Original title: Interview:CanonThe C910 series best fits the needs of album printing:Zhongguancunonline

On July 10, 2019, at the 21st Shanghai International Photographic Equipment and Digital Video Exhibition, Canon unveiled the new ImagePress C910 series of third-generation single-sheet color printing systems, mainly aimed at the digital short board printing market, helping organizations such as fast printing shops and studios to meet various video output business needs and expand professional image output services including brochures, greeting cards, personalized packaging, advertising posters, photo albums, etc.

Canon ImagePress C910 product display

As with every new Canon product launch, a media interview was arranged after the conference. The Canon company leaders interviewed were as follows:

Shinsuke Fukui: Senior General Manager, Professional Printing Products Division, Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Takashi Sato: Senior Manager, Professional Printing Products Business Development Division, Professional Printing Products Division, Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Yutaka Kakihara: Senior Manager, Commercial Printing Product Marketing Division, Professional Printing Products Division, Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Shao Wenhui: Product Manager, Professional Printing Products Division/Commercial Printing Product Marketing Division, Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Zhongguancun Online: As for the new products released today, the new C910 series products have several characteristics. One is that it has a certain production capacity. On the other hand, its output media and applications have a wide range of coverage. Photo albums, advanced posters, and various display presentations. It is positioned to be more flexible and rich in applications. We know that Canon also has inkjet devices, which do professional image output, such as the Pro 500 series. So in terms of product positioning, what should the accurate position of the C910 series printer released today be?

Shinsuke Fukui, Senior General Manager, Professional Printing Products Division, Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Shinsuke Fukui: “Actually, when it comes to print-related images, Canon's product line is very rich. We have a diverse and rich range of products, from very small ones to large ones and even very large ones. Today, we are introducing you to the new C910 series. It is a very suitable product that can meet the core needs of studios, that is, album printing.”

Canon cell phone photo printer

Canon inkjet photo all-in-one

Canon PRO500 12 color professional photo printer

At the output end, Canon has small photo printers, mainly for individual users, consumers, and households. In addition, there are also very large commercial printing equipment, such as those used by printing factories such as printing magazines. Among them, in response to the demand for photo album printing in studios, if large-scale printing equipment is used, it is clearly “using a sledgehammer to kill chickens.” The price and performance far exceed the requirements for album printing. Therefore, Canon has specially launched the C910 series products this time. We believe it can best meet the requirements of companies that require album printing.

Zhongguancun Online: Regarding post-printing treatments, such as photo albums, a very glossy film is applied to the surface. Is the post-press film rolling equipment currently attached to the C910 series showing the best results? As far as albums are concerned, albums output to users by studios in the past gave people the impression that albums should be of very high quality, have good colors, good details, and have very high definition, a high-end, bound album. Can users accept the albums currently produced by the Canon C910 series, or how high is this acceptance?

Canon (China) Co., Ltd. Professional Printing Products Division/Commercial Printing Product Marketing Division Senior Manager Yutaka Kakihara

Yutaka Kakihara: “In terms of photo output, first of all, Canon has a professional-grade ImageProGraf series 12 color printing device, which is very professional. It can provide the highest quality photo albums, including wedding dresses and professional photography.”

Canon's professional-grade ImageProGraf series 12 color printer

Canon ImagePress C910 output album display

In a nutshell, the ImagePress C910 series introduced to you today is not intended to replace professional-grade PRO series products, nor was it launched for the purpose of providing customers with the highest quality photos. Its purpose is to enable studios to have more sources of business, that is, expand the scope of their photo album business.

Canon decorative painting output scheme and civilian image output scheme

In fact, in terms of studio business, their demand is actually increasing, and there will be more potential for development. For example, many customers don't have to make a perfect album; it may be a form of photos, cards, or a photo book. A photo book is like a manual, but it also needs a nice cover to decorate it. There are more and more business requirements like this.

Compared with Canon's professional-grade PRO series products, the C910 series is more flexible and versatile. It can be directly cut into paper patterns such as A3 and A4, and then output the photos required by customers.

As you can see directly from the C910 series released by Canon, there are three paper feeders, which can hold paper of different sizes, and another paper feeder. In total, there are four paper feeders, which can meet the requirements of paper input of different sizes and sizes.

Various media such as thick paper, paper cards, etc., and different sizes can be flexibly satisfied through the C910 series. The ultimate purpose of Canon's launch of such a product is to help our customers expand their business. If you want to get high-quality online products, you still have to use professional-grade equipment. This is Canon's position on products.

Zhongguancun Online: For a studio, the final product that the customers it serves enjoy and get is this kind of booklet. In fact, what Canon provides is a solution for the internal output. However, the part of the brochure that users get also includes this booklet. There will be many types to choose from in its size, size, color, and style. Plus, the output medium inside may have created a complete product and service for end consumers. What more professional advice does Canon have for partners or commercial customers to help them expand their business or expand their customers?

Canon (China) Co., Ltd. Professional Printing Products Division/Professional Printing Products Business Development Division Senior Manager Takashi Sato

Takayuki Sato: “First Canon has always worked on output and printing. Moreover, these technologies will continue to develop greatly in the future. In the process of carrying out printing work, Canon is very concerned about two points. The first is to be environmentally friendly, such as hardware products. When it is in use, it should emit less and less carbon dioxide. At the same time, more environmentally friendly products such as bioplastics should be used as materials for hardware products. At the same time, the consumables provided by Canon should also be harmless, and further improvements will be made in the future”.

When it comes to environmentally friendly work, not only does Canon need to implement it, but it also has to work with partners to carry out this work. Because environmental friendliness is a goal. The materials used by Canon and provided to partners, including album cover materials, etc., should all be environmentally friendly.

“Second, just being environmentally friendly is not enough; we should work with our partners to continuously improve the quality of printed products. This is very important. Because it includes post-press aspects, such as how the color of printing should be, etc., there are a number of certification bodies around the world that provide certification. Moreover, in fact, some of these post-press certifications have a history of more than 100 years. For example, the well-known British GCF certification. We will promote our partners to also obtain certification from relevant agencies, and work with them to provide customers with higher quality album products.”

Zhongguancun Online: We have seen in the past that in the field of professional video, Canon has always emphasized from input to output, whether for individual users, commercial users, or production users, there are corresponding professional solutions. In the future, Canon can bring some different experiences to users, and in what ways might it bring greater or more surprises to different types of users?

Takashi Sato: “Canon is a company that includes video input and output, and this is our core strength. For example, at the input end, we have both a camera and a scanner; at the output end, we have a printing device and a professional display device. It can be said that the rich and complete product line is what Canon is proud of, and it is also a characteristic that distinguishes Canon from other brands.”

Display of Canon's professional video output solutions

Looking ahead to future development, Canon will focus on the following two areas in the future:

The first is that in terms of image processing, whether it is output or input, it involves image processing. This is also an important part of optical processing and is Canon's advantage. Canon will use its strengths in image processing to provide new software, including workflows, to meet the diverse needs of various customers.

Display of Canon's high-end video output solutions

On the other hand, Canon's hardware products at the input and output terminals will also be richer. For example, the media requirements of users who can adapt to more diverse needs. Because the current market demand itself is diversified, Canon will collaborate with partners to enrich these product lines to better meet customers.

Zhongguancun Online: What is the current overall market situation in the field of art reproduction in China? Compared to other brands that reproduce works of art, what is Canon's core competitive advantage?

Shinsuke Fukui: “The art reproduction market is a huge market. There are three main driving forces for its rapid development. The first comes from commerce, the second is investment, and the third is collection. Because the Chinese art market is becoming more and more active, many ordinary people are collecting all kinds of art. With the improvement of living standards and the improvement of the accommodation environment, users' requirements for works of art are also getting higher and higher. If you collect some works of art, it can play a seductive role”.

Canon Art Album Output Plan & Art Copy Output Solution Display

In the field of art reproduction, Canon has its own unique advantage. Canon has very strong power at both the input and output terminals, and the technology is very mature in terms of image input and output. As a result, Canon can provide a very complete product design, coverage, and full service and technology, including color management. This is unmatched by any other company; it is unique to Canon.

Regarding the reproduction of works of art, one very important point is the acquisition of images, which requires detailed color restoration and compensation. Finally, it is output through a high-level output device. Canon has already tried very successfully in this regard. Canon has a Japanese cultural relics inheritance project called “decoration,” which photographs, prints, and reproduces Japan's most valuable cultural heritage. In order to “decorate” this project, Canon has invested a great deal of energy. For example, use a high-end EOS camera to take pictures of countless original works of art, select the most suitable one, then restore compensation for color, etc., and then use Canon's superb printing technology to reproduce them.

Therefore, when reproducing works of art, what is very important is the seamless connection and coordination between the input end and the output end. This is where Canon has an advantage, and other companies cannot provide it. The moment you enter it, it's already decided what the final result will be.

Based on this project, Canon's art reproduction work in China can actually be based on rich experience. Because the cameras that have passed through Canon EOS, the ImageProGraf related products sold by Canon in China, and the new ImagePress models we have launched today, we can achieve the commercial purpose of reproducing works of art.

Taking the opportunity for Canon to release the new C910 series color printer, let's take another look at what advantages Canon has in the field of professional printing:

1. Canon is the only company that can provide customers with complete color management solutions at the input and output terminals. The hardware and software solutions at the input and output terminals cover the widest range, from ordinary personal needs to professional needs that are extremely demanding on color and detail.

2. In the future, Canon will work in two directions. One is image processing technology, including workflow software that meets the needs of different customers; the second is to continue to enrich hardware products at the input and output terminals to meet the needs of more types of users.

3. The C910 series printer just released by Canon is a high-volume product solution that perfectly fits the album printing business. The purpose of its release is to enable studios to have more business sources, that is, expand the scope of their album business.

4. The art reproduction market is in huge demand and requires seamless connection and coordination between input and output terminals. This is Canon's core advantage.

5. Canon focuses on environmental friendliness, reduces carbon dioxide emissions, and works with partners to improve the quality of printed products to meet customer needs for high-quality albums.

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