Implementing a Digital Asset Management System: For Animation, Computer Games, and Web Development [Paperback]

Jens Jacobsen (Author), Tilman Schlenker (Author), Lisa Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0240806654 | ISBN-13: 978-0240806655 | Edition: 1

In situations where quality, shorter time to market and staying within budget are basic project requirements, you cannot afford to overlook digital asset management (DAM). Anyone who has felt the pain of a poorly organized production, knows that a great DAM system isn't just desirable, it's critical.

Learn how the top CG film, computer game and web development companies have saved significant time and money on their projects by optimizing a digital asset management systems and streamlining production processes. Success stories of Sony Pictures Imageworks, Lionhead and other big players illustrate the way of working in big companies. Success stories of several small but very agile companies show the reader how the techniques are applied when the budget is small.
Implementing a Digital Asset Management System teaches you that DAM is more than just technology, and covers all the essentials including workflow, teamwork, testing, quality assurance, demo version production, and versioning.
Product neutral, this book is for computer-based media productions large and small, with hardware and software selection and configuration recommendations for a wide variety of project types.

* A must read for anyone who wants to run a profitable and successful computer-based media production
* Teaches how to improve workflow, digital content security, speed-to-market and profit margin for projects large and small
* Written by the team that created the DAM system for such hits as Monsters Inc. and the video game Medal of Honor

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's certainly a challenging read, but one that's worth spending some brain power on if you're keen to create a successful computer-based production company. Getting into such a competitive market means doing some research, and for aspiring imageers this is a great first step." - Advanced Photoshop

Book Description

Learn how the right Digital Asset Management system can save you time and money

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (August 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240806654
• ISBN-13: 978-0240806655
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,489,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Niche material for a niche market, January 4, 2007

By 

David B. bogie "bogiesan" (Boise, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Implementing a Digital Asset Management System: For Animation, Computer Games, and Web Development (Paperback)

Creating and establishing a viable digital asset management system is difficult at best. When a group of creatives--writers, photographers, animators, artists, composers, editors and the like--attempt to put a DAM together to please their company's owners, anything can happen. And it rarely turns out well. If you are in this situation, this book could help your case. However, my own experience--attempting to establish DAM in a 25-person graphics and video production organization that operates within a strict corporate IT framework--indicates DAM is a stupidly tough sell, even in a free-thinking environment of highly creative personnel. Entrenched, dumb and worst-possible practices are difficult to change regardless of the validity of your research.

This book's quality content is logically presented and documented in a scholarly fashion with a complete appendix of references and a thorough index. The authors present many success stories and interviews that alone are worth the cost of the book. There are additional case studies in each chapter to help illustrate the more subtle aspects of digital asset management. The workflow suggestions, definitions, planning matrices and implementation timelines are terrific. You will also appreciate the author's return on investment arguments. The suggestions on how to design and conduct your DAM implementation schedule are specific to the creative industries but, if you are reviewing DAM practices for any other market application, you will benefit from this information simply because there just isn't enough objective stuff out there. I looked.

A minor shortcoming: while there is an imaginary "animation company without DAM" disaster scenario, I would have liked to have seen much more information about real world failures and stupid DAM mistakes. In-depth studies of expensive disasters can be illuminating, especially if you are trying to present a case for DAM to your own management.

I recommend this book if you really need the industry-specific information. You might also benefit from this content if you are studying or researching DAM for your own company, whatever your field might be. Adapting the visual and creative arts-specific information to your own industry will take a little bit of imagination.

david boise ID

3.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Digital Asset Management, February 10, 2012

By 

Savvy Student - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Implementing a Digital Asset Management System: For Animation, Computer Games, and Web Development (Paperback)

I purchased this book for a college course. It is repetetive about what one would use a DAM system for, but on the other hand very detailed. Very easy to follow and understand. Good real world examples of what can go wrong on a project, and how DAM systems can help. Good if you can get this book for a lower price. I got it for $20 on Amazon. Would have been sad to spend cover price.

4.0 out of 5 stars Implementing a Digital Asset Management System, September 18, 2011

By 

Johannes Verweerde "Mrclogz1947(youtube)" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Implementing a Digital Asset Management System: For Animation, Computer Games, and Web Development (Paperback)

I am enjoining this book for the clear and practical approach of the subject.
The book contains many practical examples of smaller or bigger companies and how they implemented their digital asset management systems.
Also names of many potential manufacturers are given which I had found during my investigations and were here now mentioned again.
The book talks about single users as well as about the various multi users groups and is not dedicated to one branch only.
The many practical implementing cases are nice and easy to read there fore I have started to read this book from begin to end.
I am very happy to have found this book and can recommend this for anybody interested in the subject as an easy accessible book ,

Jan Verweerde MrClogz1947