Digital Ad Lab UK (DAL UK)

September 2009

Sponsor update – London Graphics

Lee Williams gave us an update as to the tools they have for a soft proofing workflow, a copy of the presentation can be seen by clicking here.

Job Tickets – Tom Beckenham

Tom talked about the general job ticket situation, introduction of the Ghent Workgroup job ticket and a case study of LoveEurope, a copy of his presentation can be downloaded here.  This started a general discussion on the widespread adoption of job tickets, highlights of which are below:

• When the audience were asked, very few were using the GWG job ticket.
• The issue seems to be adoption, what will it take for people to start using.
• Very few publishers are using the information that people are beginning to put into job tickets, so what is the point.
• The benefit has to be more clearly communicated before people accept.
• Currently there seems to be a lot of effort for little return, as publishers not really getting involved in the process.
• Magazine publishers ask for Pass4Press files, yet majority are still failing.
• Natmags said they had introduced an effective job ticket workflow.  They are totally focused on this and need to make it work.  Expect a reduction in costs, which is what it is all about.
• The format of ad specs is always an issue, as they all differ so much.  Specle are doing work on that so please look at www.specle.net
• We don’t need any more standards, as there is already so much confusion about what is out there!
• Those distributing ads are wasting about £30 per ad per insertion due to tweaking for all the different formats.  Could the process not be standardized so people choose the supplier but specs are the same.
• DAL is not a developer of standards but can help to drive the direction the industry goes, in the adoption of job tickets and publishing workflows.
• A call was made to standardize the publication IDs.
• Waterstones was given as an example, where they specified that if certain information wasn’t put on books you won’t get into bookshops.  Media owners could be the ones to do this for our industry.

Initiatives

• Publishing systems, Chris Bunnett will go into this in further detail at the next meeting with a panel of publishers.
• ISO 12647 part 2, first audits of printers wanting to be certified is taking place shortly.  Scheme is live, with copies available from BPIF website this month.
• Colour ad initiative, pages are nearly finished and project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

EFI Sponsor Update

Kerry Moloney gave us an overview of what EFI has to offer the industry, a copy of the presentation can be downloaded here.

Student Mentor

There are 60 students who need mentors by October.  All it takes is one hour once a month, with 6 face-to-face meetings and 6 virtual meetings.  Please take a look at www.student-mentor.com and register your interest.

Any Other Business
The next meeting will take place at MediaPro on the morning of 5th November, more information will follow.