New design of Kodak film boxes

Angarian

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It seems that Kodak had changed recently the design of their film boxes:


I suppose a decision made by Kodak Alaris, who is responsible for marketing, distribution and sales of all Kodak photo films.

Hm, honestly I am not convinced by this move: Some boxes look quite boring, much too simple in their design. And the Ektar box looks.......like the worst film box outfit of the last decades for me. I liked the former one much much more.

I am not an expert in industrial cardbord printing process: But could it be that this new, much simpler design with less different colours and less elements is just cheaper in production?
Saving 1-3 cent per box sums up by the millions of boxes made each year.
 

BrianShaw

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I hope the are saving a few pennies and can use that to mitigate future price increases. The box design appears to retain the vital identifying information. That’s all I really need.
 

MattKing

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FWIW, historically different Kodak film geographic markets were in boxes that varied at least slightly.
 

koraks

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Angarian said:
could it be that this new, much simpler design with less different colours and less elements is just cheaper in production?
Click to expand...

I don't see anything that would make these cheaper to print than the old ones. It's still standard high volume 4 color offset printing.

I suspect trying to save 1 cent per box in printing cost will be a very, very tall order.

The brown color on the Ektar box really is quite...yuck. I'm with you in that the previous/present design is just much nicer.
 

Don_ih

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White box with black lettering would be fine. Film is hardly shelf candy at this point in history. They can use whatever design they want on an online sales page.
 

MattKing

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koraks said:
The brown color on the Ektar box really is quite...yuck.
Click to expand...

Perhaps they are going after the "bring back Panatomic-X" crowd ......
 

brbo

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I don't like the new Ektar colour scheme (why would the punchiest film get the most boring colour?), but the boxes at l(e)ast look like they were made in 21st century. Maybe Alaris figured that they don't necessarily need to play the retro card any more?

Anyway, Kodak are the only one making colour negative film of decent quality and quantity so I don't really care.
 

Truzi

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While I agree regarding the Ektar box, it's not a big deal. Most products, including film, regularly undergo cosmetic packaging changes. Sometimes these changes are major, sometimes incremental.

Personally, I think change for the sake of change can be a bit silly - it's not going to matter (increase sales or save money) most of the time. I don't really care that much... unless it's those bubble-packs that only a child can get open.
 

MattKing

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This has been borrowed from a website for a store in Singapore.
I expect those new boxes will stand out effectively in this sort of display - which itself brings back some memories!:
 

BrianShaw

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Just last week I was in my local camera store, one that I never went to because parking is non-existant. Funnily, they survived and the others are all long gone. They actually still have two film displays like that: one for 35mm and one for 120 and 4x5. I was shocked. Not quite as well-populated but they have everything I need. No more 2-hour round trips to Hollywood for me to buy film.
 
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Sirius Glass

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I do not see any cost savings nor increased sales.
 

JParker

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Angarian said:
Hm, honestly I am not convinced by this move: Some boxes look quite boring, much too simple in their design. And the Ektar box looks.......like the worst film box outfit of the last decades for me. I liked the former one much much more.
Click to expand...

+ 1,000!

Extremely disappointing design. By far the most unattractive design by any film manufacturer of the last years.
I know many photographers love very well designed film boxes, and even collect them (me too).
And from a psychological point of view: Nice packagings play a role in buying a product. Period.
But these new Kodak boxes are definitely not an incentive to take the Kodak product instead of a competitor's product.
 

brbo

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JParker said:
But these new Kodak boxes are definitely not an incentive to take the Kodak product instead of a competitor's product.
Click to expand...

Which competitor's product should I buy instead of that fugly Ektar 100 box?
 

JParker

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brbo said:
Which competitor's product should I buy instead of that fugly Ektar 100 box?
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Depends on for what reasons and characteristics you have chosen Ektar.

For colour negative film I prefer Fujicolor 100. Higher resolution, better sharpness, and I prefer the Fuji colour rendition. But that is of course just my personal preference, personal taste.

But in general when I want a higher saturated colour film I go for colour reversal film, Provia and Velvia. Wonderful, unsurpassed brillant colours, the unique three-dimensional look transparencies offer when viewed with a loupe and in projection. And the unrivalled detail rendition (resolution, sharpness, fineness of grain).
 

loccdor

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I'm partial to the 70s and 80s versions. That being said, I don't necessarily think Kodak should bring them back.

1990s


1980s



1970s


1950s
 

MultiFormat Shooter

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loccdor said:
I'm partial to the 70s and 80s versions. That being said, I don't necessarily think Kodak should bring them back.

Click to expand...

Honestly, I wouldn't be mad if Kodak brought-back this general design. I think it looks "kinda cool," and way better than the new design.
 

JParker

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MultiFormat Shooter said:
Honestly, I wouldn't be mad if Kodak brought-back this general design. I think it looks "kinda cool," and way better than the new design.
Click to expand...

A real retro design, celebrating the Kodak history would at least definitely be much much better than this new ugly design.
For example Foma has offered as an additional option their films in a former, original design. Looks very cool, and the demand and customer reaction has proven Foma right.
 

brbo

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JParker said:
Depends on for what reasons and characteristics you have chosen Ektar.

For colour negative film I prefer Fujicolor 100. Higher resolution, better sharpness, and I prefer the Fuji colour rendition.
Click to expand...

It's a really nice film. Only problem... it's not really available.
 

Milpool

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Has the sale of Alaris closed yet? This smacks of growth initiatives.
 

BrianShaw

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Milpool said:
Has the sale of Alaris closed yet? This smacks of growth initiatives.
Click to expand...

Good question; hopefull prognosis that is in keeping with intentions that KA has publically stated - to continue to promote film. Given the lead-time required for engineering and packaging redesign and production, I doubt that this has much to do with the sale... unless it was pre-planned to punctuate the turnover. I've never known an aquired orgainzitaion to be that considerate of a new buyer, though.
 
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