October 17, 2006 – Digital printing is increasing, slowly but surely, according to Photo Marketing Research Data Watch released yesterday.
In 2005, 66.6 percent of American households with digital camera owners made their images into prints, totaling 7.9 billion prints. Last year showed less a 2 percent increase over the previous year. In 2004, 64.9 percent of digital camera households printed images, totaling 5.5 billion prints that year.
Since 1999, households that print images have increased by approximately two percent each year. Although the number of prints is still limited, the growth has been steady over the past six years.
“Printing has become more purposeful,” stated PMA marketing research analyst Emily Fassanella. The PMA study showed that people tended to print their select best images with a specific intent such as gift-giving or framing. Consumers, however, still do not understand all their options for utilizing their images, according to Fassanella who stresses the need for retailers to make customers aware of “other output options.”
