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    • Common Picture eXchange environment (CPXe)

    The Common Picture eXchange environment (CPXe) Initiative was a ground-breaking initiative by the digital photography industry to advance growth in the consumer digital photo services category. The goal of this visionary strategy was to enable participating companies to offer significant new value propositions to growing numbers of consumers who are turning to today’s digital photo technology. As a result of this initiative, consumers using digital cameras are now able to obtain photographic prints and other innovative digital photo services from participating providers using:

    • Any digital camera
    • From any location
    • Via any online photo site
    • From any retail printing service or printer

    CPXe, took digital photography to unprecedented levels of convenience and accessibility by combining the convenience and choice of current film- based systems with all the advantages of digital.

    Three key capabilities were at the core of the initiative. First, the creation of a Network designed to connect the array of services offered by all types of providers. Second, a master service directory, similar in function to the telephone Yellow Pages, to make all of those services easily accessible to anyone. And thirdly, the creation of industry-wide standards for applications and services that allow for seamless service and convenience.

    How does CPXe Work?

    CPXe combines open standards for the exchange of digital images via the Internet with a directory of retail photofinishers. It can make digital photography services as widely accessible and easy to use as your local ATM machine.

    Using open and existing Web services standards, CPXe links digital cameras, Internet storage service providers, consumer households and the retail photofinishing infrastructure.

    CPXe is an open standards industry effort that no single company controls. CPXe takes advantage of existing standards for service discovery, description, transport and environment, including:

    • Extensible Markup Language (XML)
    • Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
    • Web Services Definition Language (WSDL)
    • Universal Description, Discovery, Integration (UDDI)

    Consumers, regardless of the brand of digital camera or PC in use, can quickly upload images, download images or order digital photo prints and other services from any participating retail location or kiosk -regardless of the type of photofinishing equipment used by the retailer.
    CPXe makes getting prints from digital images as easy as dropping off film at a corner retailer. Consumers can also send print orders to their favorite local retailer using home PCs, remote kiosks, cell phones, PDAs, even via interactive television.

    Consumers can clear the memory of their digital camera at a retail kiosk or at a vacation spot, or transfer photos between various devices and storage locations.

    Retailers can fulfill orders for digital prints from any device or online service, as well as buy compatible equipment from multiple vendors.

    Equipment providers and minilabs connect with Internet services without custom work for each service.

    Benefits for CPXe

    For Retailers:

    CPXe allows consumers to print their digital pictures the same way they do today when using film - through retailers.

    • CPXe lets retailers deliver new, innovative services online and in their stores, such as digital printing, storage and sharing.
    • CPXe allows retailers to market photofinishing services to any digital camera owner - regardless of the camera’s brand or where it was purchased - and enables them to broaden their online marketing efforts.
    • With CPXe, retailers can buy compatible equipment from multiple vendors, because manufacturers are using the same set of standards.
    • CPXe helps retailers provide printing services to consumers who will order from their home, and pick up at our store.

    For Photo Companies:

    • With CPXe, consumers can get prints of their digital pictures in the same way they would get prints from film at a local retailer. This expands the photofinishing options available to consumers, giving them more choices that will help grow the category.
    • Giving consumers the flexibility to choose where, when and how to print their digital pictures will increase digital print services opportunities for the entire photography industry.
    • For consumers, the benefits are simple: convenience, choice and quality.


    For Camera and Software Manufacturers:

    • U.S. household penetration of digital cameras is expected to reach 55% by 2009, up from about 5% in 2000. We believe CPXe will drive increased adoption of digital cameras.
    • Consumers will be able to select the digital printing service of their choice regardless of camera brand.
    • CPXe will streamline the process of building interfaces from digital cameras and Camera software to online service providers and retailers. This will save time and money, while allowing us to focus on new and innovative product features.
    • With CPXe, making prints from digital pictures is as convenient as dropping off film at a retailer. The printed picture has always been an essential part of the photography experience - and digital is no different.

    For Online services:

    • CPXe expands the market for our services and allows us to turn the storage of pictures and alternative output options into new business opportunities.
    • We are excited about the new business relationships we can form with other service providers to enhance the customer experience and create new business opportunities for our company.

    For Independent Software Vendors:

    • With CPXe, we can offer printing services via software applications that add valuable features to our product suite.
    • Allowing consumers to get a great print of a digital image is an essential part of the photography experience. CPXe will enhance the digital photo experience for consumers.
    • CPXe addresses the complexity associated with getting digital images from cameras and PCs to the printed page. CPXe will increase the adoption of digital photography, and as the digital photography market grows, so does the opportunity for us to sell our products.
    • Our software will enable greater exchange between consumer, digital camera and retailer.

    For Technology Companies:

    • The CPXe initiative takes advantage of existing Web standards such as XML, UDDI and others, that makes it less costly to build connections to CPXe-compliant service providers.
    • The growth of digital photography provides us greater opportunities for storage, networking and other hardware applications that facilitate the delivery of innovative photography services.

    Companies Involved in Developing CPXe

    • Agfa
    • Canon
    • Digimarc
    • Kodak
    • Fotowire
    • FUJIFILM
    • HP
    • Olympus
    • Open Graphics
    • Noritsu
    • Pixology

    This initiative is now closed. Contact I3A for more information.

    Download CPXe documents and final reports