This Friday, October 22 xerographic technology and color share a day. Friday is National Color Day and the anniversary of the day the first xerographic image was produced, and xerography began. Without that special day, the Xerox printer or multifunction device you use would probably not exist. It is amazing to think how far the xerographic technology has come in 83 years.
Xerographic Technology
On October 22, 1938, Chester Carlson, a patent attorney, and part-time inventor made the first xerographic image. The first image was a handwritten note that simply read “10-22-38 ASTORIA” (see picture). The copy is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution. If Carlson were still alive, he might be surprised to learn his invention began an information revolution that has continued to this day, making information readily available and expanding the world’s total knowledge. According to Megatrends in Digital Printing Applications, over 8.5 trillion letter-size simplex pages are printed annually in North America on products fathered by Carlson’s invention.
You can see the innovations that have evolved from the xerographic technology at the Xerox Innovation site. Read more about the history of Chester Carlson and Xerography or download the Story of Xerography.
National Color Day
Carlson would also be surprised at how much color is used in business prints these days. National Color Day is a day to appreciate the natural colors of the world and to learn how colors influence our mood, productivity and behavior. Color has the power to affect our state of mind, draw attention, and even cause alarm
Using color in business can dramatically improve communication, enhance productivity, and boost sales. Studies show that color can:
- Help increase readership rates by as much as 80%
- Make your impression 39% more memorable
- Increase phone contact by 44% when the number is printed in color
- Increase direct mail readership by 55%
- Help readers find important information 70% faster
- Increase payment response up to 30%
- Increase sales, motivation, and brand recognition by 80%
Color has become increasingly affordable and easier to control so there has been an ever-increasing use of color in printed material. Xerox provides many printers and multifunction printers that support color printing. Xerox also offers our Confident Color tools to provide the best possible color.
In celebration of Mr. Carlson’s xerographic breakthrough and National Color Day, print something out using a little color. Notice as you go through your normal workday, how color and xerography help you and your business every day.
