Digital Ad Lab UK (DAL UK)

February, 2005

Introduction

Gio introduced the meeting by announcing and thanking the sponsors for 2005, which are WAM!NET/Savvis, Creo, EFI, Markzware, JPY, exponential-e, OneVision and filetransfer.co.uk.

Bill Greenwood from Gilchrist was thanked for his help with our new DAL banner, another of which is planned for future meetings.

Attendees were also asked to invites colleagues, friends and acquaintances to future meetings and let Hannah know of any discussion topics you would like raised (hannah@leafagency.com).

Sponsor Update – Creo

Maria Machera kindly gave us an update with regards to Creo, especially it’s buy-out by KPG. This acquisition is expected to lead to an expanded product portfolio and is seen as a positive development.

Soft Proofing

Marcus Kirby introduced this session by summarising that there are two types of soft proofing, content and colour critical. He stated that the majority of vendors in the market say that they can do both and the agreement is that content proofing is pretty much achievable. However, what it all boils down to with colour critical proofing is whether you can get accurate colour using a monitor because if you can’t then there is no way you can achieve it.

He asked the audience to raise their hands if they thought you could have colour accurate proofing from a monitor and approximately 30% thought you could.

A variety of comments came from the audience, as follows:

• It must be noted that in some workflows, colour isn’t important so soft proofing is fully achievable.
• Is it the monitor itself or the colour management software that determines the outcome? If you do have a quality colour management workflow, can the monitor reproduce it?
• It’s all about setting expectations. Wherever the proof comes from, it needs to be an accurate representation of the end product.
• A distinction needs to be made between soft proofing and contract proofing. Near enough is ok or soft proofing, but at the end of the day there still needs to be a contract proof to avoid dispute.
• If you profile the monitor correctly. Colour will be reproduced accurately whatever system you are using.
• At a US proofing shoot-out, 2 soft proofing solutions came out top.
• Soft proofing is a valuable tool for content, but people still like something tangible when it comes to full colour critical proofing.
• Should it be called a proof when it proves nothing!

Marcus has provided the following links to some of the information he gathered:

• www.cgs.de/en/main.html
• www.creo.com
• www.dalim.com
• www.proofcafe.com
• www.kpgraphics.com/pdf/whitepapers/mpv_white_paper.pdf
• www.kpgraphics.com/usc/news/pr_2004/graphexpo2004/desktop_mp.html

The impact of digital print on the marketing and advertising industry

We were joined by Hewlett Packard, agency TEQUILA and Kodak Polychrome Graphics for this interesting discussion. We are still awaiting presentations from Hewlett Packard & TEQUILA, but you will find the KPG presentation posted alongside these notes.

PPA Update

Marcus stepped in for Jack and updated us on all the PPA activity, details of which you will find in the presentation posted alongside these minutes.

Sponsor Update – exponential-e

Harvey Jones gave us an introduction to the work of our new sponsor exponential-e, which you can see in the presentation posted alongside these minutes.

Any Other Business/DAL BRIDGs books

The DAL BRIDGs booklets were made available to attendees once again. There are a limited number still available, if you require one please let Hannah know and you can collect it at the next meeting.

Attendees (apologies to anyone not listed)

Andrew Wilson, Unity	Altan Fadil, Canon
Adrian Davies, Quickcut	Andy Myles, bit2byte
Anthony Kay, ACCA	Antony Newson, Alphagraphixs
Bill Tickle, Keenes	Bill Greenwood, Gilchrist
Billy Lucas, Admagic	Bob Marchant
Brent Martin, Colour Emotions	Brian Swinson, ROI
Chris Reed, William Reed	Chris Friend, Vio
Dave Willats, MGN	Denise Murphy, EFI
Derek Milne, OneVision	Dominic Duffy, Applecart
Dominic Hughes, ICP	Darren King, Square
Gareth Perry, Eaglemoss	Gary Hoxby, Adtec
Gio Cantarella, Broadway	Graham Leeson
Harpreet Castleton, Colourworkz	Harvey Jones, exponential-e
Helen White, exponential-e	Ian Hudson, Electronic Solutions
John Charnock, St Ives	Joe Broadway, Guardian
Jason Mcevoy, Eaglemoss	Kevan Hamman, JPY
Laurie Pate, KPG	Len Chinnery, MGN
Marcus Kirby, Vertis	Mike Palmer, Atelier
Michael Parmenter, Quickcut	Matthew Mills, Tequila
Maria Machera, Creo	Nancy Janes, HP
Niall Coady, proofcafe	Paul Sherfield, Missing Horse
Pam Raftery, St Ives	Nick Daniels, Canon
Richard Harris, Guardian	Richard Taylor, OneVision
Rob Brack, RBI	Rob Fogwill, Adfast
Roy Topp, APPA	Savio Luis, Vio
Stephen Douglas, FEP	Simon Hall, RBI
Sue Kingsley, exponeitial-e	Siobhan, Applecart
Kevin Gratwick, Springboard	Selena Smith-Taylor, William Reed
Simon Evered, B1	Steve Davies, Electronic Solutions
Steve Irving, MGN	Steve Ricks, Studio One
Tim Cox, ROI	Tim Daly, Interoute
Tony Hodgson, KPG	Vince Pitman, Square