At the NANPA Conference Pro’s Meeting, a packed room was asked, “How many people are just using film?” Out of several hundred photographers sitting in on this session, only three raised their hands. That means almost everyone is now using digital. Not surprisingly, at the outset of this ‘revolution’, professionals and agencies alike had to wade through a miriad of potential workflow solutions. The problem was that if everyone is doing things slightly different, the end results would often be different as well. There was no guarentee that what went to one agency or client would be cross compatible or acceptble with other agents or clients.
So how in the world do you get so many people to agree on what’s best for all? The Solution, a multi-partnered organization called UPDIG, The Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines. From their site:
Who We Are: A working group of digital imaging professionals and allied trade groups and manufacturers, dedicated to promoting worldwide standards in the commercial application of digital imaging.
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 a delivery protocol that promotes creative and quality control, and builds value and efficiency.
From color management, monitor calibration, file naming, and file sizes, to archiving and delivery, this is the place to get info on what the industry has agreed should be the right way to work with your digital image files. Check ’em out!
