The logos above do not yet represent official endorsement of this consortium. We hope that this page will explain the scope and nature of the project. We plan to expand the names above to include everyone who works in professional imaging.

Who We Are: A working group of digital imaging professionals and allied trade groups and manufacturers, dedicated to promoting worldwide standards in the the comercial application of digital imaging.

Vision Statement: Our industry is in a state of great change, and established ways of making and working with photographs have been supplanted by entirely new ones. The enormous capabilities and efficiencies of Digital Capture and Delivery have revolutionized the Image marketplace at an astounding rate. But they have also created gaps in creative and quality control that have frequently led to confusion, inequities, loss of quality, and unnecessary expense. We recognize the need for worldwide imaging delivery standards that will facilitate reliable and repeatable image reproduction.

The work-product of the Film-based photographer - the transparency or the print - has served as the capture and storage medium, as well as the primary vehicle for color management throughout the entire supply chain. The lack of the transparency has left a void in the image-quality control chain that can only be filled by integrated color management according to accepted ICC workflow.

As the foundation of the image supply chain, it is essential that photographers establish and adhere to the best practices of color management. Further, it is essential that entire imaging supply chain implement these practices. We will identify terminology and workflow for each stage of image creation and delivery. Through these standards, we will ensure that color will be as accurate as possible, enhancing creative control and economic efficiency.

It's important to note here that integrated ICC color management is a mature, proven technology that is already used by many imaging professionals. This effort is to ensure that the adoptation of these best practices will happen as quickly and easily as possible.

Mission Statement: Our mission is to bring the creators, distributors, customers, and other vendors in the Imaging trades together to identify and promote digital imaging standards. We will identify delivery protocol that promotes creative and quality control, and builds value and efficiency.

Objectives

1. Make digital imaging practices more clear and more reliable through the development of quality standards and terminology for all levels of digital delivery.

2. Develop a web resource for imaging professionals in order to establish a common language between photographers and other members of the imaging supply chain.

3. Demonstrate the creative and economic benefits of these Best Practices to our clients, and to the reproduction industry.

4. Develop industry standards for the level of production applied to images. Possibilities include:

Level 1: Raw File Delivery
Level 2: Batch-converted files
Level 3: Color-managed Master Files
Level 4: CMYK with contract proof

First Actions:

Contact Order:

1. Identify and contact all groups worldwide representing professional photographers. Get as many as possible on board.

2. Identify worldwide groups that market Stock Photography, and bring them in.

3. Contact buyers of Photography through their trade organizations.

4. Work with the printing industry to ensure that color-managed workflow does not break further down the supply chain.

Standardization Goals:

1. Color-Managed Workflow

2. Licensing Language through PLUS.

A note about Fees and Production Charges: While our working group found that making sense of digital production charges is one of our primary needs, we determined that providing a Worflow Guide, and some standardization of Quality Assurance was a necessary first step. In the interest of encouraging the greatest possible participation, there will be no effort here to address this remuneration issues at this time. We do expect, however, that the marketplace will be able to make more reasonable evaluations of the value of digital production once the standardization of workflow, terminology and quality assurance have been addressed.

Groups Attending:
APA
ASMP
EP
NPPA
PPA
SAA

Not Present, but affiliated
ACMP
AOP
BAPLA

Targeted
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Yahoo Discussion Group:ppdis@yahoogroups.com