Photo Ops: Image Enhancement at Citrus College

When Citrus College’s Reprographics department began offering photo printing services, it initially generated prints from its Xerox iGen3, which the shop installed in August 2006. The following year, the in-plant acquired a Kodak GS4 Compact picture kiosk.

Located in the Reprographics lobby, the kiosk proved to be more cost-effective than the iGen3 for photo prints, according to Reprographics Supervisor Rocky Reynolds.

“Doing only 100 to 150 prints a month, we’ve been making enough to cover the cost of the kiosk and supplies, and seeing a little profit,” he reports, adding, “I’m really more interested in providing a service for the college.”

The kiosk makes financial sense for customers, who are printing photos for professional and personal use. “They used to have their photos printed at Walmart,” Reynolds states. “But our kiosk cuts their costs by at least two-thirds.”

Now, the iGen3 is back in the photographic picture as the in-plant explores photo book printing. The shop is negotiating a software solution and evaluating binding options.

Reynolds sees the potential of photo books for celebratory, honorific, educational and retrospective purposes, such as for award ceremonies and outreach programs.

“We partner with FLS International, a foreign-language institute that brings in people from outside the United States and teaches them English,” he adds. “Photo books would be a great way for students to commemorate their trips.”

The in-plant is currently in discussions with the Citrus College Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for the school, to create a series of “My Citrus Story” photo table books for supportive alumni.