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BREAKING NEWS: Video content storage is scalable

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Tue, Aug 11, 2015 @ 11:04 AM

napc-scale-logic-video-stoarge

Moving pictures were once called such for all the wonderful and obvious reasons...they were actually moving! While not called “moving” anymore, video content is still actively growing and growing (and growing) at exponential rates!

Think of the world around you...the long-form feature films, timely news broadcasts, ad spots, and short clips on social media...we as a society are literally overflowing with access to any kind of footage we desire...and, so is our storage!

Understanding the need for “scalability” is one of our driving forces at NAPC. That’s why we take a modular approach; from storage, to file systems, to project management. We chose Scale Logic video solutions because it’s easy to use, easy to maintain, and extremely stable. With the bottom line, of course, founded on delivering ROI.

No matter what your application, or how your editors are using our tools, this strong media asset management system can be applied to handle the video content workflow of any project.

Scale Logic Use Case:

An ad agency creates a new spot for a large retailer, which airs nationally during a large sporting event. Footage arrives from the shoot and quickly becomes an asset/project that is created on the storage, running the file system. The footage is also automatically archived on tape or other device for backup, if needed.

NAPC’s experience with end-to-end video production and agency workflows goes back decades. Maintaining, enhancing, and protecting your valuable content, as it grows, is how we’ll help you evolve into the future. 

Crank up your video content storage capabilities GET THE POWER OF SCALABILITY HERE

That DAM Conference

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Tue, May 05, 2015 @ 09:40 AM

Tags: Buying DAM Technology, DAM, brand asset management, NAPC blog, New York City, Henry Stewart, Convention, #DAMNY, #IsThisYou

 

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It is time for Henry Stewart Events: DAM NY this week (May 7-8) in New York City. Henry Stewart DAM Conferences take place several times per year, in a number of major cities. Like it, or not New York City is however the capital of DAM. Follow all the updates with #DAMNY.

Hundreds of DAM professionals (#IsThisYou) will gather to discuss, review, connect and participate in case study presentations, collaborative work sessions and techlabs. The growth of the digital assets business sector has been phenomenal and the importance of storing, accessing, distributing, repurposing and monetizing those assets increases every day. This convention will deliver what it promises: the latest thinking on how to store, access, distribute, and monetize your digital assets, illustrated with learnings from multiple case studies.

With a great line up of speakers, and a full agenda over the course of two days, this is certain to be an important conference to attend. Several members of the NAPC team will be on hand, and keep a look out for teams from Bynder and DALIM SOFTWARE GmbH, both of whom will both be exhibiting. This is a treat for us, having two of our primary partners in one place. 

Attendees can expect a great deal of topics including:

  • "A look at how to build a DAM foundation that is not only effective for the creative needs of now, but one that will stand the test of time" with speaker, Theresa Regli, Managing Partner & Principal Analyst, Real Story Group.
  • Where is DAM Heading? A panel discussing content contextualization and brand management, on-premise vs. cloud hosted or SaaS, and who will be buying DAM? This panel will include among others representatives from 3M Company, Sterling Publishing and Hallmark.
  • Identifying the Needs. Satisfying the Wants. This panel will focus on where vendors are taking their products and the ways they seek to facilitate marketing innovation, as well as how the needs of global companies and their creative, branding and marketing teams are to be fully satisfied (#IsThisYou)

In preparation for Henry Stewart, here are some helpful tips for getting the most out of this or any conference. Enjoy the largest Digital Asset Management Conference of 2015 and keep an eye on the NAPC Twitter and Facebook feeds for updates, and save the hashtag #DAMNY to follow the convention.

Not attending? You can always keep up with news, the state of the DAM industry, branding content and digital asset management tips and tricks, and much more by subscribing to the NAPC Blog.

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Certain content from within the post comes from original sources including HubSpotHenrik de Gyor and The Henry Stewart Conferences. 

Brands Unhappy With DAM Solutions

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Thu, Apr 23, 2015 @ 08:41 AM

Tags: DAM Systems, Buying DAM Technology, DAM, technology, dam solutions, survey

digital asset management survey

As posted by TechTarget Search Content Management, a recent survey by Real Story Group indicates widespread dissatisfaction with digital asset management software, with unrealistic expectations likely a factor. The online survey was intended to obtain practitioners' perspectives on key digital and media asset management software-related themes, including common use cases, tools, vendors, implementation patterns, and challenges.

The survey was conducted by Theresa Regli, Principal Analyst and Managing Partner, Real Story Group. In the course of the survey, Regli found that "A lot of people aren't particularly happy with their systems." Further, the survey found "how unsophisticated a lot of the DAM use was with most organizations using DAM because they need a place to put pictures."

Kenny Kirsch, Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer of NAPC notes "It’s often not the technology alone, it’s the driver, as change management is the key requirement for a successful DAM implementation. If the DAM does not make people’s work lives better it will fail, and if the software does’t live up to the promise there are no benefits."

Please read full article here, where you will find a link to the survey, additional insights and suggestions for succesful DAM implimentations. Login may be required to read full article.

To learn more about digital asset management solutions, click the icon below.

DAM Solutions

DALiM TWiST does what?

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Fri, Apr 17, 2015 @ 09:52 AM

Tags: creative workflow, video, tutorial, TWiST, Dalim, DAM Systems, software solutions, DAM, graphics

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All videos in our 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In DALiM TWiST series are now live on a dedicated channel on Flathead U. This series of videos produced and presented by NAPC Solutions Architect, Scott Tully educates and enlightens users and administrators of DALiM TWiST by illustrating the capabilities of the software as pertains to workflow engineering and graphic arts production.

Each video in the series is a run time of less than three minutes, and is sure to enlighten or remind users that there is always more than one way to get things done. Covering workflows with multiple branches, the PDF concatenation feature, conditional pauses, and the features allowing for translation of a spreadsheet into a run list, this is the ultimate in DALiM TWiST schooling.

WATCH Episode One - "Stick a FORK in it" contrasts the methodolgy of building TWiST workflows with multiple branches versus a linear workflow featuring the TWiST Basic Tool: Fork.

WATCH Episode Two - "Hidden in Plain Sight" illuminates the documented, yet overlooked PDF concatenation feature of the FilterGroup tool, providing the fundamentals of the tool's configuration and demonstrating its unique feature.

WATCH Episode Three - "All Good Things" introduces TWiST's capability of providing for 'conditional pauses' based on logic as expressed within the WaitOn tool.

WATCH Episode Four - "Six Ways To Sunday" moves away from the tool-based example and conclusion model, revealing a unconventional approach to TWiST's input methodology.

WATCH Episode Five - "X Marks The Start" turns conventional usage of TWiST on it's head, introducing SetParamFromXML's ability to translate a spreadsheet into a "run list" as well as some additional, helpful programmatic "X's".

Visit our dedicated DALiM TWiST Channel at Flathead U anytime to review and share this video series.

Invest 60 Minutes Now, Save 60 Hours Later

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 10:08 AM

Tags: creative, digital proofing, online proofing tool, creative workflow, digital assets, proofing, proofing software, cloud software, online proofing, review and approval, marketing, review, free, SaaS, Guide

Invest 60 Minutes Now, Save 60 Hours Later

Free_Book_Download_blue_arrowYou may be asking yourself, 'Am I well informed on online proofing tools?' Or 'What do I need to know about online proofing before bringing a solution to my team?' These are the right questions to be asking, and we have got you covered with our new Free Guide. This will have you completely informed in 60 minutes (or less).

Online Proofing Tools can provide your team with the necessary means to simplify and facilitate you review, approval, and collaboration process. We know determining whether a solution or set of tools will meet your marketing and creative teams needs, and growth plans can seem a daunting and time consuming task. With that in mind, we put together this Free Guide. Invest 60 minutes (or less) now, and save 60 hours (or more) later.

Our Free Guide To Evaluating Online Proofing Tools In 60 Minutes Or Less will help you to easily evaluate these tools in less than 60 minutes. Not only is this a quick read guide, this valuable information will further solidify your position as innovator within your team.

This Free Evaluation Guide will help you: 

  • Dramatically decrease the time it takes to evaluate proofing and productivity tools

  • Determine the capabilities the online proofing solution must offer to meet your needs

  • Highlight important issues to consider for evaluating online proofing and review & approve solutions

  • Make informed business decisions and move forward with the right knowledge and confidence

How to run your digital assets like a well-organized suitcase

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Wed, Apr 01, 2015 @ 01:00 PM

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“I love to pack!” said noone ever. But with warmer seasons glinting on the slowly melting horizon, we can’t help but feel inspired to do just that...pack our bags, jet off and get our vacation on. To do that, of course, we have to pack first. (Drat)

Gathering all your miscellaneous unorganized stuff, putting it into a compartmentalized space in such a way that you can 1) be sure you have everything, and 2) find and get to everything easily, is in itself an art form. It’s also a lot of work.

But you know what ISN’T? Organizing your digital assets. Why? Because there are many digital asset management systems and solutions available, offering configurable, affordable, and easy ways to manage not only your digital assets (images, videos, logos, charts), but your brand assets (logos, tag lines), as well.  

In our recent blog, DAM Market Set For Exponential Growth this new report states that “...the global digital asset management market is expected to grow from $1.16 billion in 2014 to $4.12 billion by 2019…” With this in mind, it’s clear that there is a big need for a lot of organizing and “packing,” and that there are a lot of digital visual assets in need of organization and management.

With a wide assortment of options in the marketplace, and so many vendors and systems, today’s DAM goes way beyond the broad-scope sorting, organizing, searching and managing of your digital assets. As your goals are getting more specific and unique, so are your needs.

Take Proof HQ for example; it vastly improves your proofing process, which in turn helps team collaboration through a better, and more efficient, review and approval process.

Or Bynder. It’s not just about brand asset management and keeping your brand messaging spot on, but about extending your brand’s reach globally and keeping all teams working with a single source of truth for all their marketing and brand materials.

Imagine becoming the DAM master in your company! Or the genius who brings the solutions to those who will do the organizing (and make your life easier).

You’d deserve a raise. A vacation for sure. So better get at it. Those flip flops ain’t gonna pack themselves.

5 Things: DALiM TWiST Video Series

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Mon, Mar 23, 2015 @ 09:16 AM

Tags: creative, creative workflow, video, digital assets, TWiST, Dalim, DAM Systems, digital asset management, DAM, workflow, graphics, production

 

twist-designed-black

School is in session with our very own Solutions Architect and TWiST Expert, Scott Tully. It is time to get out of Spring Break mode and get ready to learn 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In DALiM TWiST

This is 5-part video series, aims to educate and enlighten users and administrators of Dalim TWiST by illustrating the capabilities of the TWiST software as pertains to workflow engineering and graphic arts production. As the theme implies, the TWiST toolbox is so intuitive, users quickly achieve their workflow objectives and stop, never realizing all the workflow automation and intelligence that TWiST has to offer.

Episode One: "Stick a FORK in it" contrasts the methodolgy of building TWiST workflows with multiple branches versus a linear workflow featuring the TWiST Basic Tool: Fork.

Episode Two: "Hidden in Plain Sight" illuminates the documented, yet overlooked PDF concatenation feature of the FilterGroup tool, providing the fundamentals of the tool's configuration and demonstrating its unique feature.

Episode Three: "All Good Things" introduces TWiST's capability of providing for 'conditional pauses' based on logic as expressed within the WaitOn tool.

Episode Four: "Six Ways To Sunday" : "Six ways to Sunday" moves away from the tool-based example and conclusion model, revealing a unconventional approach to TWiST's input methodology.

Episode Five: "X Marks The Start": Turns conventional usage of TWiST on it's head, introducing SetParamFromXML's ability to translate a spreadsheet into a "run list" as well as some additional, helpful programmatic "X's".

Tully has produced this video blog series to share both his passion for, and intimate knowledge of, all things TWiST, knowing you would appreciate the timely tips or insightful reminders about this specific tool or a underlying feature.

We are confident that the 5 Things series will ignite your imagination and fuel your pursuit of ever more efficient, effective TWiST workflows.

Each video in the 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In DALiM TWiST series is a run time of less than three minutes, and each episode is sure to enlighten or remind users that there is always more than one way to get things done.

Watch Video 1: Stick a FORK in it RIGHT HERE

Watch Video 2: Hidden in Plain Sight RIGHT HERE

Watch Video 3: All Good Things RIGHT HERE

Watch Video 4: Six Ways To Sunday RIGHT HERE

Watch Video 5: X Marks The Start RIGHT HERE

You can see all episodes on the DALiM TWiST Channel at Flathead U

  

ProofHQ: When you see it, you’ll believe it (and get it, on the spot)

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Tue, Mar 10, 2015 @ 08:46 AM

Tags: approve, creative, efficient, digital, paper, proofing, organize, ProofHQ, workflow, marketing, productivity, collaboration, operations, technology, review, design, GCG, Ken Madsen, print, layout

                           describe the image

You’ve heard people say “seeing is believing.” It’s one of those catch phrases that’s been done to death, yet it’s exactly the right phrase to describe ProofHQ. So we’ll say it again, and this time with gusto; SEEING PROOFHQ IS BELIEVING.

So why are we on the mountain tops shouting our love for this solution? Because it’s just so obvious, so effective, and so simple.

It’s keeping online what was created there in the first place. Why do we still print and pass around paper layouts? Why do we still use ink and sticky notes? If you haven’t asked these “whys,” it’s probably because you’re too preoccupied with the deadline you missed when someone didn’t notice your stack of “to be approved” papers on their desk, and went on vacation.

ProofHQ is the answer; a smart, simple way to organize your proofing process by putting everything in one place, where everyone can access it, at anytime, from anywhere. It’s eliminating all that old-school printing-out-layouts/stuck-in-a-paper-jam stuff, and greasing the gears with digital lightning.

BUT EVEN BETTER; it’s a cinch to get up and running, and everyone onboard. Just hear what Ken Madsen, President, GSG has to say about ProofHQ.

           

You’re smart. You’ll see and you’ll believe. And when you do, we’ll help you go from “must get” to “got it” as quickly as you can say ProofHQ.

 

                                                            

An asset management solution you’ll wish you had for tax time

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Fri, Feb 20, 2015 @ 10:19 AM

Tags: digital asset management, DAM, file, search, solution, file naming, filename, organize, tax season, discover

                     Dollarphotoclub 48738785

Right about now you, and the majority of our country’s population, are probably beginning the ritualistic hunt and peck of locating your financial asset documents to prepare for TAX SEASON. With a bit of scrambling and a boatload of stress (and vows that you’ll do things differently next year) eventually you’ll get through it...and wipe your brow, thankful that this time only comes one time a year.

Or does it?

If finding your visual assets at work is like preparing for tax season EVERY DAY, then you need another way...and that way is digital asset management (DAM). The reason is right there in the name; “management.” It’s a way to oversee, gather and group, and make work life so much easier. But DAM goes beyond just helping you find images.

According to Laura Fu, Customer Success Resource for NAPC and Digital Asset Management expert:

“DAM helps people DISCOVER content they didn't know existed or hadn't thought to look for...using a shared folder [not using DAM] on a company drive offers no policing, no standards. It's a free for all, so you must know exactly what you are looking for and where it lives.”

Working with a DAM solution is liberating and rewarding because it allows you to search and explore the way you would on Google and get a variety of options in return, not just the one you’re looking for.

Not working with a DAM solution (a.k.a. doing it the old fashioned way) is linear and limiting. With a filename, you get exactly what you’re looking for...and nothing more. Without a filename, you’re @#$!% out of luck.

Make finding the digital assets you need less taxing. Let a smart DAM solution help you work better, faster and more productively, every day!

 

                                                                      Read: DAM for Creatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 steps toward a better work process

Posted by NAPC Marketing on Wed, Feb 04, 2015 @ 06:59 PM

Tags: marketing agile, project management, designers, share, approve, resolutions, creative, online collaboration, risk, challenge, stagnate, procrastinate, comfort zone, identify, research, choose, achieve, thought leader, 4 steps, eliminate rounds, confusing comments, compensating, expense, paper proofing process, digital proofing, eliminate rounds of confusing comments, cut your costs, save time, focus on end product, process change, end results, marketing department productive, online proofing tool, online proofing software, revisions, teams, manage, creative workflow, online proofing, Google, assets, marketing, process, change, productivity, streamlined, transition, Shawn Herring, Proof HQ

                       Dollarphotoclub 71673318

Why do we get complacent? Why do we let things, like bad work processes, continue on “as is,” even if our “as is” stinks (and we know it)? Why do we enable our problems by compensating in other ways, at our own expense? Because climbing out of our comfort zone takes work, is uncertain and potentially risky. Yes, yes and yes. (Sorry, it is.)

So for those of you brave enough to say “what the hey, I’m going for it anyway,” here are four steps that can help you get the right information and confidence to build a platform for change, or at least a good argument for the consideration of change, within your team:

Step 1: Identify your problem spots...the roadblocks, the inconsistencies, the unorganized processes...all those things that keep you from producing the end product that you want, in the timeframe and budget that you need to work within. Once you know where your problems lie, you can begin the process of putting a name to the solution(s) that will fix them.  

Step 2: Google your problems using “normal people” words like, eliminate rounds of confusing comments. It’s actually better NOT to try to use fancy technical terms because, chances are, many other people have Googled the same way you are for the same sorts of problems and, chances are, they also didn’t know what they were looking for at the time. You might even notice that Google finishes your query for you as you type it into the search area. That means you are hot on the trail!!

Step 3: Research what comes up. Stay neutral...resist the urge to pick a solution at this point. Instead, do your homework and compare a few ebooks, white papers, slideshares, whatever you need to educate yourself so you can make a good comparison between a few viable contenders.

Step 4: Choose two or three solutions and do a deep dive...ask for free demos...why not, they’re FREE! Soon enough, the right choice will become very apparent and you will be ready to venture forth out of your comfort zone knowledgeable and prepared.

And for all your hard work, you’ll undoubtedly Achieve recognition as a thought leader and positive change maker in your company!