PRESS ROOM STORY
HARMAN ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE FOR INKJET MEDIA
2nd February 2007
HARMAN ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE FOR INKJET MEDIA
*First-ever Baryta inkjet products to hit UK shelves on February 5
HARMAN technology Limited, the professional imaging specialist has revealed the official launch date for its new range of pioneering photographic inkjet media, the first and only photographic inkjet paper to incorporate Baryta technology. The company has announced that the first HARMAN inkjet products will hit shelves across the UK on February 5 2007.
Howard Hopwood, marketing director at HARMAN technology stated:
“There has been a fantastic amount of interest in the new photo inkjet range, which has been gathering momentum since we first announced our intention to join the professional photo inkjet market in the summer.”
“We can now confirm that the first products will be available for immediate purchase on February 5th next year. Further products in the range will be released gradually over 2007 in a staggered launch programme.” He added.
The first product to be available will be the HARMAN PHOTO Professional Inkjet Matt FB Mp paper. The product is Microporous, available in a weighty 310gsm stock, uses instant-dry Silica technology and is suitable for use with both pigment and dye based inks; offering photographers a versatile and sturdy medium with which to create colour or monochrome prints.
In order to combat ‘curling’, one of the primary criticisms of existing fibre-based inkjet papers, HARMAN has developed unique, bespoke anti-curl machinery to use within the manufacturing process; generating a product that lies perfectly flat and maintains a unique essence and feel.
In terms of results, the new inkjet media is said to offer extraordinary archival properties, colour definition and image clarity – much of which is attributed to the presence of the unique Baryta layer.
Howard Hopwood explained:
“Nobody else has harnessed Baryta technology for an inkjet media before, which has certainly created a buzz around the new range. The product will be completely unique in the marketplace, and from our own testing we have found the Baryta products to offer a range of exceptional benefits, particularly in terms of colour definition and longevity.”
Following HARMAN’s instant-dry Matt FB Mp paper, a fibre-base Semi-Gloss version will be the second product for launch also incorporating a real photo Baryta layer. A number of other finishes and product-types are in the pipeline, which will be released over the course of 2007. To support the launch, discounted trial packs containing five sheets of the Matt FB Mp paper will be available for a limited period priced at £2.99, reduced from the regular retail price of £5.99.
The bold packaging for the products uses a strong black foundation, with colour-coded graphical elements to distinguish the various properties and compatibilities of the products. Corresponding point of sale material will also be provided to stockists to promote the products in-store. Howard Hopwood added:
“The eye-catching packaging designs have been developed to convey the high-quality nature of the products. The colour-coding will assist users in selecting the best product for them, whilst also highlighting the colour-enhancing attributes of the media.”
--- ENDS ---
CAPTION – A new dawn in colour: HARMAN’s new inkjet media are the first ever inkjet products to incorporate a Baryta layer and unique anti-curl technology.
NOTES TO EDITORS –
HARMAN technology Limited is a pioneering professional imaging specialist based in Mobberley, Cheshire. The company announced the launch of its pioneering HARMAN PHOTO inkjet media range, suitable for both colour and monochrome photography, in August 2006; and the first products will become available in the UK and USA in February 2007.
HARMAN also manufactures traditional monochrome photographic products under the renowned ‘ILFORD PHOTO’ brand. The ILFORD range of colour photographic products, including ‘ILFORD Galerie’ inkjet media, is not manufactured or marketed by HARMAN technology, and remains a separate business based in Switzerland.
What is Baryta?
Baryta is a special coating, which is traditionally applied to fibre photographic paper base prior to coating with the emulsion layers. Although utilised in traditional photography for decades, Baryta has never successfully made the transition to inkjet, until now.