This minilab accepts images from a wide range of sources, including CD-ROMs, floppy and zip disks, PC cards and other such detachable media. In simple words, it delivers a digital print on photographic paper. That means the raw material cost for the user is just the same.

Hence, using the Frontier minilab, a designer can now offer his customer much better output in areas like logos, greeting cards and calendars. Company sources claim an enthusiastic response, notwithstanding the price tag of Rs 58 lakh. According to Vimal Khemka, managing director of Jindal Photo Films: "Four orders have already been booked. We have a target of 10 for this fiscal."

Jindal is India's largest company in the photography with a turnover of around Rs 300 crore and a market share of 38 per cent. The company's strategy to diversify into marketing of cameras is a small part of current operations. An area of possible growth is distribution. Other than 10 branch offices and 200 distributors, Jindal also has created a franchisee network of 350 Fuji Image Service franchisees.

Fuji is the largest minilab company worldwide, and company officials claimed that it has a 27% share of the digital photography market in Japan.