HP Expands Digital Photography Offerings for Consumers and Pros

New solutions offer users quality, ease of use and affordability

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 18, 2005 - In advance of the annual Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, Fla., HP today announced several new offerings designed to further the company's leadership in the digital photography market by delivering high-quality, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for everyone from beginners to pros.

Highlighting this news, HP announced its entry into the $20 billion-plus advanced amateur market with the introduction of the industry's first nine-ink color and black-and-white photo printer that produces finished, professional-quality photos up to 13 x 19-inches.

To enable the best at-home printing experience for consumers, HP announced photo lab-quality prints that can be produced for as little as 24 cents.(1)

Recognizing that a great image begins with a great camera, the company also expanded its line of award-winning digital cameras with the introduction of five new models, including the limited-edition HP Photosmart BMW Williams.F1 Team Special Edition Digital Camera.

For the professional photography market, HP expanded the HP Designjet line with the new HP Designjet 90 Printer series - the most affordable 18-inch photo printer on the market - delivering rich tones, true color consistency and excellent resistance to light fading for prints that last for generations.(2)

Today's product announcements are the first of many digital photography products - including photo printers, inks, specialty media, digital cameras, scanners and PCs - HP plans to deliver in 2005 to support the company's strategy to deliver the best overall photography experience.

"HP provides a simple path for consumers and professionals alike to capture, print and share their photos the way they want, when and where they want," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Personal Systems Group, HP. "Our complete portfolio sets a new standard in the industry for long-lasting, high-quality photos at affordable prices."

Gallery-quality results that last for generations with HP photo printers

Bridging the gap between its professional and consumer lines of photo printers, HP has entered into the advanced amateur market with the HP Photosmart 8750 Professional Photo Printer. With the new HP 101 Blue Photo Inkjet Print Cartridge, this printer enables nine-ink color prints that deliver noticeable improvements in images with intense blues, including landscapes, seascapes and sports photos.

Additionally, the Photosmart 8750 offers color management controls and remarkable printer flexibility to produce realistic color and true black-and-white photos with neutral grays. It is expected to be available in April for an estimated U.S. street price of $499.(3)

HP Photosmart printers using HP Vivera Inks and HP Premium and Premium Plus Photo Papers offer the optimal combination of image quality and fade resistance, providing more than 100 years lightfastness under glass and more than 200 years in archive.(2)

For creative professionals in the photography, design and proofing fields, the HP Designjet 90 Printer series provides extraordinary color output and enables professional color management capabilities with HP Professional Color Technologies. A six-color, A2+/C+-size (up to 18 x 24-inches) solution that offers full Mac connectivity, the Designjet 90 also has the ability to print postcard-size images, full-color pages or banner-style pieces with a C+-size tray and an optional roll-feed capability for printing up to 18 inches.

When combined with HP Vivera Inks and select HP papers, the HP Designjet 90 Printer series delivers output quality, color accuracy and fade resistance(4) similar to analog printing and faster turnarounds on proofs at a lower cost. The HP Designjet 90 Printer series is expected to be available this summer at estimated U.S. street prices of $995 to $1,150.(3)

Additionally, HP has partnered with leaders in the industry to offer a complete solution for the digital photographer. These include digital input from solutions such as: Creo's Leaf digital camera backs and scanners; color management solutions from GretagMacbeth - featuring software and hardware profiling customized for the HP Designjet 90 Printer series; and, photo manipulation and image enhancement using Adobe Photoshop®.

Stylish new line of digital cameras offer quality and simplicity

HP's new line of cameras, including the HP Photosmart R717, M417, M22 and M23 Digital Cameras with HP Instant Share, offer users quality, simplicity and style at estimated prices ranging from $149 to $349.(3)

The HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera, with durable, stainless steel construction, and the HP Photosmart M417 both feature a unique ergonomic grip. The HP Photosmart M22 and M23 Digital Cameras come in a new weather-resistant all-metal case for taking photos in a variety of conditions.

To help ensure that printed photos result in picture-perfect color output, all of these new digital cameras feature HP's exclusive Real Life technologies -- a series of technical advancements developed by HP Labs, the company's central research facility, that helps take the guesswork out of digital photography and makes it easy to produce great photos that are crisp, realistic and true to life.

Partnering with iconic brands for a personalized approach to cameras

This year, HP is partnering with influential brands to personalize one of its top-selling cameras, offering consumers products that fit their unique style. In time for the start of the Formula One racing season, HP worked with BMW to create the HP Photosmart BMW Williams.F1 Team Special Edition Digital Camera. Designed for car and racing enthusiasts, the navy blue camera "revs" like an engine when turned on and features unique packaging - a silver collectors' tin embossed with the HP and BMW logos.

This comes on the heels of the HP Photosmart "Harajuku Lovers" Digital Camera,(5) which HP co-designed with singer-songwriter, performer, actress and now fashion designer Gwen Stefani. HP teamed with Stefani to design a digital camera that would appeal to teens and tweens, a market where Stefani has tremendous recognition and influence. Both limited-edition cameras are stylized versions of the HP Photosmart R607 Digital Camera.

Photo cards provide consumers with an easy way to personalize

Complementing HP's wide array of photo media, HP's new line of 4 x 8-inch HP Premium Photo Cards include HP Design Studio software, containing more than 100 designs developed by AmericanGreetings.com. These cards provide users with the flexibility and convenience to create and personalize greeting cards for special occasions.

HP also announced the availability of HP Image Zone Express 1.5 for free download on http://www.hp.com/go/ize. HP Image Zone Express provides an easy-to-use software solution for viewing, organizing, editing, printing and sharing photos with family and friends.


(1) When using the HP 95 Photo Value Pack, 200 sheets, available in the United States only.

(2) Based on Wilhelm Imaging Research light fade testing under glass using HP Vivera Inks on HP Premium Plus Photo Papers on similar systems (as of January 2005). More information on additional testing factors is available at http://www.hp.com/go/premiumplusphoto and http://www.wilhelm-research.com.

(3) Actual prices may vary.

(4) Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. concluded that prints made with HP No. 85 ink cartridges and HP Premium Plus papers may be displayed indoors under glass for 82 years before noticeable fading and staining will occur (See http://www.wilhelm-research.com for details.)

(5) Available in North America only.