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Johnson Revisits Digital Printing
26 July 2013
When PhoozL founder Harald Johnson wrote Mastering Digital Printing in 2003, he wanted "to create an in-depth reference to the new world of digital printing for photography and fine art." Ten years later, the question is unavoidable: "Is anybody still printing photos?"
Today, Johnson answers that question with an extended post on PetaPixel entitled Digital Photo Printing: 10 Years After. It may not surprise you that he finds "reports of photo printing's death are greatly exaggerated."
Johnson cites InfoTrends and IbisWorld surveys showing an increase in online photo printing in both Europe at 11 percent a year and the U.S. at 20 percent a year.
Then he looks a little more closely at what prints are being produced. Paper prints continue to lead the segment at 48 percent but photobooks at 20 percent are making their mark. He reflects on these options and also takes a peek into alternative printing on exotic substrates like metal prints.
How these prints get imaged doesn't escape him either as he discusses the four main technologies in use today.
So 10 years later, how do things stand? He concludes:
If done correctly prints can last 100-200-500 years. A print is a physical object that can be held, displayed, stored, moved, and preserved. You can put prints in albums, portfolios, books, safety deposit boxes, or bury them in the ground (or tombs). They exist in a real vs. virtual world and are always readable as long as humans have eyes. I think photo prints are here to stay. At least for another 10 years when I'll check back with you. :)