea of what our customers are looking for and what the broad trends in the market are. I think that this sort of activity makes the whole industry stronger.”

The Bigger Picture was commissioned by Canon with the aim of helping Print Service Providers to understand what print buyers want, equipping them better to meet their customers’ needs and grow their businesses.

Moradian continues: “Print is tactile and it can also give more information in a compact form. It’s still easier to read than scrolling across a screen. That’s what I felt the research really came up with: we’re an important part of the communications mix with a definite role to play. We need to find ways to integrate with other channels because other

channels are enablers not competitors.”

Barry Cool, Director of Propeller, says “the research reaffirmed what we believe. When we took over the business five years ago, we believed that the future would be about what you can create, not just what you can produce. We’re certainly seeing evidence that this is true, and the report backs that up. It shows that people still very much value everything printed. The people who’re ‘winning’ with their clients are the ones who offer the right solutions for the project at hand, even if that means printing less for some projects.”

Cool explains: “We work really hard to understand our clients, understand their business and understand what they’re looking for. The research shows that there is a lack of awareness among many print buyers about the range of possibilities offered by digital print. By developing relationships with your clients that make you a trusted advisor instead of a supplier, you’re building relationships that will sustain your business.”

According to Andy Harris, European & UK Graphic Arts Customer Marketing, Professional Print Solutions, Canon: “We had a positive response to the research from our customers at drupa and this was echoed in the feedback we’ve been receiving from customers after these forums.

Canon is not only highlighting the need for PSPs to build more consultative relationships with their customers, we’re working with them to help them do this through initiatives such as the Essential Business Builder Program and business mentoring. We look forward to seeing growing numbers of PSPs using the insights to improve communication with their customers and grow their businesses.”

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The Contenders Everybody knows the best way to connect with consumers today is on their mobile device, be it smartphone or tablet, so who’s doing what and how in the world of apps?

Now that phones running (iOS) and Android commonly have 8MP cameras with autofocus and flash, billions of photos are now being taken and stored on phones. The improved functionality together with the popularity of creative photo Apps such as Instagram and Hipstamatic mean that smartphones are fuelling a new boom in photography across a wide demographic and particularly among the younger age groups.

But are printing companies doing enough to ride this wave?

A quick search for the top printing apps uncovers all sorts of free and paid applications for printing documents, photos, more or less any content on your device via your home printer.

There’s very little in the way of apps for printing from any sort of professional print shop (except online) and very little presence in the ‘top ten’s compiled by tech blogs from any of the brands traditionally associated with photography.

However, all that is about to change.

Firstly, Kodak has launched the Kiosk Connect App, which provides a quick and easy way to wirelessly transfer photos from an iPhone or Android Smartphone to a Kodak Picture Kiosk, allowing users to make prints, cards, calendars, collages, photobooks and more using the photos on your phone.

“The Kodak Kiosk Connect App was developed to meet the huge and growing demand for consumers wanting quick and hassle free way to print photos from their smartphones”

Designed to eliminate the hassles that have put people off printing from their mobile phones (remember how long Bluetooth took?) the app allows the user to pre-select the images they want to print and transfer them securely via WiFi, rather than transferring all their photos to the kiosk and then selecting which ones to use.

In order for the App to work the kiosk needs to be Kiosk Connect WiFi enabled – we’re told most Kodak Express stores are already enabled.

“The Kodak Kiosk Connect App was developed to meet the huge and growing demand for consumers wanting quick and hassle free way to print photos from their smartphones,” said Kodak, when we asked. “With more and more consumers using their smartphones as their primary camera and billions of photos already

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focus

stored on phones, retailers can at last offer their customers a quick and easy way to make prints and photo products using smartphone photos. A great smartphone service is important not only in addressing the needs of current customers but it also provides a relevant offer for younger age groups and provides an opportunity for impulse driven promotional offers as customers always have their phones to hand.”

You can try it out for yourself using this QR code DNP have developed an interesting app-based product which they previewed at photokina this year… Mobile Party Print. Mobile Party Print is not just an app but an entire system which works on a familiar principle: encouraging partygoers to capture more pictures and encouraging them to print them out. It was once common place for wedding guests to find disposable cameras on their tables for taking pictures of the festivities and the happy couple, which would then be developed and distributed. More recently, it’s been more common for guests to be given a CD or USB stick and a stamped addressed envelope to share their pictures with the bride and groom, or to be given an address for a Flickr album to upload their pictures to.

Based on this idea, DNP’s Mobile Party print is an app which connects to one of DNP’s fast dye sublimation printers, allowing partygoers to

“Mobile Party Print is not just an app but an entire system which works on a familiar principle: encouraging partygoers to capture more pictures and encouraging them to print them out”

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take pictures “live” and print them in seconds on site. They can also send pictures taken previously and stored on their mobile device to the printer via the app, depending on settings made by the party host.

“DNP are experts at on-site printing, so this was an area in which we felt we could make the most of mobile technology,” explained DNP. “We see this system as a good business opportunity for professional photographers and anyone involved with events, who can simply bring the small and portable printer with them and set it up ready for guests to collect their prints from. People want to use their smartphones to capture these images because they want to be able to share them online and keep them for themselves as well as printing a copy for the bride and groom, or any other party environment. It’s a very fun, interactive thing that guests will enjoy doing, so lots of

images will be put on paper rather than staying stored on phones. Depending on the print model chosen, it could run for four to seven hundred prints before needing new ink, so it’s easy to keep running at an event.”

Where manufacturers haven’t yet floated their own printing apps on the market, retailers are quickly stepping up to reach out to their customers.

Nigel Trigwell of Pixel Award-winning Fotobox in Seaford spoke to us recently about the Fotobox iPhone Photo Printing App, which allows users photos as they want, from any album on their iPhone or iPod Touch, then choose any standard print size, from 6x4’s up to large 16x12 prints in a variety of styles and finishes, in any quantity, and choose to have them delivered or pick them up from Fotobox.

With nearly 4 billion feature/smartphone

“With nearly 4 billion feature/smartphone subscribers in the world today and upwards of 40 million tablet users (growing every day), it’s not surprising the photo printing market has started developing ways to tap into this custom”

subscribers in the world today and upwards of 40 million tablet users (growing every day), it’s not surprising the photo printing market has started developing ways to tap into this custom.

And there is money to be spent – the explosion of social gaming on smartphone and tablet last year showed that people really are willing to spend money from their mobile device, especially in small, manageable amounts… such as the amount it costs to print a handful of photos.

We hear of apps in the works from Mistsubishi, which visitors might have seen the first incarnations of at the Retail Imaging Show, and there are doubtless more that will surface in the coming months. Catching the late market for personalised cards and calendars for Christmas will be a key way for retailers to make the most of the use of such technologies, as will the surge of

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focus festive party photos over Christmas and into the New Year.

Fujifilm appear to have channelled their technological efforts into approaching printing customers from the other angle… from inside the kiosks themselves. In helping to pioneer the technology which allows consumers to grab their images from social networks, where they will likely have already ‘shared’ the favourite pictures that they’d pick out to print, Fujifilm give kiosk users access to all of their pictures without having to have their camera, or even their phone, with them at the time. Unfortunately, Fujifilm weren’t available to comment on this or whether we will see an app to this effect in the near future.

We hopes so, but in the meantime FDIS stores can continue to reap the business of printing all manner of photo products taken on mobile phones or otherwise through their machines’ effective and easy to use social network connectivity.

Are you creating an app? We want to know what and how! Send us an email via laura@ lifemediagroup.co.uk And for the traditionalist…

Kodak has also released the “KODAK PROFESSIONAL Film App,” Available free from the iTunes Store.

“This app brings together the answers to some of the most asked questions we receive about our films – ‘Where can I buy it?’ ‘How should I shoot it?’ ‘Who can develop it?’” said Dennis Olbrich, General Manager, Film, Paper &

Output Systems and Vice President, Consumer Business, Eastman Kodak Company. “We wanted to give photographers of all levels a resource, literally right at their fingertips, that helps them find film and recommendations about how to maximise each film’s performance. In addition, this app also provides information where customers can find film development services, so that no matter where photographers are, they can find a lab that uses KODAK Chemicals and Paper to bring their photography to life.”

For more information on KODAK PROFESSIONAL Products, visit www.kodak. com/go/professional or www.facebook.com/ kodakprofessional.

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Over Troubled Waters What happens when priceless cargo gets lost at sea? We ask the experts who’s liable when the worst happens.

It’s a fundamental business practice: you promise the customer what they want, and you deliver what you promise. But what happens when a trusted supplier lets you down, and you find yourself unable to fulfil your basic obligations?

In the printing industry, some of the intellectual property dealt with is irreplaceable. When it comes to analogue photography in particular, there can be no back ups and the developer is placed in a position of immense responsibility.

Sometimes there’s no option but to involve a third party, who then inherit a share of that responsibility, but ultimately, where does the buck stop?

One Inprint reader suffered just such a nightmare situation.

“We are a specialist central London optical retailer with a 41-year history with a variety of niche markets including 8mm film, processing & telecine, telescopes & binoculars, projection screens, and 3D equipment. The Film department still accounts for up to a third of our business.

Super 8 (and standard 8) is a specialist market these days but every week we generally get handed 100+ reels for processing. Customers are a mixture of students, professionals seeking a

“After daily, consistent contact and

much pressure from ourselves and two full three-day international searches (including physical searches), TNT have now declared the package as lost” particular effect, ‘old school’ filmmakers, families with handed down equipment - and professional film, TV and production companies. There is no processing in the UK, so every week for the last 10+ years we have sent a box of these films to Berlin for processing – not by the cheapest delivery option, either - and every week, the lab send a box of these 100+ films back to us by courier. There has been a good working relationship between us, the lab, and TNT (our couriers) for many years now and apart from the occasional delay, nothing like this has ever happened. Until now. Packages are always sent priority express, not the cheapest option.

On Thursday 13th September, TNT collected a 3.6kg box of processed film (92 reels) from the

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Special Report

lab in Berlin and took it back to the local depot, as they always do. From this point onwards, nobody is sure. The package did arrive but never got assigned its allocated barcode, which was never scanned in. When the package failed to arrive with us in London, queries were raised both by us and the processing lab. After daily, consistent contact and much pressure from ourselves and two full threeday international searches (including physical searches), TNT have now declared the package as lost and suggested we ďŹ ll in a claim form. They have written to us on October 16th to this effect

and state in the letter that they acknowledge that they lost the consignment, and are sending us their log of events which shows the contacts made and the times, types and results of the searches.

This token value claim may partially offset the cost of the ďŹ lm stock & processing, but many

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C

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Special Report of our customers, some of them professionals, have lost irreplaceable footage. Several customers have quoted so far incurring costs of £3-7,000 to shoot rolls of film costing (with processing) about £30 each. We can replace the goods themselves, no problem. It is the liability for the other claimed losses which is the issue.

Our terms and conditions clearly state that we are not liable for third party losses, but people may still claim against us if they have not read these or claim they were never told that they apply. The tickets we also hand out in store for film left for processing also refers people to our terms & conditions.

The advice we’ve received from the FSB and our insurance company is confusing, inconsistent and somewhat worrying.

The best solution would be for the package to turn up - which it may at some point do - but we have to presume it won’t. Should it reappear, people with wedding videos will of course be delighted. But those shooting for professional reasons will have missed deadlines and the footage will be of no value to them now & they will still have lost out. These people would not be placated beyond a certain stage by reappearance of their films.

Having read this letter and spoken to a number of insurance underwriters for second opinions, the results were far from conclusive and I’m afraid I will not be able to give any concrete legal advice because of this. Here is my very general guidance, and I would advise the Widescreen Centre and anybody in a similar position to consult their own insurance company and solicitors.

Firstly, the Widescreen Centre’s terms and conditions are clear and in bold writing in relation to not accepting liability for this type of loss, so that would be the first line of defence. Good, thorough terms and conditions are essential

? and without these, you can quickly find yourself without a leg to stand on. As the Widescreen Centre wisely point out, you also need to make sure customers are aware of your terms and conditions, or they can challenge that they did not know them.

If a customer persists beyond this, for example because they have suffered a significant loss - financial or emotional - then they may be inclined to challenge these T&Cs. The here is that the T&Cs attempt to pass over responsibility for the negligent acts of parties employed by The Widescreen Centre in the performance

“Good, thorough terms and conditions are essential and without these, you can quickly find yourself without a leg to stand on”

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of the contract. It’s possible that this could be challenged as an unfair contract clause.

The Widescreen Centre have not done anything wrong directly, but their agents have.

TNT as the couriers I believe are acting on behalf of and employed by The Widescreen Centre. In the eyes of the law and the consumer they might be viewed as one and the same party with The Widescreen Centre bearing primary responsibility (in the absence of the Terms and Conditions that are upheld as reasonable and valid).

The Widescreen Centre have accepted films to be developed and in doing so have accepted a contractual duty to perform the agreed services.

They have been unable to fulfil that contractual agreement because of the negligence of their

What a difficult situation! One for the solicitors, of course. From a customer service point of view, assuming that the T & Cs stand, I would suggest a number of measures if they haven’t already done so.

They should write a very carefully worded letter to all the customers explaining the lengths they have gone to get to the bottom of the situation and expressing heartfelt apologies, whilst making it clear that the third party has admitted fault.

Getting the solicitor to double check the wording of such a letter would probably be a good idea.

I’d offer replacement films and a free processing vouchers for the future – even if the films turn up. Anything that could help to soothe the customers’ understandable frustration with

“I think the key is to be honest and open about the whole matter – whilst being clear that it is TNT that is liable for the problem.

Openness goes a long way as does the personal touch” own agents, TNT the Couriers and as such are technically in breach of that agreement.

In the end it is for lawyers and courts to decide on legal liability and if proven, reasonable damages. In the meantime the retailer may have to go to significant legal expense and inconvenience defending their position, which does seem unfair as another party has admitted fault.

In terms of insurance protection against these costs and any damages awarded I would be checking to see if I had any Legal Expenses insurance with cover for ‘Contract Disputes’ and Professional Indemnity insurance with cover for liability arising from a ‘Loss of Documents’. The documents themselves are nominal in value. It is the consequential cost of losing or damaging them that is significant, not the material loss.

In any case. I hope their consignment turns up soon. Not an enviable situation!

Peter Stevenson, In Focus Insurance.

this situation should be offered.

Put the direct phone number of the MD in the letter with the offer for them to call and discuss the situation, but again make it clear that the responsibility lies with, and has been accepted by, the third party. Get the MD to sign the letters personally.

Essentially, I think the key is to be honest and open about the whole matter – whilst being clear that it is TNT that is liable for the problem.

Openness goes a long way as does the personal touch, which will encourage customers to see that The Widescreen Centre are also people who have been inconvenienced by this lapse, and hopefully will help patch the relationship whilst a solution is reached.

Alastair Campbell, The Ideal Marketing Company

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Special Report It’s a tricky one. It’s so important in a crisis to be seen to be taking charge, but in this case that might seem like accepting blame which isn’t rightfully due. Still, if you leave a vacuum someone else will fill it for you, and The Widescreen Centre don’t want their valuable customers looking elsewhere because the situation has been handled badly.

In this sort of situation I would advise clients to hold their hands up and admit that they have made a mistake, even if that is only in trusting a third party with their customers’ films, offer some sort of reparation or good will gesture along with a short statement about what they are going to do in the future to stop this happening again. A letter from TNT would also be a good touch – it’s all very well them saying they accept responsibility for having lost the parcel, but if the Widescreen Centre’s customers are still levelling complaints at the store, I’d keep it short and snappy, and in this case, as it doesn’t affect all their customers write a letter to those who have been personally affected. You can’t beat the personal touch.

Chloe Goddard, Pr consultant for SpeakTo, a consultancy that specialises in high street marketing.

“We hope to soon provide a full update and have a resolution for this situation,” explains Simon of The Widescreen Centre. “There are new developments all the time, most recently we have managed with the help of one of our professional clients’ customers to have the case reopened by TNT, so there is hope for progress there.

“We are continuing to offer goodwill gestures to our customers, even though the situation is not our fault. I understand their position, it’s very frustrating... I would be furious if somebody had lost my wedding footage! It’s most distressing so we are doing what we can to soothe the situation, whilst leaving the liability with the couriers. We hope that there will be a satisfactory conclusion to this matter very soon.”

“In this sort of situation I would advise clients to hold their hands up and admit that they have made a mistake, even if that is only in trusting a third party with their customers’ films” THE WIDESCREEN CENTRE 47, Dorset Street, LONDON, W1U 7ND Phone: 020 7935 2580 Fax 020 7486 1272 www.widescreen-centre.co.uk VAT. GB 232 9754 49

To: Gary Barber, Brighton Film School TNT Lost Film Package

November 6th 2012

Dear Gary, We have now received an official letter from TNT stating that all lines of enquiry are now exhausted and they have officially declared the package as lost. We regret to inform you that TNT has therefore closed their investigation.

We have made every effort to keep the search active and intense. We have put continued pressure on TNT at a Senior Management level to follow through and to find our package.

Three extensive investigations have been completed. These investigations include extensive warehouse searches, review of delivery rounds to identify potential excess deliveries to other locations and a complete check of TNT Unidentified Goods Department that records and stores any freight that TNT are unable to identify and deliver. TNT Germany has interviewed both loading staff and the designated delivery driver on more than one occasion. Unfortunately all these investigations had negative results.

In the 15 years that The Widescreen Centre and our processing partner have been working together nothing like this has ever happened. We have at all times used a premium dispatch system to ensure reliable delivery.

In terms of this incident TNT considers that the terms of the Warsaw Convention apply to the lost package.

Our customers are important to us therefore we have decided to replace the lost film stock as a good will gesture and we have negotiated with our processing partner free development for the replacement stock. Please contact us to arrange for your replacement stock and development.

We would like to offer our sincere regret for the stress and inconvenience caused by TNT losing your films. This is an isolated incident and is extremely unlikely to happen again.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Bennett Managing Director

UPDATE The day Inprint went to press, we received notice that The Widescreen Centre had heard from TNT that the package was declared lost and they had closed their investigations. The Widescreen Centre were kind enough to include this copy of the letter they sent out to the 28 affected customers, and noted that so far a few have come in to collect their replacement films.

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Your Essential Guide to the Latest Launches MAGIC TOUCH ANNOUNCE WOW 7.5 TRANSFER PAPER TheMagicTouch have announced the arrival of a significant milestone in the image transfer process. “This month will see the introduction of our new WoW 7.5 transfer paper allowing full colour imaging onto almost any fabric or textile without the need for cutting, weeding or indeed the mask process which is currently required with the WoW 7.2.”

This innovation is a result of the latest print technology in association with OKI Corporation and the launch of a new white toner based A4 printer (rrp £1995.00). The product is supported in the UK with full OKI warranty and incorporates bespoke “SpaceControl” utility software for imaging management.

The potential for the new printer when using CPM and CL Media opens some really massive product markets. This new opportunity in 2012 will be exclusive to existing TMT customers.

KENRO ANNOUNCES NEW FRAMES AT AUTUMN FAIR In addition to the recently-announced Leaf Design, the Harmony Elegant Crystal Series, the Harmony Elegant Lace Series, the Mellow Series Wedding and Baby frames, the Rio Series, and Eden Modern Series Frames. Kenro displayed further new models at Autumn Fair, including the Solitaire Classic Series Mirror Frames, Solitaire Style Series Mirror Frames, Floating Glass Frames, Mellow Series Mother Of Pearl Frames, Kenro Envoy Series Frames, a New Multi Aperture Symphony Modern Frame, and new A0 size Frisco Series Poster Frame.

To help visitors with their choices, Kenro also unveiled a Trade Fair leaflet providing useful information on all new products in the Kenro line.

HP OFFERS NEW SOLUTIONS FOR PHOTOFINISHERS AND RETAILERS HP has announced new solutions for professional portrait and consumer photo prints using HP Indigo Digital Press technology as a replacement for traditional silver halide (AgX).

The new HP Indigo photo prints solution brings HP’s high-quality liquid electrophotographic printing technology to the professional portrait and 10 x 15-centimetre (4 x 6-inch) consumer prints markets with the same quality as silver-halide.

For high-volume production, the HP Indigo photo prints solution is available with the HP Indigo WS6000p Digital Press, which is already used by leading photofinishers to produce highquality prints.

For low- to mid-volume printing, the solution is also available with HP’s sheet-fed digital presses, including the new HP Indigo 5600 and 7600 Digital Presses. It can be configured with an optional GMP PROTOPIC PLUS-540 laminator for professional portrait quality with luster effect or glossy finish for consumer prints and a cutting and stacking solution from Rollem.

The HP Indigo photo prints solutions support

a range of HP Indigo-certified photo media, including photo paper from leading vendors, including Mohawk, Mitsubishi and Felix Schoeller.

Fovea, a market-leading school lab company, adopted the HP Indigo WS6000p Digital Press as a replacement for its silver halide printers to combat rising costs of photo paper and improve its reputation as an environmentally responsible company. The company also wanted to expand its capacity and reduce turnaround time from photo shoot to shipment of printed photos. Fovea’s paramount concern was that the new solution had to match or exceed silver halide quality.

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launchpad DSALES LAUNCHES DEVELOP MONO PRODUCTION SYSTEM DSales Ltd, the UK distributor for the Develop range, has launched a new flagship mono production print system aimed at the commercial print and high volume in-plant sectors. The ineo 1250 provides high-speed, reliable mono output with outstanding image quality for both fine line text and half-tones. This makes the ineo 1250 ideal for commercial print-on-demand applications, offering significant cost saving benefits over conventional cut sheet litho output in terms of plate making, pre-press set up and post-print cleaning.

This highly versatile system can generate 7,500 A4 impressions per hour on substrates up to 350gsm card and SRA3 in size. This meets the print industry’s preferred bleed size for media of SRA3 (320 by 450mm) allowing full size A3 documents with trim marks and A4 booklets to be trimmed to size. Print resolution is outstanding at 1,200 by 1,200 dpi using Develop’s patented polymerised toner with smaller, smoother, uniform toner particles for more even distribution, significantly better fine line definition, and better solid fills.

The ineo 1250 is designed for average monthly volumes of between 400,000 and 750,000 printouts and will top the 3 million mark during peak times. Maximum paper capacity is 18,000 sheets so the ineo 1250 can run high volume jobs without the need for frequent operator intervention.

For online finishing the ineo 1250 offers a comprehensive range of modular options

with more a multitude of possible system configurations. Combinations of folding, punching, booklet making, perfect binding and staple finishing are all supported. Also available is a smart punch unit for GBC style binding that includes the availability of numerous customer replaceable die sets for plastic comb, velo bind, wire bind and so on. Large capacity trolley stacking units are available for off-line finishing.

As the ineo 1250 staples and punches at the full rated speed of 7,500 A4 impressions an hour there is no loss of speed for producing finished documents as against sheet production.

Importantly for the public sector and corporate customers seeking to ensure minimal environmental impact, the ineo 1250 conforms to the guidelines of the International Energy Star Program for reduced energy consumption and improved efficiency.

INTEGRATED PLUG-IN FOR ONLINE PRINT SALES Metro Imaging has devised a plug-in API to give photographers and artists the chance to sell their images via their own website without the hassle of printing and shipping the prints themselves.

It’s free to set-up and use, and Metro can even help with problems; a small administration fee will simply be charged.

The online gallery can be customised to any design and will appear as a page on the site, allowing artists total control over what is uploaded

to sell and at what price. Once the customer has chosen the image, size, type of print and mount or frame, the order will automatically appear as a job at Metro and receive the same care all Metro Imaging work receives. Metro Imaging will process the payment, print, mount or frame, pack up and dispatch the prints.

For further details of the API visit: http://www.metroimaging.co.uk/exhibitionsand-interiors/web-print-fulfillment

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launchpad

QUANTUM LEAP FOR THE IMAGE TRANSFER PROCESS TheMagicTouch has introduced the OKI C711WT Colour-Plus White LED Printer with white toner added to the CMY colour process. This innovation delivers great opacity and therefore a very high ‘White’ factor for non-fabric hard surface applications such as folders, mugs, binders, leather and PU surface products as well as most garments and textiles.

“We will deliver the printer with an added value beyond the factory standard” says Jim Nicol, Managing Director of TheMagicTouch in the UK. “Using our unique print utility software “SpaceControl” with the C711WT enables the user to print ‘white-only’ with the click of a button. The SpaceControl software will allow total control over the white toner.”

The new white toner also extends a new lease of life to existing transfer papers allowing the decoration of any colour materials, products and substrates. Now CPM papers can decorate dark colour mugs, diaries, leather, PU products, phone and gadget covers, binders and various types of folders with ‘white’ as the extra colour included in the design. New ‘white’ also extends to the tattoo paper for skin and nail decoration as well as the CL media stock for the production of stickers and decals with opaque full colour definition for the photo gift industry. www.themagictouch.co.uk

DNP CHRISTMAS PROMOTIONS With so many of your customers thinking about personal presents for their loved ones., make sure you can offer them Christmas cards and calendars for the New Year featuring their own photos. DNP is offering seasonal promotions through participating distribution partners so UK retailers can afford to buy Christmas presents too!

DNP Photo Imaging Europe and participating distribution partners are wishing retailers and event photographers happy holidays. During the Christmas season, their photo systems become especially affordable. Partners will promote special-price packages of the DS40, DS-RX1, DS-SL20 SnapLab™ and DS-ID400 ID system.

Trading in to an existing system? If you have a similar print system already, DNP offers you an additional item free of charge for selected products. For standard format printers, when purchasing the DS40, you receive an additional two boxes of media free of charge to the bundle.

When purchasing a DS-RX1, in addition to the bundle, you will receive one box of media or 1,400 prints 4x6 inch media. If you trade in your old compact kiosk to a DS-SL20, you will receive two boxes - an equivalent to 2,800 prints 4x6 inch free of charge!

How about an ID systems that pays for itself?

DNP offers the DS-ID400 all-in-one ID photo system with 600 sheets included, enabling you to make more profit than what the bundle costs you.

All these offers are available for a limited time only.

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Profit from smartphone snaps NEW Wi-Fi Direct upgrade kit.

A quick and easy way to print photos from smartphones

Taopix Portfolio

The Magic Touch new reflective products

“

“

The new service we will be able to offer smartphone users will be fantastic, they will be able to access the images they need to print much more quickly. They will then be able to do more with the great photos they have trapped on their smartphones.

There is nothing more frustrating than watching a consumer stand in front of a kiosk with a cable connected trying to access the camera roll folder on an iPhone... with the right connectivity and an easy to use app, sales will definitely increase.

Ken Stait | Stait Photography - Morpeth

Trevor Brown | Colorgrafix - Louth

”

”

To upgrade your Kodak kiosks simply load version 6 software and attach the Wi-Fi Direct dongle.

Your customers can quickly select the photos they want to print using the FREE Kodak smartphone app and then send them to the kiosk.

Wi-Fi upgrade kit from £65, Dongle only from £35*, available September 2012. To order upgrade kits for your Kodak kiosks contact Tetenal service on 0116 281 5741 or email: serviceuk@tetenal.com

Retail Systems Solutions

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InPrint 23 *Customers with a Tetenal Service Support contract Wi-Fi Dongle is £30.36 21/11/2012 17:12

www.pmai.org

ICanHasCheezburger? RPI to Print Internet Memes Today, “people crave a connection with tactile objects to accompany their virtual experiences,” says privatelabel photo printer RPI. And personalised products fill that craving, extending the content experience into the physical world.

Now, to meet growing consumer demand in the online greeting card, pet humanisation and mass customisation categories, RPI partnered with leading humour website Cheezburger to offer personalised “ICanHasCheezburger” cards.

More than 20,000 photos and videos are uploaded to Cheezburger’s properties every day, the company says.

Seattle, Wash-based RPI (Reischling Press, Inc.) produces personalised photo books, greeting cards and stationery products for mass

and specialty retailers. Through its embedded storefront service, RPI says it can offer Cheezburger and other brands a new way to monetise the social photography experience.

The two companies are working with The Madison Park Group, a manufacturer

and distributor in the specialty stationery and gift industry.

The companies say the partnership “demonstrates how companies can further their existing brands, drive additional revenue and increase customer loyalty through personalised products.”

Kodak Reports Bondholder Deal Kodak says it’s secured $793 million — financing “predicated on certain conditions and Kodak’s achievement of certain milestones, including the successful completion of the sale of Kodak’s digital imaging patent portfolio for no less than $500 million, which the company is confident it will

achieve.” The financing comes from Centerbridge Partners, L.P., GSO Capital Partners LP, UBS and JPMorgan Chase & Co., and will “provide

the company with additional case financing and establishes the ability to convert a substantial part of the facility into exit financing, enhancing its liquidity and securing a major component of the company’s exit capital structure,” the bankrupt photography pioneer says. www.kodak.co.uk

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inside track

Japan Photo Booth Delivers 3D Models When you and your sweetie go into a photo booth, would you like to get not just a 2D print — but a solid 3D model, a lifelike mini-representation of the two of you?

A working concept from Japanese design group Party does just that: with Omote 3D in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, they’ll make a 3D model while you wait.

You do have to stand still for 15 minutes while they make a 3D scan… And the little figurines can cost you $250, Popular Photography reports.

Telling stories with images on Photobucket, on the Imaging Executive Podcast Photobucket unveiled an all-new user experience it says “alleviates once and for all the major pain points behind backing up, organising and accessing all your photos and videos.”

The company also developed “Photobucket Stories,” a feature which will “transform the act of photo sharing into the art of storytelling,” the company adds. “Never before has there been a more complete, collaborative and contextual means for storytelling.”

The Denver-based company says it the largest dedicated photo and video sharing site, with 100 million users, and that it serves 3.5 billion images per day.

In this interview on the Imaging Executive podcast, CEO Tom Munro and Marketing VP David Toner discuss the new features, and the importance of telling stories with photos.

www.photobucket.com

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printed Each issue, InPrint calls a UK printing business to bring you the essential information about life on the front line of our trade and prints the results. This issue, our spotlight falls on Sam Bradley of JustPose!

H M

Pr an hi

Sam Bradley, JustPose!

Very briefly, what does JustPose do?

JustPose! hires our very own, state of the art Photo Booths. For the geeks out there, each one of our Booths includes a high quality DSLR camera, Dye-Sub Printer, Studio Lighting... And the exterior is fully printable, like a big bill-board so clients even have the opportunity to make us really blend in or fit with their brand/theme.

The whole concept is about fun, we rock up at our client’s event (we do all kinds of events from Weddings to Award Ceremonies), set the Booth up and then invite guests into the Booth in small groups to take a few Photos...

Who can get involved?

Our Booth is a generous size, comfortably accommodating 4 people although we’ve seen nine in there before! We provide a range of themed-props to provoke the fun and make the photos a little more memorable! There’s a saying amongst the culprits who produce some of the more outrageous photos at events; “What happens in the Booth stays in the booth...”. We assume they don’t consider the next part...

What can you do on-site, and what equipment do you use?

Then there’s a built in, lab quality dye-sub printer built in which instantly prints a copy of the photos for guests to take home. Clients choose how they want their Photos printed, usually we do 4 photos on either a strip or post-card sized print. We customise the prints with details of the event and can add corporate logos where required. For brides we often stick an extra copy of the photos in to a Guest Book and ask the guests to sign a personal message. We can also make key rings at the event, and after the event we always provide all the Photos on a web-

gallery (Facebook ready!), we can even make big collages and “wall art” with the snaps we capture...

Who’s it aimed at?

Our service is aimed at everyone organising a celebration. While it is really most popular with Brides and Business for their Christmas Parties, we’ve also been out to events where we’ve been asked to capture customer testimonials using the video feature. From a personal and business perspective; there’s tonnes of ways the Booth can be used. We love the more fun events though!

Anything exciting planned?

Over the next year we have over a hundred different Weddings we’re booked for. We also have thirty Christmas parties this December and we’re excited to announce that we’re going to be Sponsoring the Urban Music Awards (also in December) and will be providing a JustPose!

Booth in the VIP area there... Pics to follow!

There’s a fair few award’s ceremonies and wrap-parties booked too, but info on those is still only Privy to us and our clients (probably until the pictures land on Facebook!)!

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Hi Hi Up 4x Bo Sm Ou 5i En

8

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HP Photosmart ML2000D Minlab Printer Profit from the ultra-fast dry minilab and watch your revenue grow with high quality, high margin products

High margin products High volume workflow Up to 55 photobooks per hour 4 x 6” photos at 1500 per hour Borderless & duplex printing Smudge & water-resistant prints Outstanding & consistent quality 5 input trays Environmentally sound 8 InPrint

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ACL Absolute Computing Ltd 29 Nuffield Centrum Abingdon OX14 1RL 01235 559999 www.acl-uk.com sales@acl-uk.comInPrint 27 21/11/2012 17:13

CTP-3010 DYE-SUB PRINTER

Fourth Process Colour (YMC+BLACK) D-MAX 15% HIGHER ON AVERAGE IMPROVED TONAL RANGE Three process colour options for superior print speed also available

Why Ciaat CTP-3010?

Proven more cost effective than Wetlab 4.9p per print*

Highest Print Capacity 960 prints/roll*

Four Process Colour System Improved D-Max (2,35) & superior tonal range

Prints up to 6x12Ó Panoramic Prints 4x6Ó , 5x6Ó , 6x8Ó , 6x9Ó & 6x12Ó

Multi Finish

Prints Gloss & Matte finish from the same roll of media * 6×4Ó prints from 6×12Ó (CTP612) Media

DRYLAB UTILITY SOFTWARE W WARE Additional Print Size Options Integration with Retail Print Systems Can Print; Greeting Cards, Calendars & Photobooks

TM

28 InPrint sales@photomart.co.uk t. 020 8527 6006 f. 020 8527 6306 10 InPrint Unit 14, Waltham Park Way, Billet Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 5DU 32 InPrint InprintIssue5.indd 28

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