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.
