Daniel Dejan on Color Management

Daniel Dejan

Daniel Dejan is one of the industry's best-known and most popular educators - he's certainly one of my favorites. He is the North American Print & Creative Manager for Sappi Fine Paper/North America, and he speaks to all sorts of audiences in the graphic arts. Daniel can unravel highly technical concepts - such as color management - like no one else can. His mastery of this subject, plus his experience as a designer and art director, give him a unique edge. And Daniel's a great presenter.

Next month he'll deliver two sessions on September 11th at our Conference. I interviewed him for a preview of these sessions.

MD: Daniel, you're giving an Advanced session this year, plus another that's suitable for all buyers. Tell us about the lessons you'll share in your session on Color Management Workflow, and who it's geared to.

DD: The ideal audience would be anyone involved in having to conceptualize, generate and/or manage critical color in print (i.e., corporate identity, branding/thematic colors and/or product color replication). I have tried to pack this session with tips, tricks, caveats and cautionary tales for content creators, designers, production managers, print buyers, et alia, to assist them in managing critical color through the design/print workflow. I think the ideal audience would also be one that appreciates humor and laughs at my jokes.

MD: Can you define Color Management? Why is it such a critical issue among buyers and designers?

DD: In the simplest terms, color management is the ability to replicate a specific color or color set from one device to another. It is the quality assurance of capturing, choosing, building colors within a software program, properly quantifying and articulating a specific/critical color to a craftsperson who will manufacture that color(s) and ultimately the quality control processes to get as close as possible while taking into account shifts and conversions from differing gamuts (RGB, CMYK, Lab, etc.) and the numerous devices that capture and generate color (digital cameras, scanners, CPUs, monitors, RIPs, inks, toners, PDAs, etc.).

It is also knowing that there are colors we capture, choose and/or generate that will simply not translate or convert from one gamut to another - and what we need to do in order to be able to achieve the desired results.

The biggest challenge content creators face is the push from both clients and management to send "print ready" files (PDFs) directly to the printer in the hopes of saving time and money. Unfortunately, this puts the burden of color management on the content creators to build and program color management into their files using the tools available (though not always accessible without the proper knowledge and experience) in the software programs. All too often, we are disappointed with the results and are not sure why or how it went wrong and, more importantly, who to blame. Without conversations such as this seminar, how else can do we get this information? Fortunately, there are a lot of very gifted folks out there sharing their knowledge and experiences to try to bridge the knowledge gaps.

MD: Later that same afternoon, you'll present "Life with Print." What can you tell us about this session?

DD: Integrated Marketing, Multi-Channel Distribution, Viral Marketing, and Glance Media are a few of the many descriptors currently used to describe the new business models being implemented by advertisers, marketers and media strategists. Our consumer society is overflowing with new devices, many hand held, as primary sources for communications and intra-connectivity, which leads traditional, legacy media such as television, radio and print, to ask the larger questions, "Where do we fit in?" This session addresses the primary quandary, "Is Print truly a waning media?"

MD: Daniel, for the 6 or 7 people in this field who don't know who you are, please share a bit about your background. I believe you have some serious experience in the graphic arts.

DD: My father owned an advertising agency in Chicago, where I started doing key-line/paste-up (analog print production) in my early teens. I had the ideal apprenticeship at one of the largest type shops in Chicago in their "art department" and worked my way up to being the art director. I started my own design studio, which ran on and off for about 20 years. Along the way we added advertising, marketing, and corporate identity design services that evolved into "branding," and lots and lots of print production and buying.

I had the good fortune of working for a major healthcare corporation as Senior Design and Production Manager with a large (26) staff of designers, writers, and sales support personnel. Excellent corporate experience. My last design studio featured some great talent offering early web design, video and 3-D capabilities as well as traditional graphic design and marketing sales support, primarily for the corporate world. I focused on paper mills, paper merchants/distributors, and the print community as my primary clients. That led me deeper into the paper and print communities, a short stint with an overseas paper company and finally with Sappi. I have been with Sappi 10 years. I started during the "happy days" in the paper industry (just joking (not really)).

MD: Your sessions consistently offer a "triple threat;" that is, your presentation style, your content, and your clear mastery of every topic you speak to make you a stand-out in the industry. How do you keep up the energy? Where do you get your inspiration?

DD: My presentation style is just me being myself carrying on a time-sensitive conversation with a group of people who have a similar passion, curiosity and interest for the graphic arts - and a strong desire to get out of the office. I am a ravenous reader whether in print or on-line: obviously, I have a vested interest in print on paper.

I read about 35-40 magazines a month, numerous e-newsletters from every aspect of the graphic arts industry: from the various content creation and design, paper, print, print production, color management, pre-media, direct marketing, and graphic arts technology communities. I am also incredibly fortunate to know a large number of very, very bright, talented men and women who are willing to share their knowledge and time with me. I have learned to ask questions, difficult questions and, more so, I have learned to really listen to their responses. There are some truly amazing, inspired craftspeople, designers, thought leaders, mentors in our industry doing brilliant work. They are inspirational.

If you'd like to hear Daniel Dejan in Boston, register for his sessions at our 3rd Annual Print Buyers Conference at www.printbuyersconference.com/registration01.html.

Comments? Talk to me at mdana@bostonprintbuyers.com.

©2008 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. You're free to forward this email to friends and colleagues: please do! However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.

Print Buyer Conference Update

September 11th - 12th, 2008

Sheraton Boston Hotel, Boston, MA

Print Trivia Contest!

This year's Conference ends with a bang on Friday, September 12th, when Frank Romano emcees a tricky print trivia contest. Frank will show us 20 different images straight out of printing's past (and present). Audience members will try and identify each image on scorecards, and drawings will then be held to name winners - 20 in all!

Raffle prizes will then be handed out. It all takes place in the Exhibit Hall at 3:45 pm. See you there!

P.S. There are only 5 booths left. Don't be left out! Go to www.printbuyersconference.com and click on Exhibitors, or contact Barbara Graham at (978) 490-0010 for details.

Registration questions? Contact info@printbuyersinternational.com.

PANTONE Goe Webinar

Tuesday, August 26th
2 - 3 pm ET

PaperSpecs is hosting a very special webinar on Tuesday the 26th. Their guest speaker is Bob Finch, Pantone National Sales Manager - Graphics North America. You won't want to miss this hour packed with information about PANTONE Goe, so sign up today!

This Webinar is exclusive to PaperSpecs members. To become a member or register, go to www.paperspecs.com.

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