NEW YORK, NY -- January 9, 2002 -- TrendWatch Graphic Arts today released its latest special report entitled, "Color Management: Another Gray Area." TrendWatch Graphic Arts (TWGA), known for its analysis of the graphic arts and graphic communications industries, reports that there is a correlation between PDF use and the demand for color management tools. TWGA also reports that color management is experiencing increased demand among Commercial Photographers and Publishers. "An increase in investment in inexpensive image acquisition hardware such as scanners and digital cameras on the part of creative professionals is one of several forces driving the need for color management capabilities," noted Vince Naselli, Director, TrendWatch Graphic Arts. "As magazine and catalog publishers increasingly bring prepress capabilities inside they also have a greater need for color management. Where we see demand curving downward is in the commercial printing segments. We attribute this to the possible saturation of reliable solutions already in place and the diminished perception of newer technology warranting new investment." According to the Report... -- Larger, more technically savvy printers tend to be looking more toward color management capabilities than smaller printers -- these larger shops tend to draw a larger quantity of critical-color jobs; -- Changes in proofing trends and a decline in "critical color" print jobs are two forces driving the lack of need for color management capabilities; -- Color management tools are planned investments for 33% for all creative professionals who are PDF users -- 44% of graphic designers who are PDF users, and 38% of corporate design departments; -- Investment in color management is at 30% for firms who say they have incorporated cross media, including designers (29%), ad agencies (27%), magazine publishers (29%) and corporate design departments (27%); -- Color measurement equipment (i.e., a spectrophotometer) is a planned investment for 9% of all print businesses, yet are in the planned future of more heatset offset printers (11%) and direct-to-plate plants (13%). "Color Management: Another Gray Area," is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at (866) 873-6310. The price for the report is $1,495. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.