UK leads the way in new era of digital co-operation
New working practice guidelines are set to revolutionise the UK digital imaging industry - and save firms substantial sums each year. The Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA) Digital group has launched the world's first 'best practice' guidelines for handling digital images and which will tackle the millions of pounds in business lost by the industry each year through errors, legal action, cancelled contracts and reprinting.
These multi-sector guidelines are the result of cooperation between some of the world's foremost digital image specialists, including Fujifilm, Kodak, Adobe and Epson. The primary goal of the guidelines is to ensure predictable output of digital images, creating a smooth workflow and helping to eliminate costly errors. The guidelines will ensure that organisations and individuals throughout the field of digital imaging - from picture libraries to designers to photographers and printers - communicate effectively across sectors.
Michael Upstone, chair of the IQA Digital group, says:
"In the decade or so since digital imaging became widespread, there has been no attempt to get the many industries working with digital images to adopt the same best practice. A serious lack of communication between sectors with vastly different business practices has led to lost business on a massive scale. The IQA digital guidelines correct this imbalance with simple, multi-sector best practices that will help ensure everyone communicates effectively."
The guidelines are designed to be easily implemented and cost effective - making them as relevant to small businesses as they are to major firms. Many of the guidelines' recommendations involve simple, low-cost automated processes - for example running monitor-profiling software to ensure a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) set-up. The guidelines set out recommendations for each of the four key stages of image production - capture, display/edit, proofing and output/printing, encouraging users to build on the guidelines with training and education and helping professionals to appreciate and work within the limitations of industry processes.
The guideline document is designed to be informative and flexible without being prescriptive, with a particular focus on making it available as simply and cost-effectively as possible, as Michael Upstone explains:
"We have to recognise that people work in different ways and there needs to be different solutions for different outcomes. That's why we've created guidelines as opposed to strict quality standards at this stage."
The UK-developed guidelines have already attracted interest worldwide, with 40 countries now involved in the process of creating standard global best practices. Industry trade bodies are set to incorporate the guidelines as a core element in their training and education programmes. Michael Upstone adds:
"These guidelines are great news for everyone who deals with images - they're a benchmark which says 'we're communicating using this method and if you do the same, we've got no problems.'"
The guidelines are available as a free-to-download PDF document from the IQA digital group's website at www.iqa.org/digital.
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IQA Digital background information:
IQA Digital Special Interest Group is part of the Institute of Quality Assurance, the leading professional body for the advancement of quality practices and business improvement in the UK. IQA does not support a specific model or standard but seeks to encourage knowledge sharing and the development of individuals' own competence in the application of quality management principles.
IQA Digital explores the need for digital standards - the primary focus being the production, management and handover of digital images between industry sectors.
IQA Digital's contributing organisations are as follows: Adobe, Alienideas, AoP, BAPLA, BPIF, BSI, Colour Confidence, Colour Therapy, DuPont, Epson, Fujifilm, Getty Images, Kodak, IQA, MPA, NESCOT, Picon, PMAI, RSA, SkillSet, TASI.
Notes to editors:
The four stages of image production as defined in the IQA Digital guidelines:
Capture. The recording of scene or image data in digital format by photography or scanning or images generated in software (CAD, illustration, art, etc.).
Display/edit. Image data needs transformation for display, taking viewing conditions and monitor characteristics into account, before editing occurs. Correct set-up including WYSIWYG is required to display, assess and optimise image files. Profiles facilitate an accurate image appearance, allowing optimisation of image data to occur, before conversion to the destination colour space (colour gamut).
Proofing. The aim of a proof is to create a good simulation of an image when published, or output in another way (displayed on a monitor, projected etc.). Proofing is used to ensure accuracy of data and to prepare an "acceptable" image for quality sign-off i.e. best possible impression of image data as seen under specified viewing conditions. The three fundamental types of proof reflect the differing objectives of users: soft proof, aim print, contract proof.
Output/printing. The aim is to produce consistent and predictable output colours for accurate image rendition. To enable this, an output profile must be communicated to the proofing stage as well as utilised at the output stage.
Date of issue: 14 December 2005