CITDA Symposium, CADExpo Tackle Technology Integration - Computer Integrated Textile Design Association

Bobbin, Oct, 2000 by Jordan K. Speer

Another twist to creating successful digital presentations -- whether they are trend services, intranet sites or Web stores -- is "e-detailing," said speaker Linda Duke, vice president of marketing for Xippix Inc. Her company offers a product that enables customers to see the details of online images. From the seam of a sweater to the button on a dress to the fabric of a couch, viewers can zoom in on any part of the image they wish to see better.

"It is important to extend visual merchandising techniques to your online presence," said Duke, adding that Web site creators often don't pay attention to the details of their online images in the same way that companies attend to in store merchandising details, such as window displays and fixture layout. Nevertheless, it is equally important online. E-detailing will increase sales and reduce returns, she affirmed.

Color Fidelity: What You See Isn't Always What You Get

Considering the pace of design cycles, the rapid transfer of information to global locations, advances in technologies such as digital printing, and of course the proliferation of e-commerce sites on the Web, no one wants to encounter barriers to a smooth flow of information.

Nevertheless, they do exist, and one such barrier that cropped up repeatedly at the symposium was color fidelity. In short, this is the problem of the "same" color taking on a different look when viewed through different mediums and on different objects.

And while there is no single clearcut solution to combat this problem at present, the research being done to create universal color languages and cross- equipment color calibration, etc. is moving forward.

Monarch Design Systems has formed a strategic alliance with E-Color Inc., which has developed a Web color display solution that compensates for the factors that cause variations in color display images on the Web, such as computer configuration, monitor technologies, graphics cards and operating systems.

In addition, Datacolor demonstrated its new Colorite printer calibration technology. "Colorite revolutionized color control in the textile industry by introducing the ability to reproduce on-screen color with exceptional precision," said Chris Hipps, corporate account manager. "Now, Colorite users can print a highly accurate color proof either locally or at a customer or supplier location," he explained.

Datacolor also provides technology and training specifically geared toward the needs of retail and apparel color offices, said Hipps, explaining that many apparel and textile companies are forming departments specializing in color standard creation, lab dip approvals and bulk color approvals. The result of using trained people in conjunction with technology is shorter approval cycles, improved quality and improved consistency at lower cost. "This frees designers, merchandisers and marketers to spend more time focusing on the creative aspects of their jobs," remarked Hipps.

Moreover, said Hipps, color and imaging technologies already are shortening product development cycles between businesses. "Old processes that relied on the expensive and slow shipping of physical samples between locations around the globe for color approvals are being replaced by fast and inexpensive electronic communication such as e-mail. The time savings are huge, allowing for quicker response to market trends," he said.