NEW YORK, NY -- June 5, 2002 -- TrendWatch Graphic Arts today released a special report addressing the growing impact of digital asset management both inside and outside the graphic communications industry. The report explains how market players are using digital asset management, or DAM, to invoke new revenue streams and/or accelerate production cycles in key target markets. The report, titled, "Digital Asset Management: In the Field" examines how DAM is being used in critical markets such as book, magazine and catalog publishing, packaging, corporate marketing (Fortune 1000), and advertising with an emphasis on applications in the field. It also details how the use of DAM is infiltrating the graphic communications industry, both in terms of use by graphic arts professionals themselves and as the glue that holds together the critical applications of today and of the future. Although this report contains the latest TWGA research data on digital asset management (including historical trends since the company's earliest studies) the emphasis is on TWGA's extensive interviews, which contain candid, often surprising insights from DAM users, suppliers, and integrators. The report was released today and is available online. For more information, please visit the TWGA website http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com/DigitalAssetMgmt.html What is DAM Digital Asset Management is most often defined as a computer software and/or hardware system which archives, tracks and manages digital page elements (including but not limited to text, graphic and photo images, pages, templates, line art, logos, finished layouts, PDFs, and more recently, video and audio clips). DAM systems allow users to quickly recall these elements for re-use in new jobs, saving the production time of recreating them. Though some would argue that a plain paper job bag is a form of DAM, in the last 10 years, DAM has been referenced as a digital software and/or hardware solution. "It would be difficult to put into a sound byte just how comprehensive this report is," noted Vince Naselli, Director, TrendWatch Graphic Arts. "Its content is based upon requests by users and suppliers and relies upon practical, real-life field research. While it contains the latest TWGA data on adoption of digital asset management, the core of this report is the wealth of information gathered from in-depth field interviews that contain candid -- often surprising -- insights from end users and suppliers. It also contains a special value-added section on an up-and-coming component of DAM that should not be ignored: digital rights management." According to the report... -- 6% of graphic communications firms see DAM as a top sales opportunity, service bureaus recorded the highest percentage (10%); -- 36% of graphic communications firms say they are using "file naming and storage conventions" (not DAM) to store and access their files; -- 51% of graphic communications firms believe they have a formal group/department level DAM system or enterprise-wide system; -- 6% of graphic communications firms plan to invest in a DAM system in the next 12 months, up from 4% six months ago; -- 11% of creative professionals plan to purchase DAM in the next 12 months, rising to 18% for commercial photographers. Who Should Buy This Report... This report is written for those selling or considering selling digital asset management, supplying or considering supplying DAM services to the market, and anyone considering investing or even 'not' considering investing in a DAM system. The report contains valuable insights to: -- Suppliers of Digital Asset Management systems; -- Systems integrators; -- Graphic communications hardware and software vendors; -- Software development firms; -- Large to mid-sized printers and service bureaus; -- Advertising agencies and graphic designers; -- Catalog, magazine and book publishers and their suppliers; -- Corporate end users such as packaging, financial and pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers. What the Report Offers... -- Competitor lists and insights; -- Current state-of-the-market data; -- Best target markets and successful sales strategies; -- Case studies and user insights; -- Barriers to adoption and ROI issues; -- Who's buying and why; -- Fresh and historical data on the use of DAM; -- Where the digital asset management market is going. "Digital Asset Management: In the Field" is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com/estore 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.