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Hewlett Packard Company - 5/23/2007
A&I’s HP Indigo Technology Helps Establish Cost-effective Book
Solution for Pro Photographers
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 23, 2007 -- HP today announced that A&I Photographic and Digital Lab, partnering
with Great Circle Books, has incorporated the industry-leading imaging capabilities of its new HP Indigo press
5000 to establish a unique publishing service for professional photographers. Using the silver halide-quality
capabilities of HP Indigo technology and liquid HP ElectroInk, the new service provides an affordable way for
photographers to self-publish their work.
A&I’s parent company, Isgo Lepejian Photo Lab, has an established track record of digital printing expertise
using HP Indigo technology in an innovative application for producing actors’ head shots. Now, A&I is applying
Isgo’s digital printing know-how to the book market, reducing up-front costs for photography books and
eliminating the need for minimum run lengths.
"Professional photographers who want to publish their work in a book usually learn that it requires
self-publishing, and that they have to publish and invest more than they want," said Rex Weiner,
editor-in-chief, Great Circle Books. "After meeting with A&I and learning about their new HP Indigo press,
it was pretty clear that this digital publishing technology would enable all the quality of a professionally produced
book at a fraction of the price, helping photographers achieve long-time dreams of publishing their work."
Seeing ‘Eye to I’
To launch the service, the two firms are conducting 'Eye to I' photographic exhibitions, a series of book
signings co-sponsored by HP that showcase new HP Indigo-printed portfolio books of renowned
photographers’ humanitarian works. Events held at the A&I facility in Hollywood include:
The premiere of "Spiritus Mundi," photographer Sacha Dean Biyan’s book featuring indigenous peoples in
endangered environments. Proceeds from the book’s sales went to Amnesty International.
The debut of photographer Wayne Schoenfeld’s book, "Through This World But Once," which chronicles the
work of Rotaplast International, a volunteer surgical organization that provides free reconstructive cleft-palate
operations to children worldwide.
"This new publishing model for photographers is another example of just how the HP Indigo technology is
helping to expand the digital market into new applications," said Richard Raimondi, vice president and general
manager, U.S. Graphic Arts Business, HP Imaging and Printing Group. "In addition, A&I’s continued
investment in HP Indigo solutions demonstrates that the wide variety of digitally produced photographic
applications is opening unique business opportunities that can help customers drive new revenues."
Equipped with HP ElectroInk technology, the HP Indigo press 5000 is able to produce the highest quality
prints. Pantone licensed, it prints in up to seven colors, delivering offset quality on a wide range of substrates,
and is supported by a complete range of specialized solutions partners.
"For many years, there was no way of producing high quality, short-run printed pieces for the fine art market,"
said Baret Lepejian, co-owner of Isgo and A&I. "The HP Indigo press 5000 gives us the ability to produce
books, portfolios, and promotional material for some of the most important photographers and fine artists in the
industry. We are able to offer many different papers and finishes to surpass expectations of some of the most
demanding artists."
www.hp.com
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