11th Annual DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out

11th Annual DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out
The Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA) announces the 11 th Annual DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-
Out to be held at PMA 2006, February 26 through March 1, 2006, at the Orange County Convention Center.
A panel of judges will vote on the images prior to PMA 2006, and winners will be announced at a press
conference Sunday, Feb. 26, prior to the opening of PMA 2006.
Judging
Entries will be judged in a controlled lighting environment at the headquarters of GTI Graphic Technology
using D50 light temperature (see http://www.graphiclite.com/ for more information on the lighting systems
being used). The target file contains a GretagMacbeth color checker with known values. These color patches
will be measured and scored appropriately. Qualitative criteria will also be used in judging the prints, based
on neutral gray balance reproduction, saturation, shadow detail and quality, overall tonality and detail,
highlights and specular highlights, flesh tones, hue shift, and text. The target print supplied is to be matched
as closely as possible.
Eligibility
You are eligible to participate in the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out if your company is an exhibitor at PMA
2006 – OR – is part of an exhibit with another company during the Trade Show.
Awards
Results will be published in Photo Marketing magazine, on the PMA website, and in other association
publications. The company with the winning entry in each category will receive a winner’s plaque, as well as
a sign to place in the booth near the winning equipment at the PMA 2006 Trade Show. A winner logo will
also be given to winning companies for promotional purposes. Winners will be included in the DIMA Shoot-
Out Winners Press Release and will receive special recognition during a press conference announcing the
winners.
The Categories
The 2006 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out divides printers into seven main categories, which are subject
to change:
1. RA4 Digital Printers Output Size* 2. Inkjet Output Size*
50" wide or more 48” x 60” 50" wide of more 48” x 60”
30" to 49" wide 30” x 38” 36" to 49" wide 36” x 45”
13" to 29" wide 16” x 20” 18" to 35" wide 16” x 20”
12” wide or less roll to roll 8” x 10” 9” to 17” wide 12” x 15”
Digital Minilab (12” max) 12” x 15” 8.5” wide or less ($200 or more) 8” x 10”
Digital Minilab (10” max) 10” x 12” 8.5" wide or less ($100 to $199) 8” x 10”
Digital Minilab (8” max) 8” x 10” 8.5" wide or less ($99 or less) 8” x 10”
Industrial High Speed 4” x 6” 4” x 6” 4” x 6” or less 4” x 6”
Inkjet Minilab 8” x 10”

3. Dye Sublimation: Output Size*
8” Roll 8” x 10”
8” x 10” Cut Sheet 8” x 10”
6” Roll 5” x 7”
5” x 7” Cut Sheet 5” x 7”
4” x 6” Cut Sheet 4” x 6”
4. Creative Application
Textile
Paper
Alternative Substrate
B&W
New technology/application
5. Ink
Aqueous (Less than 20" printer) 12” x 15”
Aqueous (20" or larger printer) 24” x 30”
Solvent (20" or larger printer) 24” x 30”
6. RIP
Less than 20" printer 12” x 15”
20" or larger printer 24” x 30”
7. Media
4” x 6” 4” x 6”
8.5" x 11" 8" x 10"
13" x 19" sheet or 13" roll 12" x 15"
24" wide or larger 24" x 30"
Logistics
Participating firms will receive the target file and print on December 5, 2005 – OR – December 12. Vendors
can print the file at their own site, or they can choose a customer/firm using the vendor’s equipment to print
the file. Each company will produce the appropriate size print from the same file and record the relevant
information on the data sheet that will be supplied with the file. The site producing the print will have 5
working days to turn the “job” around, which will be determined by pick up and delivery times recorded by a
courier service. The print(s) and the data sheet will need to be delivered by the site producing the print to
PMA Headquarters in Jackson, Mich. From there, the prints will be judged and delivered to Orlando, Fla.,
where they will be displayed.
To receive the target file and target print, e-mail Stephanie Beauchamp (sbeauchamp@pmai.org) and
indicate on which date you would prefer to receive the file. We will also need to know the exact shipping
address of the location producing the entries. You may enter only the category in which the printer is
appropriate (for instance, a 36” inkjet printer may only enter the 36” to 49” inkjet printer category). DIMA will
confirm your intent to participate in the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out and will send the target file, target
print, and data sheets to you or to the site producing the output on the appropriate date.
We look forward to your company being part of the 2006 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out. If your company is
not already exhibiting at PMA 2006, but you would like to participate in the contest, please call our Trade
Exhibits Department at (800) 762-9287. Remember, you must be exhibiting at PMA 2006 to participate
in the 2006 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out.