SGIA Introduces Digital Color Professional Certification

For Immediate Release July 6, 2017 Contact: Kate Achelpohl, SGIA 703.359.1364 kate@sgia.org Fairfax, Virginia — The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) is pleased to announce SGIA Digital Color Professional certification — and the first class of credentialed imagers. “Color is important to a successful job and customer satisfaction. You need to get it right consistently, especially when branding is involved. We created the SGIA Digital Color Professional certification as a way to prove what you can do,” said Ray Weiss, Digital Imaging Specialist, SGIA. Achieving certification is a two-step process. First, the applicant takes a written test to demonstrate his or her knowledge. Upon passing, they must print a test image provided by SGIA. SGIA staff then evaluates the color quality and consistency using industry agreed-upon specifications. Also of note is the spot color management that the student demonstrates with this test image. “The theoretical knowledge that goes into accurate color is key, but what sets a printer apart is the ability to get it right in practice,” Weiss said. “Imagers with an SGIA Certified Digital Color Professional badge have proven their knowledge and demonstrated their skills.” The first class of credentials came from students who have attended SGIA’s Color Management Boot Camp. Of the 16 students who took the written test, just seven achieved certification:

• Dave Brewer, Image Options, Foothill Ranch, California
• Derek House, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia
• Clay Meldrum, Maverick Color, Carrollton, Texas
• Melanie Odria, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia
• Bert Santana, I2K Digital LLC, Miami, Florida
• Shelby Sapusek, ColorMetrix Technologies, Sussex, Wisconsin
• Nicole Tempesta, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia

“We’ve had several printer members send teams to the Color Management Boot Camp,” Weiss noted. “Printers who have this credential on staff have proven they attain and maintain consistent, predictable, repeatable color; they keep expenses in line by using ink and media more efficiently; and they have faster turnaround times because they manage all output devices to achieve a common visual appearance and master spot color replacement.” Candidates for Digital Color Professional Certification are not required to attend SGIA’s Color Management Boot Camp; nor are students required to test for certification. To learn more about this valuable new credential, visit SGIA.org. SGIA — Supporting the Leaders of the Digital & Screen Printing Community Having its origins in the screen printing industry, SGIA embraced the digital revolution early on and is now the trade association of choice for professionals in the industrial, graphic, garment, textile, electronics, packaging and commercial printing communities looking to grow their business into new market segments through the incorporation of the latest printing technologies. SGIA membership comprises these diverse segments, all of which are moving rapidly towards digital adoption. As long-time champions of digital technologies and techniques, SGIA is the community of peers you are looking for to help navigate the challenges of this process. Additionally, the SGIA Expo is the largest trade show for print technology in North America. “Whatever the medium, whatever the message, print is indispensable. Join the community — SGIA.”