Imagekind Blog | Buy, Sell, Create and Discuss Art

Check it out! You could win a free, exclusive, Imagekind Story Frame. Sign up now to be entered in to receive a Story Frame, personally customized with your favorite photos.

With the Imagekind Story Frame, you can add multiple images to create one customized artistic montage with your personal photos; perfect for hanging just about anywhere.

To enter, just submit your email address in the sign up box on the homepage, or anywhere else you see the special giveaway announcement on the site. But hurry, the contest ends August 15, 2008. Sign up now and you could be chosen as one of the five lucky winners. By signing up, you’ll also be entered in to receive exclusive Imagekind news, sales and discounts.

Good Luck!

Nate

Share This

Today is a great day for our entire Imagekind family. I’m thrilled to announce to all of you that Imagekind has been acquired by CafePress, the recognized leader of user-generated commerce. We are excited to join forces with CafePress to leverage the strengths and resources of both companies as we continue to grow. We also want to let you know that we will continue to operate the business under our existing Imagekind website and brand.

Since launching Imagekind almost two years ago, the Imagekind team has been focused on creating the largest user-generated art marketplace. We believed the world was ready for a new way to shop for art, that there were millions of artists on this planet that needed a better way to showcase their work, and that customers wanted an easier way to find and create unique custom-framed art and photographs. Today on Imagekind, consumers can choose art from over 50,000 artists from around the globe within a single online shopping experience. Thanks to all of you, our vision has been realized.

What’s next?

With this announcement, we have effectively gone from a quickly growing online marketplace to the market leader. Your work will now be visible to a continually growing number of CafePress members (more than 6.5 million worldwide). This will undoubtedly offer you greater awareness than ever before and, ultimately, greater art sales.

In the coming months, we will continue to innovate by expanding our technology in ways we hope you find interesting and useful. At the same time, the dedicated team at Imagekind will stay laser focused on continuing to offer the industry’s “gold standard” for giclee printing and museum-quality framing, while continuing to serve all your needs from hosting your galleries to order fulfillment.

I’m proud of how Imagekind has disrupted the world of art by returning control of the global marketplace to you, the artists who showcase and sell your work on our site. I hope you’re as excited as all of us at the possibility of explosive growth and I’d like to personally invite you to continue to work together with us to build something truly special.

With you, we look forward to continuing to build the BEST user-generated art marketplace in the world. I’ll be sharing more as we move through the coming months.

Kind regards,

Kevin Saliba
CEO, Imagekind.com

Share This

Imagekind.com to maintain current business focus

Imagekind.com has been acquired by CaféPress, the leader in user-generated commerce. After months of discussion and consideration, we are thrilled to be announcing the news of this acquisition. There have been many positive changes here at Imagekind over the past couple months, but none more exciting than this. This partnership will allow your work to be visible to a continually growing number of CaféPress members (more than 6.5 million worldwide) and part of a combined product offering that will provide you greater visibility than ever before. We have effectively gone from a quickly growing online marketplace to the market leader.

Acquisition Q&A:

Q: Will Imagekind change its focus on art?

A: No, we will continue to build our community and feature our member artists and their unique work, while offering the very best printing, framing quality and assortment in the industry.

Q: Why did CaféPress acquire Imagekind?

A: CaféPress is continually looking for ways to deliver innovation and new merchandise to its community of over 6.5 million members. We represent a natural extension of this effort - it allows them to offer high end art solutions and for member artist to enjoy greater exposure.

Q: Will Imagekind start selling other products?

A: Imagekind is proud to be the industry leader when it comes to the highest quality giclee prints and posters combined with museum quality papers, canvases and framing options. We will maintain the focus on what we do best.

Q: What are CaféPress’ plans for Imagekind?

A: There are no foreseeable plans for any organizational changes as a result of this acquisition. Imagekind will remain in Seattle and CaféPress will continue to operate from its headquarters in San Mateo.

Q: Will CaféPress integrate the websites?

A: CaféPress and Imagekind have no immediate plans for integrating the two websites. We will be taking some time to learn more about each other’s communities and better understand the best path for integration for our customers.

Q: What is CaféPress saying?

A: Imagekind is great at what they do. In a very short time, they’ve built a successful business with an impressive community - we admire the business they’ve created and feel the synergy between the brands will combine to offer our collective users an unparalleled user experience.

An expanded assortment of merchandise for artists has been something our community has been asking for over the years. With more than 5 million high quality custom framing options, Imagekind allows CaféPress a fast path to delivering this service to our customers at the highest quality in the industry.

Imagekind, known as the best-in-breed print-on-demand art provider, is a perfect fit.

Share This

A few weeks ago, Emily shared her heartfelt regrets on the demise of Polaroid Instant film. Soon after, she received quite an interesting email from one of the Imagekind artists featured in the blog post. The email is from member artist Manuel Branco who actually worked at Polaroid for 34 years. In his email he shared an interesting insider’s look into the beloved film and its ultimate demise.

Manuel had a lot to share, but I found it very interesting to read. Anyone who loves this medium should find his perspective fascinating and, yes, maybe a little depressing. It doesn’t sound good folks.

Read below to see what Manuel said in response to Emily’s post.

- Nate

Hi Emily,

Thanks for including one of my Polaroid diptych images in your blog. You may not know this, but I actually worked as an R&D Lab Technician for Polaroid at the Waltham, MA Chemical Operations Division for over 25 years (34 years total with Polaroid). Our lab actually did all the quality control and release of fine chemicals that were used to coat and manufacture all Polaroid instant films! Polaroid may have just recently announced the discontinuation of Instant film, but it actually pulled the plug over a year ago.

Shop Polaroid Artwork

As a Polaroid insider for many years, I was as close as they come to its evolution and ultimate demise. Personally, I’ll be sorry to see it eventually drop out of the market place as a photographic medium. The SX-70 and 600 films were the best products Polaroid ever produced.

The technology to manufacture instant film (especially the hybrid 600 SX-70 type films - integral films) is so complex and technologically demanding, that the dwindling worldwide demand was no longer able to support or sustain it’s manufacturing base! That’s the sad truth. As an insider, I know all the elements of what was attempted to save it. Polaroid made brave efforts to remain relevant in the digital arena.

Shop Polaroid Artwork

Once the company came out of bankruptcy and was purchased by the Petters Group, the writing was already on the wall.  It was primarily interested in Polaroid’s name recognition and distribution network to expand its market base. It had no intention or interest in sustaining a dying product (instant film) in a market revolutionized by the advent of digital photography - the new “instant photography”.

The coating units that produce Polaroid Instant Film are so specialized and sophisticated, the only thing they can do is coat instant film. They cannot be retrofitted or re-engineered for any other purpose. They are multimillion dollar machines that were engineered to coat film layers as thin as a wavelength of light (that’s about 3 microns - 1 micron is 1/1000th of an mm). Once the warehoused chemicals, used to coat the film, are exhausted, that’s it - game over! Even if worldwide demand for the film increased tomorrow by a magnitude, it could no longer be manufactured since the chemical operations division in Waltham is slated for demolition. The entire Waltham site has already been sold to a developer.

Shop Polaroid Artwork

It’s really a shame, because Instant photography is like no other photographic medium ever created or that will ever be created. It cannot really be compared to any other medium. Its formats like the SX-70 600 film and the Peal-Apart films were truly unique. Graphic artists and photographers all over the world loved the medium for its creative potential and experimental, manipulative qualities.

Shop Polaroid Artwork

Don’t despair though, Polaroid Instant Films should remain available at photo shops and CVS stores for a number of years before the inventories are exhausted. At least that is my understanding.

Manuel Branco

Share This

Happy Independence Day!

Remember you can receive Sparkling Savings for July 4th and get 25% off Frames* by entering promo code July42008 in the promo box at checkout. Hurry, offer expires July 7th, just in time to get all your Fourth of July photo memories framed.

Start Shopping

Shop Artwork: 4th on Lake Austin by Trey Ratcliff

Shop Artwork: Fireworks by Tommi Arina

Shop Artwork: American Flag at Train Station by James Crotty

Shop Artwork: Fireworks 7.3.2007 by Notley Hawkins

Shop Artwork: USA Flag by Lenora De Lude

*Discount applies to custom frames only.

Share This

We’ve all seen it. Heck, whether an amateur or professional, we’ve all probably fallen victim to it ourselves. That’s right, the PSHS - Photographer’s Shaky Hand Syndrome.

Natalie Norton, over at dps, shares How to Reduce Camera Shake - 6 Techniques and end those unintentionally blurry photographs. You don’t need a tripod or other special equipment to pull off her techniques, just some trusty appendages.

I thought it would be a helpful resource for all the photography artists here at Imagekind and wanted to share it.

- Nate

Share This

Want to connect with Imagekind and stay up to date? You can find us on the following:

Click on the logos and come join us! If you’re an artist, share your unique Imagekind URL so we can enjoy your work.

- Nate

Share This

Scott Neste has one of the most captivating artistic styles. His mixed media collages contain a perfect balance of emotional and decorative appeal. Neste’s ability to combine contrasting colors, shapes, styles, shades and mediums into complimentary artistic expressions sets his work apart.

Some works contain upwards of 40 different layers in order to capture the desired effect.

Artwork: Privacy 11

Neste was featured recently on the front page of his local newspaper for his art exhibition, My Little Adventure, displayed in conjunction with the opening of his friends’ coffee shop.

All of the framed art prints displayed for this exhibit were produced by Imagekind, printed straight from his gallery. He also created brochures and flyers to hand out to visitors of the exhibit directing people back to his art prints for sale on Imagekind.

Artwork: Memory Book 5

One of his most stunning collections, Vintage Memories, is a compilation of old and forgotten memories recreated into a contemporary work of art. Using a combination of journal entries dating back to 1909, vintage photographs, corroded paint, fall leaves and other such discarded items, Neste created a powerful statement on the value of remembrance. Exhibit visitors would approach Neste with tears in their eyes as they share how his artwork reminds them of their often forgotten family members of the past.

Read the full story on Scott Neste’s recent feature in his local newspaper, and find out more about his unique artistic style here.

- Nate

Share This

Congratulations to Tah G. for winning Imagekind’s five hundred dollars in art Dream Room Contest Giveaway. We got a lot of submissions and Tah was randomly selected as the lucky winner of a $500 Imagekind Gift Card.

It’s not too late. You can always sign up to receive special news, sales and promotions. Sign up on almost any page of the site by entering your email into our new navigation bar, just one of the cool new features we recently added to the site.

Congrats Tah!

- Nate

Share This

We heard some fantastic news the other day.

Imagekind was recently nominated as one of the most innovative companies in the world by FastCompany.com. Now, we need your help to get us in the top 50!

On July 15, the editors of FastCompany.com will select the 50 most innovative companies worldwide based on participants’ overall feedback and rating.

You can read the submission, vote and comment about why you think Imagekind is innovative at FastCompany.com.

Every year Fast Company magazine highlights the most innovative companies around the world that take business to new creative heights. Imagekind was nominated as one of those companies because of how Imagekind is revolutionizing the way people experience, interact with and enjoy art.

The more comments we get and the higher the votes we receive, the better our chances are of getting into the top 50 most innovative companies worldwide. Read, vote and comment and show why Imagekind is the best community for buying, selling and creating art.

- Nate

Share This