Kodak Introduces New Solutions for Professional Lab Customers at Annual Professional Lab Workshop

ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kodak continues to leverage market insights and technical innovation to deliver valuable solutions to its professional lab customers that advance the impact of professional imaging. At the core of this innovation is KODAK PROFESSIONAL Digital Print Production Software (DP2) Version 16, the latest installment of Kodak's market leading workflow software for professional photographic labs. DP2 v.16 delivers enhancements to image quality and improved productivity and expands capabilities for the creation and production of innovative products.

In addition to DP2 v. 16, Kodak will provide a sneak preview of KODAK PROFESSIONAL Collections and Creations Software. This new software, a flexible front-end ordering system with a simple user interface, can change how labs and photographers prepare, present and produce valuable professional content. These collections, including both soft and hard copy, follow a logical flow that allows photographers to guide their clients through a storytelling process, from start to finish and then roll seamlessly into production and delivery through a pro lab. With Collections and Creations Software, professional labs and photographers can show consumers what's possible, in real-time, using their professional content and deliver an experience that creates an emotional connection among the consumers, their images and their story.

This in turn, enables the consumers to:

• Promote their memories by sharing with family and friends anytime, anywhere
• Produce their memories in story form
• Preserve their memories for a lifetime

"Our new software offerings focus on meeting the consumer demand for storytelling," said Christopher S. Van Zandt, Vice President and General Manager, Paper & Output Systems, Americas Region, Kodak Personalized Imaging. "The combination of Collections and Creations software with DP2 v.16 creates a powerful solution for professional labs, not only in what they can create, but how they present their valuable content. The software will help labs and photographers to shift their sales process from individual products to complete story-telling solutions and packages, and in turn, create more revenue opportunities. This also continues our commitment to deliver more than just products to our valued customers – we strive to deliver solutions that reflect market opportunities and help professional labs create viable long term strategies to grow their businesses. DP2 v.16 is the next step in that journey."

NEW DP2 FEATURES

With DP2 v.16, professional labs can cost-effectively expand their portfolio to include high quality photographic prints and albums, press products (books, calendars, cards and keepsakes), and digital offerings (enhanced stills and video slideshows) to professional photographers.

As part of that, DP2 v. 16 includes enhanced Animoto Video Slideshow features, which now make it possible for those labs that work directly with consumers (school photography, sporting event, nurseries, etc.) to offer this visually impactful soft-copy product. By introducing new configuration/licensing and flexible pricing, Kodak supports labs in pursuing additional business and market opportunities.

Another key improvement to the Animoto Video Slideshow features is the Animoto "Preview Sharing" capability.  This allows photographers to offer consumers a preview video (low res and for a limited time) to create excitement on part of the consumer about what's possible, and encourages greater purchase rates of printed products as well as video slideshows.

In addition, DP2 v.16 includes a host of other enhancements that provide improved quality and productivity for pro labs.

Kodak is showcasing KODAK PROFESSIONAL DP2 v.16 and KODAK PROFESSIONAL Collections and Creations software at its 2013 KODAK Pro Lab Workshop, where Kodak conducts a combination of business and technical educational sessions. These sessions strive to better position professional labs to understand market dynamics, provide technical solutions and resources to address them, and to create individual strategies to succeed in these evolving markets.

Beginning the week of June 24, the new version of DP2 will be available at www.kodak.com/go/dp2 for download. KODAK PROFESSIONAL Collections and Creations Software will be available in early 2014 and leverages foundational elements being delivered in DP2 v.16. For more information on KODAK PROFESSIONAL Imaging Solutions, visit www.kodak.com/go/professional or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kodakprofessional.

About Kodak's Personalized Imaging Business

The Personalized Imaging business leverages Kodak's unique imaging heritage, expertise and ongoing innovation to provide customers and end-consumers with high-quality products and services to meet their individual needs. The Personalized Imaging business consists of Retail Systems Solutions, the world leader in retail photo kiosks and dry lab systems, offering retailers a competitive advantage in the photo services market; Paper & Output Systems, offering photo specialty retailers, professional and wholesale labs, and photographers the broadest portfolio of traditional photographic paper and workflow solutions; Film Capture, offering consumers and professionals an award-winning range of still-camera film products; and Event Imaging Solutions, offering theme parks and other venues a total solution in souvenir photo operations.  

(Kodak and Kodak Professional are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.)

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SOURCE Kodak