Investing in digital color...the bottom line

The purpose of this research is to understand the investment requirements that digital color prospects will face in order to build a digital color business. Printers and prepress firms have been hearing that the cost of ownership is declining, but they need to understand that the business model reaches far beyond cost per page. Not only do digital color printers need to purchase equipment, maintenance support, and consumables, but they need to build the right infrastructure to deliver value-added digital color services to their customers.This research report will examine the various equipment, RIP, and software options print service providers have for migrating into the world of digital color and the associated costs. More importantly, this document will describe what is required to transform digital color equipment into value-added services. Case histories will provide a detailed analysis of the infrastructure needed to make a digital color business thrive. Users will discuss their migration into personalization, Internet services, fulfillment, and distribution. Current owners will also review the investments that were required in digital front-end solutions and software, as well as personnel to sell and support digital color offerings. This white paper is designed to aggregate standard digital color cost elements that are easily identified with infrastructure needs in order to provide a complete investment picture for the world of digital color