Sessions and confirmed speakers include:

Fundamentals of Color Theory and Measurement - David Hinks, North Carolina State University
This session will address basic color principles and measurement, calculations of color difference, methods for assessment of color quality for samples (labdips) and production, measurement variability in digital color control and whiteness.  Aspects of lighting in color, retail lighting and how it relates to color testing, best practices in choosing lighting /illuminants and visual color assessment will also be discussed.

Reinventing Color and Style:  The Major Trends - Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute
Consumers will continue to be more thoughtful than ever about what they are buying and the impact their choices will make on the world around them. With eco-awareness a resounding theme, key words are often the “re” words—re-cycle, re-use, re-purpose.  At the same time, there continues to be the need to relax, re-wind, renew and hopefully, refurbish.   Author, speaker, color consultant and director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman will explain and illustrate the major color/design trends for the future.

Color Choice: A Balancing Act Between the DNA of the Dye and Requirements - Donna Faber, JCPenney
This session would provide the designer and PD staff with insight into how their choice of palette colors (and strategy for choosing) affects the color requirements of cost, fashion, durability, and dyeing reproducibility further downstream. It will look at dye classes and their relative costs in production, limitations of certain classes and dyeing processes, and demonstrate ways in which color decisions upstream can be made more efficiently with downstream requirements in mind.

Describing Color Differences: How Good are Your Comments? - Carol Revels, Gap Inc.

Studies have been done to test color vision abilities and to test pass/fail decisions, but there appears to have been limited exploration into assessing one’s ability to describe observed color differences. Describing the color difference between a mill dyeing and a color standard is extremely relevant to Retailers, as we give color comments for lab dips and bulk dye lots, thinking our comments will help the dyer correct the color. Based on a new study of visual color assessment, if the color differences are small, our comments are likely inaccurate, delaying the production pipeline and driving excess work.

Color Communication: Getting Your Message Across - Roland Connelly, X-Rite Inc.
This session will address the exchange of color data along the supply chain. Color data formats will be reviewed, methods of communication along the chain (email, web, and other methods of exchange), and will offer suggestions on how retail/apparel companies can get their suppliers involved in the digital process as a replacement for manual/physical processes. This session will also cover communication of other color related data such as image files. It will review benefits and limitations of rendering object colors on screen.

Supplier Conformance: Why Don't my Numbers Match Yours? - Ken Butts, Datacolor
This session will focus on how to implement a digital color program with suppliers. The concepts of color guidebooks, standard best practices in color measurement, communication, visual assessments, along with ideas on supplier certification/accreditation requirements will be covered. Also included is accreditation program successes (and challenges) and global color management. Factors that contribute to poor agreement in digital color exchange will be discussed - measurement technique, instrument variation, sample conditioning, and the human factor.

Tracking Color Performance - Keith Hoover, JCPenney
This session will cover the organization/management of color data. It will be geared toward the lab manager as well as the vendor, buyer, and will offer ideas on how this large database of color information on color quality can be used to report on vendor performance, timelines, operator performance, measurements on efficiency in color testing, and some examples of how IT departments and managers can extract the data they need to compile these types of reports.

Integration: Bringing it All Together - Jean Hoskin, Macy's Merchandising Group
This session will cover the integration of the color process into PLM systems. Topics for discussion include what the color manager needs to contribute to the decision making process in PLM design and development, such as process flow, procedures, roles and responsibilities, internal and external communication, reporting, and exception processes.  Beginning with trend research through production QC, what elements are necessary to maximize efficiency of the product lifecycle.

Break out sessions will focus on:

Illumination and Observer Issues
*Illuminants and light sources, metamerism and flare
*Sample evaluation under various illuminants and effect on decisions
*Observer color vision testing
*AATCC methods for visual evaluation and gray scales
*Visual evaluation techniques for various materials (other relevant standards)

Sample Analysis and Measurement Technique
*AATCC methods for instrumental measurement
*AATCC methods for analysis
*Sample measurement repeatability
*Measurement methods for various materials
*Sample conditioning
*UV control and whiteness evaluation
*Spectrophotometers–what they can and cannot measure, how to manage spectro data in supply chain

Creativity with Trends and Virtual Development
*Trend service samples
*Digital color in design
*Evaluation of monitor/printer profiling
*Examination of monitor/printer color and discussion of application and limitations
*Considerations for exchange of digital palettes and designs

Production Evaluation and Control
*Evaluation of production data – clustering and sorting
*Effects and control of multi-sourced programs
*Reporting for supplier and product performance
*Integration with external systems
*Global process standardization in the supply chain
*Standards Management – use of single vs. multiple standards for metameric components of single product (automotive, intimate apparel, others)

What is Color Formulation?

*Hands-on exercise involving visual color matching

*What the process of matching colors actually involves

*Discussions will include many of the variables, both in requirements that customers place on the color matcher and the physical limitations of the process

*Appreciation of the complex task of matching colors

How to Do the Right Color Right (execution of accurate and precise computer color matching in lab and production)

*Dye selection process – considerations of shade (metamerism), fastness, dyeing reproducibility and cost.

*Laboratory equipment and procedures required to produce reliable primary datasets for use by computer colorant formulation software.  How to evaluate primary datasets.

*Benefits and requirements of using digital communication in color development process.

*Variables that affect lab to production correlation.

The program registration fee is $950 ($640 for individual and corporate AATCC members) and includes luncheons, breaks and a copy of all available papers. Refunds will be made if cancellations are received on or before August 5, 2008.

Overnight accommodations are available at the Radisson Hotel, I-40 at Davis Dr., Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA, telephone +1 919 549 8631. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel and attendance at the AATCC workshop should be specified to receive the group rate of US$119.  Reservations must be made by August 7 to ensure room availability.

For additional information contact Kim Nicholson, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709-2215; telephone +1 919 549 3535; fax +1 919 549 8933; or email nicholk@aatcc.org.

Click here to register online.

Click here to register offline by downloading an AATCC Registration Form and submitting by fax to +1 919 549 8933.*

*If your company is a corporate member of AATCC you will need to register offline.