UPDIG recognizes the dedicated use of submission guidelines as the next step toward industry standards and best practices for working with digital images.
The DISG working group addresses standards to improve the “hand-off” of digital image files from photographers to end users of all types. This diverse community includes stock image distributors, magazine and book publishers, publication designers, web designers, art directors, museums and fine-art publishers.
The DISG working group has reviewed the current digital image submission practices of various end-user communities, identified best practices and standards that meet their needs, and produced this document to help users develop their own Submission Guidelines.
Members of the DISG working group represent both digital image suppliers and user communities, including magazine publishers, stock image distributors, graphic and web designers, museums, and others.
While end users usually have specific criteria for image submission, they often lack clear and consistent terminology for communicating those guidelines. As a result, photographers submit digital images in a variety of image formats, with various resolutions, camera types, color profiles, metadata schemas, sharpening and tonal correction.
That is a problem, not just for the end users, but also for the photographers. It inhibits creativity and results in inefficiencies for all who work with digital images.
All digital image users should consistently present a Submission Guidelines “checklist” when requesting digital image files. Base the checklist on best practices outlined in the UPDIG Universal Digital Imaging Guidelines and summarized in this report.
The purpose of this document is to help you create a Submission Guideline that is appropriate for your business and that effectively communicates your requirements to your image suppliers.