Survey reveals internet is not the first choice for finding pictures
Seventy per cent of agencies and publishers prefer to use a picture search facility other than the internet, according to a new survey. While use of the web continues to grow, the findings from over 700 picture users show that the majority would rather phone in a picture request or browse through a catalogue or CD-ROM than search online. The survey found that 77 per cent of design and advertising agencies and book and magazine publishers had used the internet to search for pictures, but only 30 per cent said they preferred to search online. Twenty six per cent said they preferred to telephone with a picture request, a further 26 per cent said they would rather look through a catalogue and 17 per cent favoured using a CD-ROM.
Maria Storey, marketing & communications director of the Science Photo Library, which conducted the customer survey, said: "You can get information from a printed catalogue that you can't get by looking at hundreds of images on a screen. There is a 'feel' to it. Users can flick through a selection and an idea may leap out from the page." "Although, with an internet search, you can put in keywords related to 'mood' or 'atmosphere', often designers are not looking for something as simple as that. They are looking for a concept or an idea and that may not easily translate into a single keyword." She said the best approach was to use all the available search methods and provide customers with the greatest degree of choice. The digital era had made it much easier to show customers picture selections before sending them out. It also allowed designers to produce layout designs quickly and easily. And the supply of high-resolution digital files has also speeded up the efficiency of the production process.
The survey also provided some positive feedback about SPL. Ninety-eight per cent ranked SPL's range of pictures highly, with 50 per cent finding it excellent and 48 per cent rating it good. On picture quality, the survey found 98 per cent were more than happy - 75 per cent thought it was excellent and 23 per cent said it was good. The research service was also given a boost by customers in the results. Fifty per cent rated it excellent and a further 42 per cent thought it was good. Comments from users were also favourable.
Jade Sienkiewicz, formerly of Wickens Tutt Southgate advertising said: "The range of subjects for more specific topics was very good - they do not fall into the usual typical photos of most other photo libraries." David Caunce, of the design company Imagine, said: "We used SPL in our work for 'Expo 2000' earlier this year. We were very impressed with the quality of both the images and service." The National Lottery Charities Board's Mark Merryfield, also commented that he was "very impressed with quality of photos and helpful service of staff". Maria Storey, said: "The results of the survey are very good news. Our photographers are long-standing professionals who continually strive to achieve high-quality, exciting images. All our researchers are science graduates, and providing clients with detailed captions is a strong feature of our service."
The Science Photo Library is the world's leading photo agency specialising in science, medicine and technology, with over 130,000 images in its collection. Independent, privately owned and the only one of its kind in Britain, SPL is renowned for its high quality picture bank, created by photographers, illustrators, scientists and medical specialists.
Seventy per cent of agencies and publishers prefer to use a picture search facility other than the internet, according to a new survey. While use of the web continues to grow, the findings from over 700 picture users show that the majority would rather phone in a picture request or browse through a catalogue or CD-ROM than search online. The survey found that 77 per cent of design and advertising agencies and book and magazine publishers had used the internet to search for pictures, but only 30 per cent said they preferred to search online. Twenty six per cent said they preferred to telephone with a picture request, a further 26 per cent said they would rather look through a catalogue and 17 per cent favoured using a CD-ROM.
Maria Storey, marketing & communications director of the Science Photo Library, which conducted the customer survey, said: "You can get information from a printed catalogue that you can't get by looking at hundreds of images on a screen. There is a 'feel' to it. Users can flick through a selection and an idea may leap out from the page." "Although, with an internet search, you can put in keywords related to 'mood' or 'atmosphere', often designers are not looking for something as simple as that. They are looking for a concept or an idea and that may not easily translate into a single keyword." She said the best approach was to use all the available search methods and provide customers with the greatest degree of choice. The digital era had made it much easier to show customers picture selections before sending them out. It also allowed designers to produce layout designs quickly and easily. And the supply of high-resolution digital files has also speeded up the efficiency of the production process.
The survey also provided some positive feedback about SPL. Ninety-eight per cent ranked SPL's range of pictures highly, with 50 per cent finding it excellent and 48 per cent rating it good. On picture quality, the survey found 98 per cent were more than happy - 75 per cent thought it was excellent and 23 per cent said it was good. The research service was also given a boost by customers in the results. Fifty per cent rated it excellent and a further 42 per cent thought it was good. Comments from users were also favourable.
Jade Sienkiewicz, formerly of Wickens Tutt Southgate advertising said: "The range of subjects for more specific topics was very good - they do not fall into the usual typical photos of most other photo libraries." David Caunce, of the design company Imagine, said: "We used SPL in our work for 'Expo 2000' earlier this year. We were very impressed with the quality of both the images and service." The National Lottery Charities Board's Mark Merryfield, also commented that he was "very impressed with quality of photos and helpful service of staff". Maria Storey, said: "The results of the survey are very good news. Our photographers are long-standing professionals who continually strive to achieve high-quality, exciting images. All our researchers are science graduates, and providing clients with detailed captions is a strong feature of our service."
The Science Photo Library is the world's leading photo agency specialising in science, medicine and technology, with over 130,000 images in its collection. Independent, privately owned and the only one of its kind in Britain, SPL is renowned for its high quality picture bank, created by photographers, illustrators, scientists and medical specialists.
