meeting about digital standards-longish
meeting about digital standards-longish
- Subject: meeting about digital standards-longish
- From: "Jeff Schewe" <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 10:08:19 -0500
Folks,
I just wanted to let you know that APA will be announcing an initiative to
create recommendations and perhaps standards with regards to digital files
supplied for reproduction. Anybody who will be attending Photo East is
welcome (and encouraged) to stop by the main stage on the trade show floor
on Thursday Nov 2nd from 3:30pm-4:30pm. The following is the initial
announcement of the effort:
_____________________
APA in conjunction with ASMP, EP, PPA and the NPPA are collaborating on an
initiative to bring a degree of standardization to the technical
considerations of digital images supplied for photo-mechanical or
photographic reproduction. The preliminary name of the initiative is
"Digital Image Photographic Standards". The following topics are the initial
areas of discussion in the formation of a set of general recommendations and
guidelines. We extend an invitation to additional industry groups in the
industry to participate.
FILE NAMING CONVENTIONS
Without enforcing an unreasonable convention, it is clear that at a minimum,
file names must include the 3 letter file format extension such as .tif or
.psd or .pdf. For cross platform considerations as well OPI requirements,
file names should not contain special characters or symbols. Additional
criteria such as identifying FPO9s as distinct from high resolution files
intended for reproduction and archiving should be addressed. File names
should also be limited to a total character length of 31 including the file
format extension.
DIGITAL FILE CREATOR INFORMATION
When creating files for distribution to others, basic information regarding
the file creator as well as the nature and use of the file should be
included with the file. These should conform to a standard and be easy to
employ. The Photoshop "File Info" custom file headers should be filled in by
the creator and if appropriate should be marked as copyrighted. Contact
information and licensing information should also be included. A
recommendation regarding the addition of a text "READ ME" file should be
considered as well. In the future, additional "Meta Data" standards should
be addressed.
FILE FORMATS
Many people are confused by the variety of file formats available when
saving from Photoshop. Recommendations regarding the following raster file
formats will be outlined; PSD (Photoshop native), TIFF, EPS, EPS DCS 2.0,
PDF, JPEG. Recommendations for each standard file format will be created as
well as a set of "Do9s and Don9t9s" as they relate to formats. The issue of
saving layers and additional information such as channels and embedded ICC
profiles should be addressed.
RESOLUTIONS & IMAGES SIZES
There are many questions and myths surrounding file resolutions and image
sizes. Issues of reproduction requirements should be addressed as well as
fundamental definitions. For example, the correct term to define digital
file resolution is PPI (pixels per inch). Many people continue to use DPI
(dots per inch) which is less appropriate. For reproduction, specifying
files sizes at reproduction size at "x" PPI would be appropriate.
COLOR SPACE ISSUES
Digital files intended for photomechanical reproduction have the difficulty
of being device specific, but there should still be a set of criteria that
does not interfere with the standards set by the printing industry. For
photographic reproduction, it may be easier to establish recommendations. In
any event, it will be important to establish a set of ground rules for what
would and would not be acceptable.
RGB COLOR SPACES
The format and resolution should be as specified by the client or vendor.
Files intended for output should have the color space in which the file was
created embedded in the file. If a non-standard color space is used, it is
crucial to supply either an embedded profile or a separate profile
describing the color space. If possible, an "Aim Print" of some reasonable
representation should be supplied.
CMYK COLOR SPACES
Photographers and their clients should agree upon the technical requirements
of supplied CMYK files. Unless otherwise specified, the files should be
supplied in a flattened .tif, .eps or EPS DCS file format (and perhaps
agreed upon compressed format such as jpeg) with a PPI resolution of at
least 1.5x the line screen at the final reproduction size. The acceptable
range of PPI resolution is between 1.5x and 2.5x. The file must have a
format extension. The CMYK color space should meet the technical
requirements with regards to total ink percentages. The file should have an
embedded accurate ICC profile unless specifically requested to be stripped.
FPO9s must be clearly labeled as such and must match the physical size of
the high resolution files exactly. Unless agreed upon to the contrary, CMYK
files should be accompanied by a suitable "Contract Proof" or "Aim Print"
that fairly represents the expected output of the file.
PRE-FLIGHTING/IMAGE PREP
The production of a "check list" (not dissimilar to what pre-press houses or
service bureaus use) for prepping images and media should be formulated.
Items such as profile embedding, naming, formats, author info, etc. should
be included.
TRANSPORTABLE MEDIA
It9s not the intent of these recommendations to endorse any particular
medium. However, it9s prudent to mention the delivery of files. The
organization of the files on the disk should clearly indicate FPO9s and High
Resolution files. The cross platform requirements of the supplied medium
should be determined in advance as well as the nature of the medium. The
disk should be clearly labeled with both the photographer9s name and contact
info as well as identification of the files contained. At this point, it can
be stated that CD-R (not re-writeable CD9s) constitute a safe, inexpensive
and efficient medium of exchange.
ARCHIVE RESPONCIBILITIES
Without placing a burden on photographers, it9s clear that some standard for
a period of time in which a file should be readily accessible should be
recommended. While a standard for charging clients would not be appropriate,
we should try to achieve agreement on a period of time in which active job
files should be readily available. This period may be merely the acceptance
and approval of the readability of the transported files.
WORKING WITH CLIENT SUPPLIED FILES
Obviously, if supplied with a logo from a company, one can be fairly sure
that authorization is legitimately granted. However, any copyrighted or
trademarked material not of the photographer9s direct ownership should be
accompanied by a waiver supplied by the client. The waiver should clearly
state that the client has the authorization to use the material. Although
this waiver would be of limited legal value in the case of copyright
infringement, it would serve to establish some basis of a good faith effort
on the part of a photographer or imaging artist that any use is authorized.
COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP ISSUES
With the development of new technologies, copyright ownership of digital
files have come under a certain degree of controversy. When a photographer
scans and manipulates only his own original images, there is very little
dispute as to the copyright ownership of the resultant digital files. Any
digital files created from original copyrighted material are subject to the
limitations of the original author. However, when works from multiple
authors are combined, the resultant works are Derivative Works. The
traditional legal definition of Derivative Works calls for the derived works
to be substantially different and have a significant artistic contribution.
It should be very clear that simple digital corrections do NOT constitute a
Derivative Work. When a file is submitted to a client or service bureau for
output, substantial manipulation or alteration of the file should not be
allowed without express written permission. Additionally, when licensing
works submitted as digital files, the rights licensed should be to the use
of the composite digital file only. Elements, selections or anything used to
create or assemble a final image should be considered as separate from the
final image file. There indeed may be times when it is convenient or
expedient to supply the sub-elements, but there should be no confusion as to
the ownership of these elements.
MISC ISSUES
We will try to identify additional areas of concern and address them as they
arise. Criteria from additional industry groups and modifications for
International use will be will be added when appropriate
The above issues are by no means exhaustive. However, the group will focus
on those specific areas where a clear consensus can be agreed upon. The
recommendations will be made available on the APA National web site at
www.apanational.org/dips/ and be freely available to all members of various
industry groups as well as the Media.
Comments regarding the initiative can be directed to:
email@hidden