Iconica.com is a Smash Success!

Iconica's Easy, Fast and Wholly Automated Features Revolutionize the Search for Stock Online

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 9, 2003 --The exciting new on-line stock resource, Iconica (www.Iconica.com), is officially a hit! The new site founded by Photonica (the worlds leading prestige image collection), has met with overwhelming acclaim from users, graphics and design professionals, and other industry notables. Launched in June 2003 with the goal of providing a bridge between the worlds of royalty-free and rights-protected images, Iconica now offers even more affordable and instantly browsable illustrative images -- on even more universal topics and subjects!

Were gratified at the overwhelmingly positive response Iconica has sparked thus far -- its great to know that the site is operating exactly as wed envisioned," comments David Neilson, Iconica CEO (and originator of the new site and its unique concept). We created Iconica to provide something new on the web -- a revolutionary new high-quality, rights-managed image source geared for the professional content user -- and which also reflects our commitment to fine images."

The professional content users who have utilized Iconica are also suitably impressed, and have quickly become ongoing clients: I love the new site. Its so easy to use -- in fact the easiest and most elegant Ive found in the stock photography world," comments Jennifer Durrant, Design Director for Gap Inc. There are a lot of really interesting and creative shots that are still literal in meaning," adds Jen Dinolfo, of Echo Design Group.

And with a library of thousands of images from some of the worlds best photographers, Iconica delivers visual impact as well as accessibility, affordability, and ease of use. The work of some of the worlds most celebrated artists and commercial photographers has been made available all at a mouse click, including such award-winning notables as advertising and fashion photographer Hans Neleman, advertising photographer Doug Menuez, and Eric Meola (featured as one of Photo District Newss first Legends online," and whose book project Last Places on Earth achieved widespread acclaim). Other major contributors to Iconica include legend Pete Turner (named Photographer of the Millennium" by Kodak in 2000) and award-winning travel and landscape photographer Macduff Everton, who is famous worldwide for his striking and beautiful panoramic landscape photographs.

The photographers themselves are equally delighted with Iconicas newfound success: Like Photonica, Iconica is already shaping up to be a unique, safe harbor for visionary imagery," comments celebrated photographer Doug Menuez. Im inspired to be a part of a venture that already promises to carve out another visual frontier." I love Iconica because they edit the way a photographer edits in-camera," adds Eric Meola. Iconicas work leaps out of the Internet with a voice that says 'this is what photography is all about."

At Photonica, weve already proven for years that we care more than any other agency about photography and those who create it. Were delighted to have brought that same outlook to Iconica," adds Neilson. The site was created by people -- and for people -- who know the power of a great image."

This inspired commitment to artistry means that Iconica begins with an unimpeachable artistic foundation -- then solidifies its commitment to customers with the added and wholly unique benefit of browsing full, live usage histories for any images on the site! Users can then choose their favorites, purchase rights on-line, and download high-resolution, ready-to-repro" files there and then.

Rights-Protected vs. Royalty-Free

In the world of stock visual content, there are typically two kinds of providers: traditional Rights-Protected (exclusive) images, and Royalty-Free, non-exclusive images. Rights-Protected agencies typically serve the business-to-business market, with high-quality images -- but higher prices and an often convoluted and complex purchase process. Royalty-Free, on the other hand, is geared towards both business-to-creative as well as business-to-business communities -- with lower prices, but with images that are often lower in quality as well.

The answer or happy medium," meanwhile (long-awaited by creative business users) is a hybrid model that falls between RF and RP, and which offers the appeal of rights-protected, with the simplicity and affordability of royalty-free -- and the high-quality images todays businesses and creatives deserve. The meeting of these two worlds is where Iconica has forged its own brand-new place on the web.

Iconica Facts at a Glance"

•   The site offers beautiful, in-demand image styles and subjects, from the worlds most respected photographers
*   Its collections include thousands of high-quality scanned and easily searchable images, organized by photographer or subject
*   Iconica offers an instantly viewable, trackable rights history for every single image, a terrific tool that answers the question, Where was that image used before?"
*   Rights purchase via credit card is fully automated and is accomplished in just a few clicks, with charges on account available for regular repeat users, billable directly to them
*   Secure, high-resolution image delivery takes place within moments, online
*   Exclusivity on any image available in most cases for an additional fee (the image will then be withdrawn from sale on negotiation of worldwide buy-out)

About Iconica.com

With a slogan that proclaims stock thats easy to choose and easy to use," Iconica was launched worldwide in June of 2003, and provides an electrifying new direction in stock from some of the worlds leading authorities in visual solutions -- Photonica.

For more information on Iconica, please contact Executive Vice President Kinya Horikoshi, at (212) 634-5666 or Kinya.Horikoshi@Photonica.com. For more PR materials, images, or company background, contact publicist Angela Mitchell at (954) 983-5877 or Paramitch@aol.com.

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