NEW YORK -- May 15, 2003 -- Since the inception of digital publishing in the 80's, graphic artists have struggled with ensuring the color desired by their clients matched the printed output. Synchronizing the two has been the mission of color management technology for the past 20+ years. Today TrendWatch Graphic Arts released a special reportwhich analyzes the effects and impact of two decades of work and whether the technology is being applied and accepted. According to the report, 63% of graphic arts respondents report they indeed are applying color management in some capacity. This number is somewhat tainted by the additional data that reports that "eyeballing" jobs (comparing originals to printed output without digital measurement tools) is considered color management by more than 50% of the printing firms that say they use color management. TWGA concludes that adoption of color management among printers is not abundant, and is even less abundant for creative professionals and publishers. The report, "Color Management: Another Gray Area," is an update of a report originally published in 2001, and offers a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the printing and creative industries as they relate to color management, and is available for online purchase at the TWGA eStore in PDF format. For more information about this and other TWGA reports, go to the main TWGA website page (http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com). Researcher's Quote... "The classic driving forces of any technology are better, cheaper, and easier, and these forces are ever present in the color management model, notes Vince Naselli, Director, TrendWatch Graphic Arts. "The software solutions are more sophisticated than they have ever been before, they're cheaper in many cases, and they've become much easier to use. Also graphic arts pros have become savvier about what color management involves and how to implement it. Add to this the fact that more designers and publishers seek to eliminate their reliance on outsourced prepress services, and you realize the growing impact color management should be having on the industry." According to the Report... -- PUBLISHER USE: 65% of industry publishers do not use color management technology; -- CHOICE OF AD AGENCIES: Among ad agencies, the number one color management technology is workstation-based color management software (59%); -- DESIGN AND PRODUCTION USE: Two-thirds of design and production firms do not currently use color management technology; -- INTERNET CHALLENGE: 12% of Internet creatives are challenged by color management for print, compared to 8% who are challenged by color management for Web pages; -- LOOKING TO BUY: 5% of design and production firms plan to invest in color measurement equipment in our most recent survey (an all-time high for this product category). About the Report... This new special report is of value to both solution and service providers. It offers critical analysis of the benefits and traps of color management as well as emphasizes the perceptions and trends at work in the industry. The report, "Color Management: Another Gray Area" analyzes: -- What makes color management so difficult? -- What are the solutions and how do we fix the problems caused by those solutions?; -- Does anyone care about color management in the first place? If not, why not?; -- Is there a dichotomy between "critical color" and "good enough color"?; -- Does this affect proofing in any way? These are just some of the issues analyzed in this new Special Report. Methodology... The foundation of this report is based upon data compiled from TrendWatch Graphic Arts' own proprietary historical databases (for printers, design and production firms, publishers, and Internet design and development firms) as well as the TrendWatch Graphic Arts Printing 13, and 15, Design & Production 13 & 14, Publishing 13 & 14, and Internet Design & Development 6 survey reports. Information was also gleaned from various industry sources, including industry trade magazines, general news sources, and consultant expertise. Availability... The 129-page TWGA "Color Management: Another Gray Area" report 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 $1595. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.