ILFORD Imaging
ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer, founded in 1879, of premium photo inkjet media and commercial wide format substrates, serving professional photographers, fine art printers, and commercial print shops globally through direct e-commerce, retailers, and international distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1879
- HeadquartersBergisch Gladbach, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ILFORD Imaging does
ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of premium photo inkjet media and related imaging products, headquartered in Bergisch Gladbach and operating under a brand heritage dating to 1879. The company designs and produces coated photo papers and specialty substrates, organized into sub-brands including Galerie (professional photo inkjet media covering baryta, cotton rag, Washi, canvas, and pro photo papers), Ilfochrome (metal and wood photo panels), Omnijet and Omnijet Studio (commercial wide format media for the print-for-pay market), and a small line of consumer film cameras plus the ILFOLUX color viewing lamp. Core technical differentiators include proprietary baryta coating technology, OBA-free 100% cotton rag substrates, hand-made Japanese Tesuki-Washi papers, ILFOCHROME dye-impregnation coatings, in-house developed ICC color profiles, and water-based Canvas Protect laminate systems.
The business sells primarily through one-time purchases of physical media SKUs, reaching customers via a direct e-commerce storefront on ilford.com, a network of authorized retailers, and a global base of international distributors. Customer segments are diversified across professional photographers and fine art printers (primary), commercial wide format printers serving signage and graphics, interior design and decor buyers, and individual consumers entering film photography. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by substrate, weight, and format. The company does not disclose revenue, funding, or ownership structure in the available data, and no AI/ML capabilities are evidenced; competitive positioning rests on brand heritage, proprietary coating technology, and deep integration into professional color-managed print workflows through ICC profile support and Eizo Quick Color Match compatibility.
ILFORD Imaging firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ILFORD Imaging
- Legal name
- ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH
- Website
- https://ilford.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1879
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer, founded in 1879, of premium photo inkjet media and commercial wide format substrates, serving professional photographers, fine art printers, and commercial print shops globally through direct e-commerce, retailers, and international distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ILFORD Imaging industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photo Printing Media
- NAICS
- Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, Chemical, and Copy Toner Manufacturing (325992)
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom) (CRACAHAJ)
Keywords
Where ILFORD Imaging is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bergisch Gladbach
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ILFORD Imaging business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Photo Paper and Media Sales: Direct product sales of inkjet photo papers, fine art media, canvas products, and commercial wide format printing materials through e-commerce and distribution partners.
- ILFOCHROME Products: Sales of ILFOCHROME photo panels (metal and wood substrates) featuring proprietary coating technology for premium photo prints.
- Fine Art Solutions: Sales of protective coatings and finishing products including Canvas Protect and Creative Emulsion for print enhancement.
- Camera Products: Sales of specialty cameras including Sprite 35-II, Rapid Retro Camera, and Rapid Half Frame Camera.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Galerie Fine Art Papers - Professional photo inkjet media |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ILFORD Imaging product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ILFORD Imaging manufactures and sells photo inkjet media, photo papers, and related imaging products for photographers, fine art printers, and commercial wide format printers. The company offers a comprehensive range of fine art papers, commercial wide format materials, traditional photographic products, and protective coatings. Headquartered in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, ILFORD has manufactured imaging products since 1879.
Product overview
ILFORD Imaging offers a comprehensive portfolio of premium imaging products organized into several core lines: Galerie (professional photo inkjet media) encompasses Fine Art Baryta papers (Gold Fibre series), Fine Art Cotton papers (Smooth/Textured Cotton Rag, Cotton Sprite, Cotton Pearlescent, Cotton Artist), Fine Art Matt papers, Washi Japanese papers, Pro Photo Papers, Duo double-sided papers, and Fine Art/Decor Canvas; Fine Art Solutions include protective coatings (Canvas Protect in Gloss/Semi Matt/Matt, Fine Art Protect, Creative Emulsion); Omnijet Studio and Commercial Wide Format products serve the print-for-pay market with RC papers, self-adhesive vinyls, films and graphic media; ILFOCHROME offers unique metal and wood photo panels; and the company maintains a small line of film cameras (Sprite 35-II, Rapid Retro, Rapid Half Frame) plus the ILFOLUX color viewing lamp. Founded in 1879, the company provides ICC color profiles and technical support for professional photographers and commercial printers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Galerie: Premium photo inkjet media product line including fine art papers, cotton rag, baryta, canvas, and Washi papers
- Ilfochrome
- Omnijet
- Omnijet Studio
Products and services
- Galerie Fine Art Baryta Papers A line of fine art baryta-based inkjet photo papers designed for professional photographers and fine art printers producing gallery-grade black-and-white and colour prints with baryta surface characteristics.
- Galerie Fine Art Cotton Papers Cotton-based fine art inkjet papers offering smooth, textured, and satin surface options for archival-quality fine art and photographic reproduction printing.
- Galerie Fine Art Matt Papers Matt-coated fine art inkjet papers designed for photographic and fine art reproduction where a non-reflective surface is required.
- Galerie Washi Japanese Papers Washi-style fine art inkjet papers that combine traditional Japanese paper aesthetics with modern inkjet receptive coatings, targeting artists and photographers seeking distinctive textured surfaces.
- Galerie Pro Photo Papers Professional resin-coated and photo-grade inkjet papers in gloss, lustre, and platinum finishes, designed for high-volume professional photo printing.
- Galerie Duo Papers Dual-sided inkjet photo papers intended for photo book, album, and double-sided print production by photographers and album makers.
- Galerie Fine Art Canvas Fine art inkjet canvas materials for art reproduction, gallery wraps, and archival canvas prints aimed at professional photographers and fine art studios.
- Galerie Décor Canvas Décor-grade inkjet canvas products designed for interior design, wall coverings, and bespoke décor applications requiring durable, certified substrates.
- Fine Art Solutions A range of protective coatings, varnishes, and creative emulsions (e.g., Canvas Protect, Fine Art Protect) designed to extend the durability and finish of fine art and décor prints.
- Omnijet Studio Commercial Wide Format Commercial-grade wide format inkjet media designed for studio, photographic, and small commercial wide format printing operations requiring consistent production output.
- Omnijet Commercial Wide Format Full commercial wide format inkjet media range, including rolls, fabrics, and self-adhesive substrates, certified for use with major OEM wide format printers serving the print-for-pay market.
- ILFOCHROME Photo Panels Pre-finished photographic display panels that allow photographers and studios to mount and present prints as ready-to-hang photo pieces.
- ILFORD Film Cameras A line of reusable analogue 35mm film cameras (including Sprite 35-II, Rapid Retro, and Rapid Half Frame) targeted at photography enthusiasts and analogue camera users.
- ILFOLUX Color Viewing Lamp A colour-balanced viewing lamp designed to provide standardised lighting conditions for the accurate evaluation of photographic and fine art prints.
Quantifiable outcome
- ILFOCHROME Plaque Super Gloss provides excellent longevity and fade resistance through dye impregnation process
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ILFORD Imaging
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ILFORD Imaging technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
ILFORD Imaging partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ILFORD Imaging competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SIHL Group: Swiss manufacturer of coated papers and films for digital printing, including photo paper, inkjet media, and commercial wide format substrates. Direct competitor in the wide format and photo media market, particularly relevant to ILFORD's Omnijet commercial product line.
- Tecco: German manufacturer of inkjet and photo papers including baryta and fine art media, based in Germany. Direct competitor in the European premium photo media market with comparable technical capabilities and overlapping customer base of professional photographers and print service providers.
- Breathing Color: US-based manufacturer of premium photo and fine art inkjet papers with focus on archival, fine art, and professional photo printing. Comparable product positioning to ILFORD's Galerie line with similar target customer base of professional photographers and fine art printers.
- Moab Paper (Legion Paper): US-based brand of fine art and photographic inkjet papers under Legion Paper, specializing in premium media for photographers and fine art reproduction. Highly comparable in product focus, target segment, and premium positioning to ILFORD's Galerie offerings.
- Hahnemühle: German manufacturer of premium fine art and photo papers, including traditional artist papers and digital fine art inkjet media (e.g., Photo Rag, Baryta, German Etching). Most direct competitor in the premium photo inkjet media market with comparable product positioning and customer base.
- Canson: French manufacturer of fine art, photo, and digital printing papers, founded in 1557. Offers comparable Infinity and Baryta Photographique lines targeting fine art inkjet reproduction — direct competitor in the premium photo media segment with overlapping customer base in galleries and professional print.
Broad incumbents
- HP: Global printing OEM offering photo, satin, gloss, and specialty photo papers as part of its broader printing supplies portfolio. Competes in photo media primarily through bundled OEM offerings tied to its large-format and desktop printer installed base.
- Epson: Global printing OEM that sells its own branded photo and fine art papers (e.g., Premium Photo Paper, Hot Press Bright, Cold Press Natural, Metallic Luster) bundled with its printer ecosystem. Competes in photo media as part of a much broader printing supplies and hardware portfolio.
- Canon: Global printing OEM with photo paper offerings (e.g., Photo Paper Pro Luster, Satin, Gloss) as part of its broader printing supplies and camera ecosystem. Competes in photo media for both consumer and professional markets, with strong brand overlap in photography.
Others
- Harman Technology (ILFORD Photo): UK-based company that holds the original ILFORD Photo brand (separate legal entity from ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH). Sells black & white film, darkroom photo paper, and chemistry under the ILFORD name — a historical brand cousin sharing heritage but operating in adjacent (darkroom/film) rather than overlapping (inkjet) segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ILFORD Imaging social profiles
Digital presenceILFORD Imaging financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ILFORD Imaging leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ILFORD Imaging funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ILFORD Imaging M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ILFORD Imaging
What does ILFORD Imaging do?
ILFORD Imaging manufactures and sells photo inkjet media, photo papers, and related imaging products for photographers, fine art printers, and commercial wide format printers. The company offers a comprehensive range of fine art papers, commercial wide format materials, traditional photographic products, and protective coatings. Headquartered in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, ILFORD has manufactured imaging products since 1879.
Is ILFORD Imaging a public or private company?
ILFORD Imaging is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was ILFORD Imaging founded?
ILFORD Imaging was founded in 1879. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ILFORD Imaging based?
ILFORD Imaging is headquartered in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ILFORD Imaging make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Photo Paper and Media Sales are the primary driver. The others are ILFOCHROME Products, fine Art Solutions and camera Products.
Who are ILFORD Imaging's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SIHL Group, Tecco, Breathing Color, Moab Paper (Legion Paper), Hahnemühle and Canson. Broad incumbents are HP, Epson and Canon. Harman Technology (ILFORD Photo) is listed as an others.
Does ILFORD Imaging have an API?
No public API is recorded for ILFORD Imaging.
What industry is ILFORD Imaging in?
ILFORD Imaging's product category is Photo Printing Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAHAJ, Photo Printing & Imaging Supplies Retail (Printers, Paper, Ink, Darkroom). Its NAICS code is 325992 and its SIC code is 3861.