Feedback on GATF colour conference 2000
Feedback on GATF colour conference 2000
- Subject: Feedback on GATF colour conference 2000
- From: "Steve Lawrence"<email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 16:53:22 GMT
In trying to make a decision whether to attend the GATF colour conference (an
outline can be found at
http://www.gatf.org/00-57.HTM) recently in Phoenix
Arizona I found it hard to find feedback on the technical content of the
conference. Of course there was feedback on the list about speaker expenses and
the GATF colour proficiency test. Topics which are worthy of debate, but I will
stick with providing feedback on the technical aspects. For myself, as a
software developer, I decided that the opportunities to meet with practitioners
are few and far between and so attended. I did not regret the decision.
Firstly the conference was very professionally organised. All credit to David
Hunter (the conference moderator) and the GATF team. The conference ran over
three days. The first day consisting of pre-conference tutorials, the second and
third days consisting of two tracks of sessions, running in parallel, at
introductory and advanced levels. Session details can be found in the conference
brochure at <
http://www.gatf.org/CMC.PDF>.
As might be expected the attendees were dominated by people from print
production. However most of the sessions were generic enough to apply to both
that market and desktop printing. There seemed to be very few non-US attendees.
The majority of sessions were both interesting and illuminating. Even if they
just served to reinforce or illuminate ideas that you already understood. As is
usually the case, once you have reached an advanced technical level, the real
benefit of conferences and shows is in having a group of people brought
together, that you can discuss and swap ideas with. Both in the Q&A at the end
of the sessions and "in the corridors". I don't know the official attendance
figures but the number was small enough to make it easy to track down any of the
speakers you wanted to talk to. The opportunity to speak with many of the
regulars on this list was invaluable.
Very useful information, not easily attained elsewhere, was presented on
upcoming changes to the ICC profile specification and their future direction on
areas such as Smart CMMs.
The somewhat controversial colour management proficiency test at the end of the
conference was just that. At the end of the conference. It was there if you
wanted to take it. But it was neither forced upon you, or made a central part of
the conference. It was therefore easily avoidable by those who have issues with
it.
All in all a good conference from a technical perspective. That deserves to
continue. My thanks to the organisers and speakers.
Regards,
Steve Lawrence