Survey Finds Epson Dominant in Photoprint Market
(Weymouth, MA) March , 2005… A new research report explores the professional
photography market in relation to inkjet technology, with a focus on the use of
wide format printers. This document considers photographers’ printing habits and
perceptions, and discusses the role that inkjet technology and wide format
applications play in survey respondents’ businesses. The results of this study
are now available in the research report entitled Inkjet and Wide Format in
Professional Photography.
Survey Conducted December 2004
In December 2004, a Web-based survey
among 220 respondents in North America. All of the respondents that participated
in this survey had digital photo, art, or proof printing equipment. 90% of the
individuals that responded to this survey indicated that they worked for or
owned professional photography companies. The majority of the revenue from the
professional photography market can be attributed to supplies, but there will
also continue to be a valuable printer hardware market among professional
photographers. U.S. printer hardware revenues in the professional photography
market were estimated to be valued at $14 million in 2004.
“Photography is a key piece of the emerging creative market segment,”
commented Tim Greene, “We now understand a great deal about the use, sources,
and expectations of inkjet printers as well as the supplies that are required to
produce this important application.”
Key findings of this study include:
• Respondents to this survey reported an average photographic print volume of
300 prints per month. The most common applications were professional photos
(produced by 73.2% of respondents), portraits (72.3%), proofs (63.6%), and fine
art prints (50.9%). The most commonly produced sizes were 8” x 10” (43.3%) and
4” x 6” (24.6%).
• 60% of survey participants plan to purchase new photographic printing
equipment within the next 2 years.
• Epson dominates the professional photography market from a printing
standpoint. In fact, 85.6% of respondents reported that they would most likely
purchase an Epson printer, while no other inkjet vendor reached even 7% of
participants. Survey participants placed an especially high premium on print
characteristics like color gamut and longevity, and these are the areas where
Epson really shines.