In the digital age, making photo prints is more purposeful than in the film age, with purposes in mind such as gift-giving or family keepsakes. This experiment shows that “the physical touch of printed photos is still appreciated” (Boll & Henze, 2008). Photofinishers can demonstrate samples of printed photo books and other personalized products, which would attract people to make photo prints and/or products.
Ya-fang Tsai and Frank Cost, An Experimental Study of Differences in Reading Photo Books by Presentation Media: Print versus Screen, 2010
Tsai and Cost studied consumers preferences for photo books versus viewing photos on a computer screen. Their study showed that people preferred photo books over viewing on a computer because photo books are tangible, they prefer hard copies, and photo books are easier to look/flip/show.
This study also highlighted the importance of the physical book when selecting products. Consumers who saw an actual photo book were more likely to select one, than when they just saw the photos on a computer.
The complete study is available at Print versus Screen – Presentation Medium-Dependent Picture Consumption. Related information is available at Photo Books Versus the Digital Photo Frame and Photo Books Are Green.
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