Traditionally, digital image science technology has been automatically applied by the photolab printer processing module or PC. It may not be required or applied for perfectly exposed and color balanced images. Applying image science to most other files will improve both image display and print results by adjusting color balance, background/subject ~ density/contrast, removal of unwanted redeye, gradation and other issues. Enhanced image science technology will also improve image detail when interpolation is required, smooth-out JPEG Blocking*, reduce noise and sharpen files. Applying image science post-capture on the device, online when image viewing or at the kiosk will increase the percentages of acceptable images printed generating revenue from what may have been discarded files by the consumer.

Since the dawn of digital data storage, it has always been the case that digital data is rather ephemeral. Organizations deal with this by regularly migrating to new storage, archiving to tape, storing in the cloud, and other techniques known together as active management. While this seems to have solved the problem for organizations, it does not solve the problem for individuals, for whom active management is untenable. This paper presents the results of research focused at creating a medium for permanently storing digital photos and any other digital data, and compares the results of this study to all other digital data storage options available today.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether exposure to light or ozone increases the sensitivity of some inkjetprinted images to surface cracking during handling. In previous studies, several inkjet print examples showed a potential for significant cracking and flaking of the image area when handled after exposure to light and ozone. In these new experiments both printed and unprinted samples of two glossy porous photo inkjet papers from different manufacturers were exposed in separate experiments to 50 kilo-lux fluorescent and 50 kilo-lux xenon light in increments of time for up to twelve weeks and to 5 ppm ozone for one and two weeks. The exposed samples were tested for cracking according to the procedure described in ISO 18907 "Imaging Materials – Photographic Films and Papers – Wedge Test for Brittleness". The samples were evaluated visually both with and without magnification to determine the wedge diameter where cracking is first seen. The samples were also measured with a Gretag Spectroscan to determine if the increase in cracking came before or after noticeable colorant fade or paper yellowing occurred. Even though the two papers selected for this study were the same type, they behaved entirely differently. One paper showed sensitivity to crack before exposure and increasing propensity to crack with exposure to light and ozone. The other paper was not sensitive to crack before exposure and only after twelve weeks exposure to xenon light showed surface disintegration. Because of this, it is difficult to reach general conclusions that represent the entire spectrum of inkjet print media. Additional work is needed to provide a more complete picture of brittleness behavior of these materials after exposure to light and ozone.

Upon discovering the 120 year old object in their grandparents' attic, most people today would be hard-pressed to play back a recording made on a wax cylinder of the late 1800s. What will people do just 50 years from now with an optical disk or magnetic hard drive? Over time, we have recorded our memories in many ways: letters, post cards, photographs, movies, audio and video recordings are a few examples. In earlier days, interpreting those recordings was independent of the technology used to create them – you could hold and view a hard copy document in your hand. How will future generations deal with those post cards, letters to the family, and photographs that have now been replaced by "Word documents", email, and digital images on the computer? While professional and mass-portrait labs recognize the importance of hard copy images, the word needs to spread from there. The end consumer in particular needs to become aware of long-term storage issues that relate to the preservation of the data behind digital documents including photographic images. Longerterm issues beyond routine backup and migration of data need to be considered, and preservation via human-readable hardcopy images is a key option. This paper provides an update on preservation strategies for the consumer and suggestions for the professional imaging laboratories to communicate these strategies to the consumer. While the familiar advice to "make a hard copy" provides a solid foundation, we go beyond this recommendation, with the intent to raise consumer awareness of the need to create a long-term preservation plan for their most treasured images and the data behind them.

Recent market trends show increased personalized photo product volumes even in the face of decreasing conventional print volumes. A particularly high growth area is photobooks both consumer and professional. Innovations in formats are supported by new production technologies that automate manual processes to improve quality and efficiency. New book production processes are adding value to image products to sustain and improve fulfillment margins.

PUR (PolyUrethane Reactive) adhesives have been available for decades, but have been in bookbinding primarily since 1989. PUR has been chosen over standard hot melt and liquid adhesives for many reasons. These reasons include adhesion, layflat of the book, heat and cold resistance, roundability and durability. Applications systems have improved reducing the overall cost of production. Even though the price per pound of PUR is higher than that of other adhesives, the cost per unit is comparable. Initial concerns centered around one of the components, MDI, but this has proven over the last 20 years to be a minimal concern. The future of PUR is bright. As newer versions emerge additional markets are opening. Some of those markets include photo albums and hard cover books.

HP-Indigo technology delivers superb print quality at a high printing speed over a wide range of substrates, including glossy matt and textured papers, as well as photo or other non paper substrates. Together with its flexibility and end to end solution portfolio it brings state of the art capabilities to a variety of photo applications, making HP-Indigo the dominant player in the digital photo printing market. HP Indigo digital presses use liquid electrophotography based on ElectroInk®, with a hot transfer blanket. After electrically charging the photoconductor a latent image is created by a multi-beam laser scanning unit. Then ink is developed onto the latent image by one of the various colored ink development stations. After ink transfers to the blanket using electric field, the carrier liquid is evaporated off the hot blanket, and the resultant hot melted ink film is transferred to the substrate by means of pressure and tackiness. This process is repeated once for each color. During the printing process a nearly solid ink image is created on a blanket, subsequently adhered to the surface of the substrate with almost no change and without penetrating into the media. Thus the high image quality is independent from the substrate characteristics. In addition, the ink layer is thin enough to achieve the feel of the substrate, so by choosing the substrate one can control the feel of the image, without compromising on image quality. The flexibility of the technology enable both sheet fed and web fed presses, with nearly identical image characteristics. By using HP Indigo unique special inks, such as the white ink or the photo inks (light cyan, light magenta), print providers can create premium products. End to end solutions of workflow and finishing are also provided by HP Indigo and through a network of partners. Work flow solutions include creation software, automatic image enhancement, imposition, high speed rips, and color transformations. Finishing solutions include in-line lamination, inline liquid coating, cutting, stacking, book binding and more. HP-Indigo equipment is used by the Photofinisher and professional lab, to create photo books, self-Published books, calendars, invitations, greeting cards, yearbooks, portraits, photo prints, theme items and more. Most of the photo books printed worldwide today are produced using HP-Indigo technology because there is a consensus among Print Service Providers about the Indigo technology being the one appropriate for the quality needs of the segment.

Digital photo output is an important and valuable part of the digital photography ecosystem, and photo merchandise products continue to have strong growth in challenging economic times. This session will give a top-level overview of both the photo print and merchandise markets in the U. S., presenting the most important findings from InfoTrends consumer surveys, as well as discuss the significant trends that are impacting the market and helping to drive growth. InfoTrends most up-to-date forecast data for both the digital print and merchandise markets will also be shared.

Both print value and permanence are critical to consumer satisfaction of printed images. Over the last four years, the Printing Industry Center and Image Permanence Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology have published a variety of studies evaluating the print value and permanence of inkjet and electrophotographic prints and compared their performance to the traditional printing technologies of offset lithography and color silver-halide photography. This paper reviews the published work to date. In the print value studies comparing electrophotographic digital press and offset lithography, it was found that the media had the greatest impact on perceived value. There were significant differences in the perceived value between electrophotographic and offset lithographic prints on coated media, with those made on offset equipment being generally preferred. For prints on uncoated media, the differences were less significant. Another study evaluated the perceived print value of inkjet (desktop and wide format) and electrophotographic photofinishing relative to digital silver-halide prints. Targets were generated to resemble photo album pages and photobooks. The results indicated that observers generally found higher value in full-size photobooks and inkjet prints as compared to electrophotographic prints and mini photobooks. The print permanence experiments subjected inkjet, electrophotographic, digital silver-halide, and offset prints to a variety of environmental and user stresses including heat, light, humidity, pollutants, abrasion, and water fastness. The electrophotographic prints were generally more resistant to environment and use forces than offset lithography except for the liquid-toner electrophotographic system which was less water resistant. Because inkjets prints are made with a greater variety of possible colorant and paper combinations, they showed extremely varied responses to deterioration forces. Some were more robust than electrophotography or color silver-halide and others more vulnerable. In comparing the two lines of inquiry, the primary significance was the fact that the prints with the highest perceived value are not necessarily the prints of the highest permanence. Print equipment, colorants, and papers need to be selected for both perceived value and permanence, but no clear metrics exist on which consumers can base such decisions. An understanding of all the key factors and access to the critical information will likely not be possible for end users, so they must rely on knowledgeable photo fulfillment providers to help guide them to the right decisions.

Printing technology is changing from traditional silver halide based photographic printing to alternative digital printing methods. As this change takes place, image quality differences alter the appearance of the photographic print in subtle but definite ways. These differences are particularly noticeable when migrating from continuous tone printing to electrophotographic systems that require halftone technologies to simulate the continuous tone. Creative Memories has changed the technology for producing its standard digital scrapbook page from traditional photographic printing to electrophotography. This presentation highlights image quality and other differences between the two systems, as well as customer responses to the change.