06/29/09 by christian | Blog, Printing | No Comments »
Jeffrey Hayzlett is the Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President for Kodak. He recently took the time to answer a few questions about Kodak and its influence on the future of the print industry. Hear what Jeffrey and Kodak have to offer both print and consumer markets as we talk print.
Christian: I recently visited the Kodak Customer Center for Graphic Communications in Rochester, NY. It was a very impressive tour and it appeared Kodak has some great things in the works. What can you tell us about new products and technology from the Graphic Communications Group?
Jeffrey: Thanks for visiting! This is an exciting time for all of Kodak – including our graphic communications business. We just announced our latest innovations for commercial print, data print, publishing and packaging customers at PRINT 09 Media Days in Chicago.
As CMO, I had the privilege to announce the new brand name for all our products using KODAK Stream Inkjet Technology – PROSPER. And, that our first product using this technology – the KODAK Prosper S10 Imprinting System – is now commercially available. Stream Inkjet Technology will change print forever and it’s already helping several beta customers deliver more value to their clients.
See the announcement and a testimonial of PROSPER on YouTube
We also announced the new KODAK NEXPRESS SE Digital Production Color Platform which leverages new Kodak innovations in image quality, dry inks, and software to deliver superior offset class output. If you’ve ever ordered a photo book on KODAK Gallery – it was printed on a NEXPRESS press.
Other new products include the KODAK DIGIMASTER EX300 available this fall – the fastest cut sheet black and white electrophotographic printer on the market; new KODAK Unified Workflow Solutions including KODAK INSITE Campaign Manager and KODAK PRINERGY Digital Workflow; and additions to our Prepress portfolio and award-winning KODAK FLEXCEL NX Digital Flexographic System for package printers.
Kodak delivers the industry’s broadest portfolio of integrated solutions. In fact, we are THE ONLY provider of conventional, digital and blended production solutions within a unified workflow.
We’ve also recently launched a new integrated marketing campaign – It’s time for you AND Kodak. The “And” theme symbolizes Kodak’s commitment to being the best partner to help customers grow their business.
Christian: A relatively new technology in the commercial digital print arena is Kodak’s raised printing capabilities on the new Kodak NexPress. I had a demo of this up in Rochester and was blown away by the possibilities that this brings to the market. How is the ability to produce a physical raised print on-demand going to change the way we use and think about digital imaging and direct mail?
Jeffrey: It’s print you can feel – how cool is that? Kodak has the only inline digital, tactile printing available on the market. KODAK Dimensional Printing gives specified text and images a raised or 3D effect that can help communications stand out in a crowded marketplace – and it helps designers and print service providers stand out from their competition.
See more about Dimensional Printing on Grow Your Biz
This also brings up an important point – print is alive and well! As part of an integrated campaign, print remains one of the most vital tools for marketing and communications. It’s key to helping marketers build one-to-one relationships with customers. And it’s the foundation for motivating consumers and helping marketers achieve a favorable return on their marketing investment (ROMI). Print may be changing, but it’s here to stay. And Dimensional Printing is making print even more powerful.
Christian: Kodak has always been a leader in film products both for print and video. When it comes to digital, what types of products do you see Kodak leading the pack with?
Jeffrey: Everyone has a Kodak moment. Consumers place tremendous value on the power of personal images and video to strengthen and improve relationships. Kodak has always been there to help you bring your personal content into your daily life. Our products – from still cameras to pocket video cameras to wireless digital frames – give you high-quality results, and the power to quickly and easily share life’s moments. Whether shooting a spontaneous video on a Kodak digital video camera and uploading it to YouTube in a flash, or sending new pictures of the family directly to Grandma’s wireless digital frame, Kodak makes it easy and fun.
On the commercial side, our leading digital printing portfolio includes our PROSPER S10 Imprinting System and upcoming PROSPER Press, our NEXPRESS SE Platform, DIGIMASTER EX System and VERSAMARK Systems. Digital print solutions – from digital presses to campaign management software – help marketers connect more personally and effectively with consumers, which boosts return on marketing investment (ROMI).
Christian: We are seeing the ads for Kodak’s new consumer products such as All-in-One Printers with affordable ink and the new Pocket Video Cameras. Tell us a little about Kodak and its latest surge of consumer photo products.
Jeffrey: Kodak is the consumer champion. With our All-in-One printers, we offer high quality at-home printing for consumers who are tired of overpaying for ink. We understand the needs of today’s consumers and make our products to meet their needs – whether printers, pocket video cameras, digital frames or digital cameras.
Kodak offers reasonably priced printers that use fairly priced ink – $9.99 for black cartridges and $14.99 for color cartridges – because that’s what our customers need and deserve. With Kodak All-in-One printers, consumers save an average of $110 annually in ink costs.
Learn more at http://www.printandprosper.com
Christian: Today, there are many companies – large and small – adopting to social media. I follow your updates on twitter as well as your “chief blogger” Jenny Cisney. How has social media changed your marketing strategies and have you been able to measure its performance?
Jeffrey: We’ve integrated social media into our marketing and communications – from Twitter to Facebook to YouTube to blogs. We believe we should be where our customers are. For us, it’s about the four E’s: Engage, Educate, Excite and Evangelize.
Social media provides a platform to connect with customers and amplify our messages. And it’s fast and low cost. We’re seeing great results – from the feedback we get from our customers and followers to the recognition we receive as an industry leader in this space.
Engagement is the new ROI. Another way to look at ROI is: what’s the Return on Ignoring? We think it’s important to be engaged.
Follow Jeffrey Hayzlett and others at Kodak on Social Media
Christian: Give us an update as to where Kodak is in this little “recession” we are going through. How strong is your position in the Graphic Communications and Consumer markets? What can we expect from Kodak next?
Jeffrey: Kodak is well positioned for the future. As we manage through this recession, our number one priority is meeting the needs of our customers in all the markets we serve. We continue to maintain or grow market share in our key businesses, which means our products are winning with customers. In short, Kodak has the technology, the strategy, the people and the financial resources to succeed.
What can you expect next from us? More innovation! Kodak will continue to deliver innovative solutions that enrich the lives of consumers and creative professionals, and help our commercial customers grow their businesses.
#
Big thanks to Jeffrey Hayzlett for taking time to answer a few questions with me to share on PrintedProof.com. I have always been a Kodak fan and its great to have one of the leaders in the Graphic Communications available on social media to promote print and the value it brings to professionals and consumers alike.
06/18/09 by christian | Blog, Personalized, Photo, Reviews & Deals | 1 Comment »
Check out these great products from Kodak. Listed are amongst the hottest selling, popular rated, best deals, and coolest stuff from Kodak I could find online. The products are pulled directly from the product catalog on the Kodak website. These all make great gifts for a loved one or yourself!
- Kodak Gallery Photo Cards Cards for every occasion, all sizes, many designs, printed on glossy or matte paper, personalize photo and text, one photo or multiple photos layouts.
- Leather, Linen and Matte Cover Classic Personalized Photo Book 9×10 1/4″ Our most popular and versatile Photo Book at the Gallery! With the largest range of exclusive page designs and personalized covers, the Classic Photo Book is a beautiful way to tell your story and preserve your memories. Add photos one by one, or use our easy Autofill feature.
- 5 x 7″ Stationary Cards Sold in Sets Personalized photo stationary cards for all occasions with personalized text sold in sets. Make it in minutes, many designs to choose from.
- Kodak Photo Stickers Photo Stickers and Labels add the perfect personal touch to any letter or gift
- Exclusive designs from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Kodak Gallery has selected Eric Carle’s unique style to the card selection at the Gallery. These designer cards make any occasion stylish. Personalize with your photos and message.
- Kodak Photo Collage Printed on high-quality Kodak paper. Features as few as four and as many as 100 photos on one print. Choose landscape or portrait. Available in matte or glossy finish (poster-size prints available in matte only). Add borders in white, black or grey. Create different looks by adjusting the thickness of your borders. All collages feature Kodak Perfect Touch processing for richer detail and more vibrant color, at no extra charge. Printed with digital silver halide printing for long-lasting, archival-quality photographic prints. Pictures will automatically repeat to fill a page if needed.
- Personalized Tiled Ceramic Photo Caf? Mug 15 oz Sleek caf? design. Unique tiling design wraps your photo all the way around the entire surface of the mug. Microwave and dishwasher safe, but hand-washing recommended to preserve vivid color.
- KODAK Store On-the-Go Pac 1 The KODAK Store On-the-Go Pac 1 provides you with the power, memory, and mobility to take you anywhere; all at a great savings.
- KODAK EASYSHARE 5100 All-in-One Printer The KODAK EASYSHARE 5100 All-in-One Printer is an inkjet system which prints, copies, and scans. It uses a convenient 2-cartridge, 6-ink system to produce KODAK lab-quality pictures and crisp, sharp black text documents.
- KODAK Wireless 2.0 USB BLUETOOTH Adapter Go wireless and expand your printing capabilities with the KODAK Wireless 2.0 USB BLUETOOTH® Adapter. The adapter accepts JPEG/EXIF image file types from BLUETOOTH® Wireless Technology-enabled devices such as camera phones, PDAs, PCs, and digital still cameras.
- KODAK EASYSHARE V803 Zoom Digital Camera / Midnight Black Meet your KODAK EASYSHARE V803 Zoom Digital Camera. Take your best pictures with it, then keep them with you thanks to its Favorites feature. Pick your signature color and get the fun accessories to match. And, with its dynamic picture quality, you can share shots that are as vibrant and detailed as life. The V803—make a statement.
- KODAK EASYSHARE Z1015 IS Digital Camera Increase your range. Expand your depth. Show off your photographic prowess. The new KODAK EASYSHARE Z1015 IS Digital Camera has the versatility to capture both long distances and wide-angle shots. With the 28mm wide-angle lens, get landscapes and group pictures with ease. And with 15X zoom, you can get in even closer. The compact, easy-to-use and versatile Z1015 IS will make sure that your amazing shot is just that.
- KODAK EASYSHARE C913 Digital Camera / Purple The KODAK EASYSHARE C913 Digital Camera takes such brilliant HD pictures, you’ll want to keep them all. With blur reduction technology, you get crisp, beautiful shots time after time. But the pictures aren’t all you’ll keep—the C913 comes at a price that lets you keep money right where you like it—in your pocket.
- KODAK Zi6 Pocket Video Camera / Red Become an instant celebrity or paparazzo! This sleek pocketable design of the KODAK Zi6 Pocket Video Camera is built for easy video—there is no lens cap, no dials to turn, or settings to set. Just turn it on and hit record to capture the action, adventure, and all the juicy details in stunning HD! Make your cinematic debut on any HDTV. Or just pop the USB in the nearest PC and you’re ready to share the fun on YouTube™. Edit, add music, and personalize your flick and easily share with your adoring fans. There’s no such thing as “you should’ve been there” with the Zi6.Available in black and pink.
- KODAK EASYSHARE Z1485 IS Digital Camera / Pink Say hello to high resolution! Introducing the 14 MP KODAK EASYSHARE Z1485 IS Digital Camera.Loaded with plenty of user-friendly features, this camera makes using all 14 megapixels incrediblysimple. Plus, with Kodak’s innovative Smart Capture feature, you’ll capture beautiful pictures injust about any environment—automatically. The new Z1485 IS. More resolution, beautiful pictures, automatically.
- KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card 16 GB The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Memory Card is a high-speed, high-capacity memory card that’s designed for rapid-fire picture taking and capturing TV-quality video with an SDHC-enabled device.* Whether you’re rapidly shooting a multitude of photos or enjoying the video capabilities of your SDHC-enabled point-and-shoot digital camera, the KODAK SDHC High-Speed Memory Card is perfect for capturing and securing your most treasured memories.
- KODAK EASYSHARE EX811 Digital Picture Frame Why just frame one picture when you can relive all your memories? Introducing the KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Picture Frame. It’s wireless, so you can enjoy your pictures and videos right away—no computer required. Put your memories to music—add MP3s in a snap and listen to them on the frame’s built-in speakers. And with its viewing and editing features, you’re in total control. The digital picture frame featuring wireless technology—tell a story, make a statement.
- KODAK EASYSHARE W820 Wireless Digital Frame with Home Decor Kit This is not an ordinary picture frame—it’s your window to the world. The KODAK EASYSHARE W820 Wireless Digital Frame connects you to friends and family with leading photo sharing web sites like KODAK Gallery and FLICKR. Wireless connectivity gives you seamless access to your memories—whether they are stored on your home computer or online. The intuitive Quick Touch Border allows you to get the latest news, weather, sports, and more in one touch. It’s the power of the Internet, brought right to your fingertips.
- Birthday Personalized Photo Cards & Invitations Personalized invitations for the whole party with your favorite photo of the birthday girl or boy and personalized text. Make it in minutes, many designs to choose from.
- KODAK Store Vacation Pac 1 Need the perfect camera accessories for your upcoming trip? Look no further than the KODAK Store Vacation Pac 1. It provides you with a flexible tripod, a large capacity memory card, and a battery charger kit to ensure you capture every vacation moment.
Kodak Gallery Click here to see all Current Promotions at Kodak Gallery!
04/01/09 by christian | Blog, Design, Printing | 1 Comment »
OK, so I finally sat down to read through my Graphics Arts Monthly magazine (which I look forward to every month, thank you GAM). I don’t know how I ever even let this issue hit my desk after feeling the texture of the cover.
My favorite feature is always “How’d We Print This?” which uses a creative, well-designed, and new/different/cool form of printing to produce. The March 09 issue’s cover featured dimensional printing off Kodak’s NexPress S2500 digital press. The ability to produce a digital texture on a page from a digital press has taken digital printing to a new milestone. Did I mention this was printed on a digitally?
To produce this textured type of digital image the Kodak NexPress applies Dimensional Clear Dry Ink and is adhered through a fifth imaging unit directly in-line. The effect is very similar to relief printing, however on the digital press the operator has much better control and greater abilities such as dimensional height and variables.
How is the dimension created? The 3D effect is produced using Adobe PhotoShop channels. A separate channel is created from the image to be textured. This new channel is seen by the fifth imaging until and applies the proper amount of clear dry ink, much like a spot color – just clear and raised.
What does this mean to designers? Dimensional printing brings a new tool to designers and marketers to provide a product that will be sure to be seen (and touched) by just about anyone it comes across. I love the application in direct mail – you have ONE second for your postcard to make an impression before it hits the recycle bin, when the recipients thumb rubs across the mailer it buys you another second, another look and possible placement in the “keep” pile.
I actually had the chance to see this press in beta last summer on a trip to Kodak in Rochester, NY. Great place, smart people, impressive press. For more information on the process of Dimensional printing check out this video at www.graphicartsonline.com/touch
Did you see this issue? What did you think… comment below.
03/04/09 by christian | Blog, Design, Marketing, Printing | No Comments »
I received a packet of print samples from my Kodak rep. I put all the pieces aside and thought, OK, good print quality as far as digital goes… except for one. It was a picture of oranges with the peals and texture literally popping off the page, you could truly feel the texture of the peel with your fingers. This would catch the attention of anyone – let alone a print junkie like myself.
The print was off the KODAK NEXPRESS S3000 digital color press and utilized Kodak’s new Dimensional Coating Solution. This technique adheres clear dry ink to create raised printing to mirror textile effects.
Without getting to techie, the process is actually quite simple. Using Photoshop, the operator or designer can create a separate channel that will fill the fifth color unit of the NEXPRESS. The fifth color is applied in-line after the full process (CMYK) and works with a large range of substrates.
What good is Dimensional Printing, other than “cool”!? This is a valuable tool to anyone selling direct mail or other form of advertising that must grab attention on the first glance. Used correctly and creatively, the right designer or marketer has the ability to increase or multiply the response rate of any printed piece.
