Research & Reports

I3A is a comprehensive single source of information and opinion on key issues affecting the imaging industry. I3A credibly represents its membership to bodies as diverse as the government and the consumer, the Environmental Protection Agency and the business world. And, of course, I3A speaks to the industry itself on key issues — from resolving market growth barriers, to better serving customers.

I3A Market Share Reports
I3A Imports and Exports of Photographic/imaging Equipment and Supplies Report
DX Codes for APX Film and 135 Size Film

I3A Market Share Reports

I3A produces several market share reports for participant member companies. The reports are unique in that we collect actual shipment information, not estimates. The raw data is kept completely confidential, and compiled into a comprehensive report published only to those companies who have provided raw data input.

Reports are currently produced quarterly, but frequency is adjusted based on the needs of the participant companies. Examples of reports currently produced are:

U.S. X-Ray Survey Reports (Medical) – Cumulative reports for three, six, nine and twelve month periods throughout the year.
Worldwide X-Ray Survey Reports (Medical) – Cumulative for three, six, nine and twelve month periods throughout the year.

The reports provide a summary of the sales data for certain photographic industry product categories across select regions of the world. All of the reports are in a common format, showing the selected product categories and regions of the world covered by each report.

Description and Process for Compilation of Reports

Participant member companies send their confidential market information formatted in an agreed upon template directly to the independent accounting firm managed by I3A. The accounting firm compiles the figures and applies rules of data disclosure. The disclosure rules have been developed through years of experience in order to protect the data confidentiality of all participant companies. For instance, the simplest rule is that figures in a report matrix cannot be published when the particular product/region intersection has less than three participant companies reporting sales in order to prevent the individual numbers from being ascertained. There are additional rules outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to protect confidential information.

Products to be included in each category in a survey report have been coordinated by I3A, but determined by the companies themselves. I3A member participants discuss and provide the specialized insight regarding what specifically will be covered in the reports that would be of particular value to participant companies.

The value of the survey reports to the participating companies is the candid summary of actual market conditions for products in select regions, based on the honest reporting of data by a group of committed photographic industry participants.

I3A can produce market share reports for a wide variety of markets. Please contact us if you are interested in starting a new report.

I3A Imports and Exports of Photographic/imaging Equipment and Supplies Report

I3A collects and distributes on a quarterly basis summarized data on the United States imports and exports of photographic/imaging equipment and supplies. These reports look at several categories, including Still Picture Equipment; Motion Picture Equipment; Photocopying and Microfilming Equipment; Sensitized Film, Paper & Plates; and Prepared Photographic Chemicals. The reports also contain a Digital Cameras and Printers section. The reports utilize the International Harmonized Code and description and show the quantity and value in thousands.

The reports are free for members. If you are an I3A member, please log into the members website and click on "MarketPlace" to download your copy.

We offer these valuable reports to non-members at a cost of $10 per quarter or $35 for a full year (prior year only). If interested, please visit our resource page for more information on downloading these and other valuable reports.

DX Codes for APX Film and 135 Size Film

The intent of the DX system is to identify each film in a controlled manner so that the encoded identification may be detected and used effectively by photofinishers. The DX Codes were developed by I3As Technical Committee IT1, Photographic Films, Papers, and Plates.

These reports summarize the DX Part 1 Numbers that have been assigned by I3A to film sensitizers. The reports also contain a listing of the DX Part 1 and 2 numbers currently in use and their associated film products.

DX numbers are given only to sensitizing companies, per their request, so that the most effective use of this system can be recognized by the photofinishing community in general.