Updated KODAK Photo Scanning Software Enhances Workflow, Creative Control for the KODAK s1220 Photo Scanning System

ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fast, powerful, compact and user-friendly, the KODAK s1220 Photo Scanning System offers businesses the opportunity for a new high margin revenue stream.  Now offering an integrated, one-touch, scan-to-DVD/CD capability, as well as a host of other new features through its latest software release to simplify workflow and improve image quality for customers, the s1220 provides retailers, funeral homes, direct sales firms and independent sales associates with a ready path to convert their customers' photo collections to flexible digital files to display, print, share, gift and preserve digitally.

The new software release, KODAK Photo Scanning Software v 3.6.2, available for download immediately from the Kodak website and in new systems sold as of February 21 in the U.S. and Canada, offers enhancements for the KODAK s1220 Photo Scanning System which streamline businesses' ability to turn consumers' picture collections into customized photo products and services. The software provides enhanced workflow and ease of use for the operator, improvements in productivity for retailers and other production shops, and new options to optimize image quality that will increase end user satisfaction. Kodak's solution is featured at booth # 3100 at PMA2010 in Anaheim.

"People like the ability to create gifts from photos because it allows them to uniquely share memories with friends and family," said Russell Hunt, Regional Business Manager, Document Imaging, Kodak's Business Solutions and Services Group. "We updated the s1220 to equip businesses with a nearly effortless application. These improvements help consumers preserve printed photos and present their stories in new and interesting ways."

The new software release introduces a series of tools to ease user operation. KODAK Photo Scanning Software integrates an easy, one-touch option for saving files to DVD/CD, network locations and USB drives. Picture the possibilities of a system that offers an intelligent, content-based, auto-rotation function, virtually eliminating the need to pre-sort stacks of pictures before scanning using the rapid batch method of the highly efficient s1220 system. Auto-rotation of images helps ensure digital files will be correctly oriented for end consumers.

Other enhancements put the user in complete control of the image capture process.  For example, users can modify key settings, such as resolution, compression, levels of sharpness, color and black-and-white settings, during a customer job. This enables users to optimize image quality for diverse types of photographs while minimizing interruptions in workflow and allowing the user to keep a customer's scans organized within a single job.

"Photographs play a very important role in how we create and remember important memories in our lives," said Paul Generowicz, President, Sympathynet.com, a company specialized in online funeral services, including live or on-demand video broadcasting. "With Kodak's photo scanning solution, we're helping funeral homes create personalized memorial websites and slideshows that allow friends and families to come together and share their condolences, regardless of location or distance."

Retailers and other professionals, including wedding planners, scrapbookers, and event photographers, continue to invest in photo scanning to support interest in photo publishing products, especially photobooks. According to PMA, the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations, the market value of photobooks grew by more than $175 million since 2006. In 2008, 33 percent of United States (U.S.) households made or ordered photo publishing products, based on results from the 2009 PMA U.S. Camera/Camcorder Digital Imaging Study.

"The power of photo scanning helps retailers and consumers alike unlock the full potential of printed photo collections. This technology opens up an exciting, high-touch, high-margin revenue opportunity for virtually any business," said Jeanine Thiemel, Worldwide Product Line Director for Photo Capture Systems, Document Imaging, Kodak's Business Solutions and Services Group. "The solution can essentially pay itself off within a few months with income generated by associated consumer products and services."

The KODAK s1220 Photo Scanning System can scan prints and documents up to 8.5 x 34 inches in size and up to 1200 dpi output resolution. Kodak offers optional A3 and A4 flatbed scanners to handle fragile or bound items. The A3 flatbed scanner handles images up to approximately 11.9 x 18 inches in size and the A4 flatbed scanner handles images up to approximately 8.6 x 11.8 inches in size. KODAK Photo Scanning Software offers an array of image enhancement options while easing desktop management of photo files. Red-eye correction, a powerful image retouch capability that leverages KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology, a consumer application found in KODAK Digital Still Cameras and KODAK Picture Maker products and offerings, in addition to a selectable software-based Image Cleaner Tool,  provide a fast and effective pathway to high quality digital images   Additionally, Kodak provides a full set of point-of-sale marketing tools to help drive in-store demand generation for a photo scanning service, available in our s1220 Retail Marketing Toolkit, downloadable at http://www.kodak.com/go/marketingphotoscanning.

For more information about the KODAK s1220 Photo Scanning System, visit http://www.kodak.com/go/s1220.

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.

About Kodak

As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com and follow our blogs and more at http://www.kodak.com/go/followus.

More than 70 million people worldwide manage, share and create photo gifts online at KODAK Gallery -- join for free today at www.kodakgallery.com.

More information about KODAK Document Imaging Scanners and Services is available at
www.kodak.com/go/docimaging.

(Kodak and Perfect Touch are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.)

2010

SOURCE Eastman Kodak Company