In an era marked by rapid digitalization and the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies, the photography and printing industries have undergone extensive automation and efficiency optimization. Against this backdrop, in this review paper, how analog experiences can be redefined and sustained as meaningful value propositions in the digital age is examined, using instax (commonly known as “Cheki” in Japan) as a representative case study. Rather than positioning analog and digital technologies as opposing forces, it is argued that the long-term success of instax lies in a human-centered approach to experience design—one that foregrounds emotion, physical interaction, temporal pacing, and interpersonal exchange. By drawing on the author's direct involvement in product planning and global brand development, insights are synthesized across multiple dimensions: the redefinition of essential value beyond functional performance, the rejection of simplistic analog–digital dichotomies, the deepening of human understanding through emotional and cultural segmentation, and the iterative use of research as a reciprocal process between hypothesis and lived experience. The analysis further demonstrates how these principles were translated into concrete product designs and ultimately elevated into a coherent global brand philosophy. The instax case suggests that sustainable value creation in highly digitized environments depends not on technological novelty alone but on the deliberate selection of what should remain unchanged and what should evolve. This perspective offers transferable implications for the broader photography and printing industries, as well as for other fields engaged in designing experience-centered value in the digital era.

In recent years, the publishing industry has faced structural changes driven by declining print circulation, the expansion of digital publishing, and increasing pressure to reduce inventory risks and environmental impacts. Although offset printing remains essential for mass production, digital manufacturing technologies have reached a level of quality, cost efficiency, and lead time that makes flexible, small-lot production possible. In this article, how the convergence of digital and analog technologies is transforming printing from a means of information reproduction to a tool for designing reader experiences and value is examined. Through an analysis of technological advancements and case studies—such as the return from digital-only titles to print, expanded editorial expression, and the revival of out-of-print works—in this article, a shift from a linear value chain to a network-based publishing ecosystem is proposed. This convergence is positioned not as a passive cost-saving measure but as an active strategy for sustaining publishing culture and meeting diverse reader needs.

The basics and current status of implementing digital library services for public libraries are discussed. The role of commercial publications in digital library services is examined, and the public service functions that these services should provide are clarified. Then, a broader look at digital library services is provided. In particular, issues related to school education, a topic that is likely to become the focus of much discussion in the future, are examined.

This study examines the feasibility of adopting generative AI in the text typesetting workflow for municipal newsletters. Experiments using the Claude series revealed distinct model characteristics: Haiku demonstrated stability and structural consistency, while Sonnet showed strengths in processing long texts. Prompt design was found to play a significant role in output accuracy and reproducibility, and the combination of Haiku with explicit prompts was most suitable for meeting institutional requirements. Furthermore, automated layout experiments with InDesign confirmed a high placement success rate and short post‑editing time, indicating practical effectiveness as a semi‑automated approach despite remaining challenges to full automation. This research highlights a direction for improving typesetting workflows through the integration of generative AI and DTP processes, contributing to the intersection of printing engineering and information technology.