Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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

This book has some great information, but at times it reads more like sales literature for Alien Brain DAM software than teaching the reader how to set up a functional DAM system for themselves. It also tends to get too focused on specific workflows that may or may not apply to the reader, rather than digging in to fundamentals and, again, helping the user figure out what their own needs will be.

All said it's a great primer on the subject, and an easy read, but some readers will find it lacking.

<strong>About the book from the publisher</strong>:
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 improve workflow, digital content security, speed-to-market and profit margin for projects large and small
* Includes product overview with 28 detailed descriptions of software solutions, including screenshots and prices, as well as a practical assessment of their suitability for different industries & project sizes.
* Written by the team that created the DAM system for such hits as Monsters Inc. and the video game Medal of Honor
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<strong>Contents:</strong>
Preface; Introduction; What Can Asset Management Do for You?; Assess Your Individual Situation; Plan What You Need; Find the Right Solution; Implement the Solution; Success Stories; Appendix (Product Overview, Glossary, Further Reading & Links)
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<strong>My comment:</strong>
The book facilitates streamlining digital content management from the point-of-view of a) Digital media; b) Internet entertainment industry; and c) Project management.

The strength of the book is as precise as the title: It is a handbook for implementation of DAMS - focused in three areas, viz., animation, games and Web-based perspectives.

The only negative aspect in trying to be too detailed and exhaustive (and hence three Star), the book may run a risk of loosing some readers --for e.g., it may be highly useful for only one category (not everyone): learners, developers, educators, etc. One should not forget that meaning, message, context and inference all need a just balance for any level of audience, as well as, for value-added content. Hence, in a revised version, the authors, may consider catering to any one audience -- with due consideration for their specific needs.

Nevertheless, in addition, to students, and hands-on-guide for the beginners in digital asset management industry, this book, is also an informative source for other techies in the fields of database management, knowledge management, information systems specialists, business developers, indpendent information professionals, etc.