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Digital Photography Standards Project: Terminology
This is the working Terminology page of ASMP's
Digital Standards Project. You can read here about some of the terminology
that we have found in use by Digital Photographers.
"Digital Production Charges"
Digital Production Charges refer to everything that happens to a digital file after the shutter trips. This includes annotating, archiving, making available for editing, printing, retouching, delivery. "Production Charges" is a familiar term to nearly all of the buyers of photography. For most of our client base, photography itself is but one of many production charges (printing, art direction, writing...) associated with the completion of a project, e.g., brochure, annual report, ad campaign, etc.
Another aspect of "Digital Production Charges" as a term, is that it straddles the line between a Fee and an Expense. This might make it eligible for inclusion in an Expense Advance, and yet help to exempt it from the list of expenses for which some clients demand receipts.
"Capture Charges"
Capture Charges are the components of total production charges that relate to the acquisition and archiving of the files. In some cases, Capture Charges include the delivery of images in a form suitable for editing, such as a Web Gallery, batched jpegs, or contact sheets.
Including charges for the proofing in the Capture Charges can simplify the client experience, avoiding the appearance of "nickel and diming."
"Master File Preparation"
A Master File, is the file in its final, highest-res form. RGB files are the most versatile form of Master File, as they may be used for Conversion to Traditional Film, Digital Photographic Print output, on the web, or for conversion to CMYK for Offset Lithography. Master File Prep may include saving the file in several formats (Such as B&W and Color, as web-ready jpeg, etc.). These additional formats may incur additional charges.
Typically, a Master File is accompanied by a Guide Print
"Guide Print"
A Guide Print is an inkjet print (typically), that serves as a color guide for further reproduction of the image. This term can help avoid confusion with a PROOF, which, in the printing industry, can imply some sort of guarantee of color matching in further reproduction. Using the term "Proof" may imply some responsibility on the part of the photographer to insure color matching, and it might lead to liability for the photographer should color matching problems appear down the road
"Proof"
Within the printing and publication industry, Proof often implies a guarantee of a match. A Blueline Proof (now typically a Laser Proof), for instance, is an exact guide to type and graphics placement. "Random Proofs" are typically proofs generated by the printer or service bureau as a guarantee of what final color will look like. In Critical Color Applications, such as National Advertising, some photographers will choose to send out Digital Files to a Service Bureau for a conventional CMYK Proof, such as a Kodak Contract Approval Print, 3M Matchphint, or 4-Color film output and Chromalin Proof.
A Digital Slide Mount is a frame around an image file that provides information about the image. This information can include Photographer, Date of Creation, Contact Information, and, most importantly, License. This visible information helps clients keep track of the rights they have purchased from the photographer, and can help prevent unintentional infringement. It may also lead to additional licensing fees paid to the photographer.
Here's an example:
Color Matching Disclaimer
The following is a disclaimer that one photographer uses to advise the client about color issues. This statement is provided to make sure that the client knows that color needs to be proofed. It may be helpful in a situation where a client goes to press without a further proof, and attempts to hold the photographer accountable for bad color.
This Statement can be used on estimates and invoices:
(Photographer) is committed to providing high quality services. However, customers must examine all digital files before going to film or press. (Photographer's) liability is limited to correcting photographer's own product and under no circumstances is (Photographer) liable for any losses or expenses resulting directly or indirectly from defects or errors in digital files or their use.
This Statement can be used on estimates/invoices for web files only:
Due to extreme variances in monitor calibration, not only between Mac and PC platforms, but also from monitor to monitor within each platform, files prepared for web usage will display differently on different monitors. Therefore, neutrals will be set for mathematical neutrality and color will be adjusted for pleasing tonalities on monitors that have been calibrated for press.
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All Text © Peter Krogh