It’s quite easy to assume that the photo printing business has come near its end. With digital advancements and industries aiming to go paperless, it’s easy to think that printing is not as vital as it used to be in industries. But the question is, are they really near the end?
If you are to look at photo printing with only photographs in mind, you’ll surely have the conclusion that technology has taken over. However, there is more than photographs that concern and rely on professional photo printing.
If you try to look at the bigger picture, where you focus on each aspect of industries, from retail to food, you’ll see how film processing and photo printing keeps those businesses going. To help you have a better understanding of how vital photo printing is, let’s look at the aspects where they are used. Perhaps, how they keep the market going.
1. Box packaging for tech products and appliances
We can say that technology makes the world go round. It has been the backbone of business operation and day to day lives of mostly the entire world for so many years now. But, do you notice the enticing product packaging of that newly released gadget? Or the big printed box of your newly bought home appliance?
The photo printing business is the secret behind those. Of course, the design and layout are entirely on the advertising and design industry. But the high-quality prints of the boxes are produced by professional photo printing businesses.
Why is product packaging important?
Can you imagine the experience if your well-loved gadget will be sold without any box and packaging? They’ll hand you the product and that’s it. No unboxing to anticipate and no user manual to read on.
Product packaging plays a vital role in attracting consumers to purchase a product. Great design plus good packaging makes the product more enticing. All in all, it makes the purchase experience of the consumer a great and exciting one.
That’s why businesses and huge brands invest so much in their product packaging. Without it, the experience and product reviews become bland and indifferent.
2. Billboards and advertisements
Advertisers nowadays focus on marketing their client’s products and services online. Since people are mostly on their mobile phones and laptops, there’s no better way than to maximise and advertise business products and services through social media.
However, this does not mean that people don’t go out. Billboards and road advertisements still play a very important role in the marketing industry. Do you ever notice when you’re on the road your eyes tend to look at huge advertisements?
How effective are billboards and advertisements?
You don’t even plan to look at them, you just automatically see them because it’s right there, in front of you. Billboards are a great way to catch a driver’s attention. Also, if a brand creatively markets a product, it keeps the people on the road entertained as well.
We are also not only talking about billboards here. But also, huge posters and banners you see in public places. High quality printed posters and banners are all thanks to professional photo printing businesses.
Almost all of the shops and boutiques out there has a printed poster or banner of their product. Regardless of how popular a brand is, posters make a difference in terms of the visual aesthetics that customers see. Posters for your new product, most popular item, and of course promos and discounts.
3. Books, stationeries, flyers, and menus
Books
Another industry that relies on photo and film processing is the publishing and food industry. They say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But, it surely does give a feel and insight to the readers what the story is about.
An appealing and interesting book covers play a vital role in a consumer purchase. Also, journals, calendars, and notepads rely on photo printing. Your aesthetic calendars and notepads wouldn’t be as pleasing as they are if the quality of its print is poor.
Flyers
Flyers that are distributed in public places rely on the photo printing business too. Though flyers are often disregarded by passersby, some businesses still choose to have flyers as part of their marketing strategy. Nowadays, it’s not often to see flyers since digital ads have taken over, but it still helps to promote a brand.
Menus
Have you also noticed the menus in restaurants? We’re not only talking about regular restos here but fancy ones as well. Sure, some have high-quality printers where they have their menus printed. But some businesses rely mostly on professional photo printing shops, most especially ones that partner with the business for other printing or film processing services as well.
4. Modelling and photography
Have you noticed how photographs play a vital role in social media? From user profiles to business promotions, photographs make the internet a vibrant and interesting space. Since people are all after aesthetics these days, a good photo results in more likes and shares.
Ever noticed how influential brands and models post their professionally photographed photos in their profiles? Which of course, led to the trend of a model-like pose that is loved and followed by many. These shots done by models and big brands are of course done by professional photography.
Photo printing is strongly interconnected with the field of photography. Most professional photography labs do not only offer photography services but also photo printing and film processing. They are a one-stop-shop for those who are after digital and printing services.
How much influence can a single photo make?
The art of photography makes the internet a space where artists and brands get to showcase their craft and products to the world. A good photo can motivate a user to purchase an item, do the same pose, or even buy the same camera used in the photo.
You might not notice it but, a single, simple photo posted online impacts and influences every user in some way. That’s how powerful the internet is. Powerful enough that it can affect how we view things and how often we purchase an item.
Businesses also use revival services such as film processing to market a reintroduced item. They use old films to tell a story of how an item or service still plays a significant role in the present. Or for any other marketing scheme that effectively touches the viewer’s emotion.
Photo printing completes every other industry that benefits from it
Indeed, without the help and magic of the photo printing business, a lot of businesses and industries will be affected. It’s interesting how what we often perceive as a simple business plays a vital role in every other business that we use the most.
The photo printing business will surely be around for an indefinite time. As long as there are products to market and consumers who’ll buy, they’ll be around to make the consumer experience better and exciting as it always have been.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for DS Colour Labs Ltd (DSCL), a professional photography lab that offers a vast range of products and services to aid every photographer’s need. She is a massive lover of Japanese cuisine and enjoys binge-watching comedies or variety shows.
