HANOVER PARK, Ill. (July 2003) — Enovation Graphic Systems, Inc. recently teamed up with Women in Graphic Media and Technology (WGMT) to help those working in both the graphic design and graphic arts industries gain a better understanding of remote proofing and dispel some of the myths associated with implementing that type of process. The seminar, held June 5 at Enovation’s location in Hanover Park, Ill., garnered attendees from both the agency and printing worlds, showing them how they can work smarter, better and, most importantly, more profitably. WGMT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the advancement and involvement of women in the converging fields of graphic media and digital technology, WGMT promotes the professional development and growth of women through career mentoring, job boards, networking opportunities, educational forums and seminars, and other support services. “We are beginning to find real and valuable ROIs with remote proofing,” noted Susan Kelly, managing partner for Rain Consulting and a founding member of WGMT. “The proofing market is really undergoing a lot of change and it’s happening rapidly. We’re talking about changing the way people are proofing and that’s a difficult thing to do; we’re talking about changing their mindset.” Changes in the proofing market is one of the key reasons that remote proofing is beginning to generate more and more interest among designers and printers, said Dawn Christner, print media manager for Enovation. “Interest in remote proofing has continued to grow, thanks to improved cost-effective output devices, color measurement devices and profiling software,” she explained. During the seminar, Christner explained the differences between the various levels of remote proofing – from soft proofing to soft proofing with color management to remote hard proofing – and informed attendees of what software and hardware is required at each stage to make the process an effective one for their organization. “Remote proofing, when done correctly, can have tremendous advantages for an organization, including shorter turnaround times, reduced shipping expenses and fewer costly contract proofs,” explained Christner. But, she warned, implementing this process may seem somewhat difficult. “When you consider that no single manufacturer offers all of the pieces (including networks, color management, output devices and proof verification devices) required for an entire solution, the task can seem daunting. And, while there’s a lot to learn and a lot of information to navigate, it doesn’t have to be,” she commented. “For companies that can afford it, consider putting a solutions consultant on staff. For companies that can’t, consider partnering with a manufacturer or distributor that you’re already working with and seek their advice in navigating the remote proofing landscape. Working together, you can devise a plan to not only save your company time and money, but also retain a competitive edge.” Enovation will host a second seminar on remote proofing in conjunction with WGMT on August 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Riva on Grand Avenue at Navy Pier. For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Julie Brink at WGMT at (630) 629-3410.