The Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines (UPDIG) were launched by the UPDIG working Group in October of 2005 (see story below). CAPIC recommends these standards as the basic requirements for professional digital photography.Visit the UPDIG site at: http://www.updig.org/guidelines/index.php to view the Guidelines and related information and links.
CAPIC Helps Create Worldwide Digital Standards
TORONTO (Nov. 2, 2005) – Months of on-line consultations by members of various professional photography groups, including CAPIC, represented by former President Andre Cornellier, has resulted in the publication of the first, professional digital imaging guidelines. See the full story below.
Digital Imaging Guidelines Aim to Smooth Iimage Reproduction Issues
NEW YORK (Oct. 21, 2005) – The Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines officially became a public document today during PhotoPlus Expo at the Javits Center. And public they are, available for all to see – and download – and use without charge at www.updig.org
The 15 Guidelines – along with accompanying Best Practices documents – aim to clarify issues affecting accurate reproduction and management of digital image files. Although they were created from a photographer’s perspective, the group has worked hard to incorporate the concerns of everyone involved in the process of reproducing digital images. Anyone working with digital images should find them useful.
The guidelines have three primary goals:
- Digital images look the same as they transfer between devices, platforms and vendors.
- Digital images are prepared in the correct resolution, at the correct size, for the device(s) on which they will be viewed or printed.
- Digital images have metadata embedded that conforms to the IPTC standards, making the images searchable, providing usage and contact information, and stating their creators or copyright owners.
Much Accomplished in a Year
The effort to help bring order to the exchange of digital image files got off the ground just one year ago at PhotoPlus, when leaders and representatives of nearly a dozen photographers groups from around the world gathered for a “Digital Summit.” They agreed the Guidelines and Best Practices were needed and should be easy to understand, offering options for different workflows, aimed at different outputs – from HiFi color printing presses to online media.
Several people stepped forward to help craft the Guidelines, and before long the group had established an online forum for communications. By early in 2005, the group agreed on the name Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines, and draft ideas were circulating. David Riecks, who was serving as the Digital Committee chair for ASMP and authority on image archiving, created and hosts a website for UPDIG.
By spring, Richard Anderson, now a national board member for the American Society of Media Photographers, had stepped in to organize and write The Guidelines. Greg Smith, Business Practices Committee chairman for the National Press Photographers Association, helped Anderson edit the documents, and others contributed critiques and ideas. ASMP’s Peter Dyson crafted a draft web version of the guidelines, which later grew into the current web presentation and downloadable PDF.
A year after its birth, the group has invited several photographic vendors to join the discussions, as well as representatives from photographic agencies, graphic design groups and more. While determined, for the time being, to remain an informal group, UPDIG is interested in feedback from all concerned about issues of digital imaging file exchange. Please send ideas and inquiries to info@updig.org
Member Groups
Organizations currently represented on the steering committee for UPDIG include:
ACMP (Australian Commercial and Media Photographers)
AIPA (Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association)
AOP (The Association Of Photographers)
APA (The Advertising Photographers of America)
ASMP (The American Society of Media Photographers)
ASPP (American Society of Picture Professionals)
CAPIC (The Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication)
EP (Editorial Photographers)
PPA (Professional Photographers of America)
NPPA (National Press Photographers Association)
SAA (Stock Artists Alliance)
Visit the UPDIG site at: www.updig.org