DAL Quarterly Meeting
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The next meeting will be likely to take place later in the Summer. For further information contact hannah@leafagency.com
October 27th, 2004
Meeting Notes, Wednesday 27 th October - Digital Print World
Introduction
Gio Cantarella introduced the meeting and thanked the organisers of Digital Print World for the room and AV equipment. He announced that Savvis would be continuing their sponsorship of DAL in 2005, the remaining co-sponsors will be announced in January 2005.
Savvis Sponsor Update
Richard Warley gave us a quick round up of what's new at Savvis (formerly WAM!NET).
AdsML
Tony Stewart from RivCom gave us a very enlightening update as to what's happening with AdsML. His presentation is posted alongside these minutes in a downloadable format. Download pdf (right click and save target as)
Font Licensing
Mandy Beechey from Agfa Monotype gave us an insight into managing fonts
in order to stay legal. Her presentation is posted alongside these minutes
in a downloadable format. There was an active Q&A session after the
presentation, when Mandy was joined by Chris Kitchener from Adobe.
Download pdf (right click and save target as)
The main issues that were raised were:
• Where the responsibility of font ownership lies.
• There should be a model for font licensing that the likes of Apple, Agfa etc deliver.
• The system of font licensing has to be improved and simplified to make it easier to comply.
• The volume of different fonts is what tends to cause the problem, everyone is always looking to use something new and different rather than the basic fonts.
• FAST is trying to establish a font software group.
• Apple's success with online music needs to translate to fonts.
• People do not know exactly what to do to stay legal.
• Education is needed, but the rules need to be decided before this takes place, eg who does the font belong to.
• Font management tools such as Suitcase and Font Reserve are recommended.
• Who actually reads their user licences??
• www.myfonts.com worth a look.
Call for feedback
We would like to continue the font debate. If you have any issues or comments you would like to be raised on this subject at subsequent DAL meetings, please email them to Hannah@leafagency.com.
DPW Highlights
Brent Martin gave us a tourist guide of what to look at in the show. Some major themes included the onslaught of remote proofing, soft proofing etc; improved quality of presses and wide format printing.
Standards Update
Bryan Sunderland gave us an update as to where things are with standards. His presentation is posted with these minutes in a downloadable format.
Download PowerPoint presentation (right click and save target as)
PPA Update
Marcus Kirby updated us on where the PPA is with it's current activity, as follows:
- Pass4Press, version 5 will be announced at the November conference. No significant changes, but bringing it inline with other standards being used such as ECI.
- Proof4Press, this standard has been established for high quality magazine production. However, the group is looking at ways it can represent other areas of magazine production through additional target colour spaces.
- Pic4Press, the PPA are trying to provide recommendation for implementing pictures into the production workflow to help photographers, picture libraries etc. Things are progressing, but no guidelines are as yet set.
AOB
Dan Caldwell from ICS kindly gave us am update as to SWOP activity in the US, the summary of which follows:
Idealliance now runs the Digital Ad Lab in the US, and has been holding
very successful monthly lunch events in New York City, and plans to re-establish
DAL in Chicago and Los Angeles. John Sweeney requests that he and
John Charnock act as DAL London and DAL New York liaison, and include
activity reports between the two groups.
SWOP, Inc. is now also a subsidiary of Idealliance, formally GCA, who runs the Spectrum and Primex conferences in the US for publishers, printers and agencies.
Note that Idealliance also runs the GRACOL, commercial print specification program, and are working with SNAP (Specifications for Newsprint Advertising Printing), to develop a central SNAP, GRACOL and SWOP proofing certification program --
This development is critical to proofing system suppliers, such as yrs truly, as ideally we would like to go to one place for certification -- and that the certification program include: ISO, Proof4Press (UK), 3DAP (Australia), SWOP (No. America), as well as other print and proofing specs that may be developed.
Another important development is the reincarnation of the Idealliance / GCA Print Properties Committee, that did the significant work of print surveys that led to a robust SWOP specification over the last 25+ years. One of the first work items is a study of print and proof specs around the world, to be presented at next September's Spectrum Conference in Tucson Arizona.
Another important group operating in the US is the IPA -- who for the last two years have run a Proofing Roundup -- The results this year showed all proofing systems are moving closer together, and monitor proofing ranks high, and systems from both SWOP certified system suppliers (KPG and ICS) ranked high, and also close to each other.
The DAL London is invited to submit a "Gallery of PPA Proof4Press Proofs" to be displayed at this event in 2005 -- There will be a "Gallery of SWOP proofs" and "Gallery of SNAP proofs",
and the 3DAP of Australia has been invited to participate as well.
BRIDGs Books
The first version of the DAL BRIDGs booklets has finally been printed. These were handed out to attendees and the remainder will be available at the January meeting. There will be other sections added throughout next year.
Disclaimer: Please note that this document is merely an interpretation of what took place at the meeting. It is intended to be as non-vendor specific as possible and does not quote any individual directly.
Attendees (apologies to anyone who is missing)
| Amanda Clifton, Scholastic | Andrew Bailles-Collins, OneVision |
| Andy Psarianos, FE Burman | Alan Beckett, Reprographics |
| Angela Sikka, Dennis | Annette Kilroy, Mack Brooks |
| Antony Kay, ACCA | Anthony Newson, Alphagraphics |
| Bill Greenwood, Gilchrist | Brent Martin, Colour Emotions |
| Bryan Sunderland | Chris Batson, FT |
| Chris Friend, Vio | Colin Easton, EFI |
| Chris Kitchener, Adobe | Chris Reed, William Reed |
| Craig Santus, Savvis | Damaris Kuzminski, Broadway |
| Dan Caldwell, ICS Colour | Darren Murray, Springboard |
| Darren Parker, Admagic | Dave Willats, MGN |
| Denise Murphy, EFI | Derek Milne |
| David Kentish, EFI | Gareth Perry, Eaglemoss |
| Gee Ranasinha, Dalim | Gio Cantarella, Broadway |
| Hannah Newberry, Leaf Agency | Harvey Jones, exponential-e |
| Hayder Assam, JPY | Helen White, exponential-e |
| Iain Boyle, OneVision | Jack Bisset, Polestar |
| Jim Duggan, Headley Brothers | John Charnock, St Ives |
| James Lewis, Pro2col | Josh Brooks, PrintWeek |
| Len Chinnery, MGN | Lee Myall, Interoute |
| Marcus Kirby, Vertis | Michael Parmenter, Quickcut |
| Michelle Bandeira, Scholastic | Mike Palmer, Atelier |
| Mandy Beechey, AgfaMonotype | Maria Iraca, isdn datacom |
| Nick Finegold, Icon Repro | Ralph Tait, FT |
| Richard Harris, Guardian | Richard Warley, Savvis |
| Richard West, Apple | Rob Fogwill, Adfast |
| Robert Berkeley, Express KCS | Richard Lack, Vio |
| Sergio Mora, Jimenez Godoy | Stephen Douglas, FEP |
| Stuart Ward, GE Publishing | Steve Ricks, Studio One |
| Savio Luis, Vio | Tara Dixon, Wyndeham Argent |
| Tim Cox, ROI | Tim Daly, Interoute |
| Toma Habashi, Mansun Group | Trevor Attridge, Y&R |
| Tim Holmes, isdn datacom | William Morrish, Interoute |
| Vince Pitman, Square | Susan Roche, Pageflex |
| Les Veres, Wave Corporation |