Rohit Louis: Building a community for untapped creative talent in small-town India

Charmiane Alexander (CA):  What do you make of digital print today?
Rohit Louis (RL): Digital print goes beyond just speed and convenience, it’s about creating experiences. With advancements in inkjet and electro-photographic printing, we can now achieve high quality prints as good as the traditional methods. Customisation and high-quality outputs are the key factors and addition to that embellishments and sustainable materials is changing the industry for the better.

CA: What’s the USP at Photopark?
RL: Photopark stands for premium, precision-driven printing. We are not just printers; we are curators of memories. We have built strong relationships over 40 years, by offering the latest printing technology like Canon DreamLabo 5000 and the HP Indigo and understanding our clients needs. Our USP lies in personalised service, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to constant innovation.

CA: Which technology do you most admire?
RL: I admire the precision of high-end inkjet printing, especially Canon’s DreamLabo 5000, which offers exceptional image quality and has revolutionised professional photo printing. Also I appreciate the HP Indigo for its versatility in handling variable print media and its speed, making it ideal for commercial printing.

CA:What is your greatest extravagance at Photopark?
RL: Investing in printing technology, even when the market wasn’t fully ready for it. We’ve always focused on staying ahead, because for us quality is a must.

CA: What is your preferred paper grade? And why?
RL: I love high-gsm, textured fine-art paper. I believe it brings out depth and richness into our photographs.

CA: Since Photopark is a master of photo printing, curious to know how you select your photographs? Does anyone assist you?
RL: Yes, I rely on a strong creative team. We choose images based on storytelling, emotion, and technical excellence. Nowadays, most designs come fully prepared by the photographers’ own design teams.

CA: Do you use Photoshop?
RL: Yes, I know a little, but I have a great team that brings my ideas to life perfectly. For me, Photoshop is just a tool—it all depends on how you use it. We still rely on it for colour correction because of its accuracy. With AI integration, it has also made photo album designing easier as well.

CA: What is the quality you seek in your customers? Reputation or anyone that challenges the status quo?
RL: I appreciate customers who push us with high expectations, as they drive us to innovate and improve. I also believe that we create art, and every piece of art has its own value.

CA: You have many centres. Which centre is your favourite?
RL: I always feel a special connection to our Ernakulam (Kochi) branch. It’s my favourite because I believe this is where the creative and new-generation legacy of our business truly began.

CA: What do you consider Photopark’s greatest achievement?
RL: Photopark’s greatest achievement is having a loyal customer base that continues to trust us. Since our business is personal to them, they have always accepted the new technologies we introduce and found value in them. That kind of customer trust is
what every business hopes for, and we’ve been fortunate to have it over the years. Additionally, our dedicated team, which continuously supports, and strengthens Photopark, play a huge role in our success.

CA: What is your most treasured software at Photopark?
RL: At Photopark, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign are the most important software. They help with accurate corrections and creating templates, these are backbone of our creative workflow.

CA: One simple thumb-rule of designing a print job which they don’t teach you at NID or IDC?
RL: Understanding the machine and the media is key. Knowing how different printing techniques work and how designs appear on various materials can make a big difference in the final output.

CA: Which are the moments during the production process that give you a high?
RL: For me, it’s the final quality check, the moment when everything comes together perfectly, turning the work into a true piece of art.

CA: What is the trickiest project you have worked on?
RL: One of the trickiest projects I worked on was a poster album for a movie teaser launch. The film was about forest conservation, and they wanted the entire album to be made from sustainable materials, from the print to the cover. The most challenging part was creating the cover using real leaves collected from the film’s shooting location in the forest. It was a complex but rewarding experience.

CA: What do you most value in your team?
RL: I value passion the most in my team. Skills can always be learned, but it’s passion that pushes people to go the extra mile and strive for excellence.

CA: Who are your most reliable production heads?
RL: Every production head at Photopark is reliable, we work as a team.

CA: Which are your beloved awards?
RL: Some of my most cherished awards include the HP Inkspiration award we received for Xpress Labels. Although my favourite is the PrintWeek award—it made me proud because we were the first and only ones from Kerala to receive it, and I felt like I was representing my state. Another special one is our own KMPA Mudra award.

CA: What is your greatest regret?
RL: Not expanding into B2C sooner. But we’re making up for it now!

CA: What do you consider the most overrated virtue in the graphics art industry?
RL: Blindly following trends. While trends do have their place, they are always changing. A design should focus on its purpose and highlight the craftsmanship behind it, rather than just following what’s popular.

CA: If you could change one thing about Photopark, what would it be?
RL: I’d like to expand into more sustainable printing solutions.

CA: In 20 years from now – where do you see Photopark?
RL: A globally renowned premium printing brand with a strong presence in both B2B and B2C luxury markets.