Holiday Gifts

DemystifyingDigital.com has found an answer to the universal holiday question: “What gift can I give this year that will be really special?” Well, shopping at photo kiosks can give everyone on your list a gift they’ll love—simply by turning digital photos into unique items.

There’s no limit to the ideas you can find at photo retailers—especially if they have photo kiosks. In fact, these kiosks offer more than 700 photo gifts and products—everything from personalized notepads and wrapping paper to T-shirts, tote bags and blankets. You can even create custom digital scrapbooking pages using templates designed by top scrapbooking companies.

Just bring your memory card or a photo CD to your retailer or minilab and plug it into a photo kiosk like those described below, and you’ll be able to order a sleigh full of personalized holiday photo gifts everyone will treasure.

Kodak Picture Kiosks
One of the most recognizable kiosks is the bright yellow Kodak Picture Kiosk. It can be found in many retail chains, including Walgreens, CVS and Target, and provides a variety of photo gifts: several sizes of photo books; collage posters; personalized calendars; greeting cards; and novelty items you can order through off-site suppliers and have delivered to the local store for pickup.

Kodak’s most popular gift is its Picture Movie DVD, which can be created in less than an hour right there in the store. The DVD incorporates 60 images into a slideshow that is synced with licensed music of your choice. The kiosk software automatically adds pan and zoom effects, matching the beat of the music. It’s a great way to review the year in pictures!

Fujifilm GetPix Kiosks
Fujifilm’s GetPix kiosks are also available at many retail chains. Depending on the retailer’s capabilities, you can order paper-based gifts, like posters, calendars and greeting cards, for same-day in-store pickup. The more creative gifts require a week or more turnaround, so be sure to plan for that.

Two of Fujifilm’s coolest GetPix holiday products are tiled wooden bookends that each frame one picture and attractive wooden key racks that display four favorite photos. Both make unique, personalized gifts but require about a 10-day turnaround.

Sony PictureStation Kiosks
Sony PictureStation kiosks offer quick, quality digital prints—from wallet-size to 8x12 inches, as well as one-sided photo cards, print packages and decorative borders. They’re likely to be found at business and stationery suppliers where convenience is critical.

“Sony’s PictureStation makes the customer’s experience . . . as efficient and productive as possible, combining printing, scanning and a full range of editing and image manipulation options,” says Belinda Lopresti, senior manager, Marketing, Sony Electronics.

HP Photo Center Kiosks
Another company that provides cool, creative gift options is HP; you can find its Photo Center kiosks in photo stores and retail chains nationwide. Products range from photo books of all shapes and sizes, collage posters, banners, greeting cards, flip books, mugs and DVD slideshows with personalized cases and inserts.

HP also offers cards, posters, books and other photo gifts that feature licensed characters from cartoons, movies and TV, including the NBA, National Geographic, Marvel, Nickelodeon and Dr. Seuss. These products can be ordered online at youneek.com and picked up at your local retailer.

Photo gifting is hot, so have some fun and turn your digital photos into the perfect presents.