GRAPHIC SERVICES IS NOW UNDER ONE ROOF

Miles of walking are sure to be eliminatedÑand new modes of 
digital communication are set to be explored - as Graphic Services 
(Graphics, Audiovisual Services/Photographics, and Copy 
Center/Process Camera) consolidate in a newly remodeled space.  
The airy, open layout fills a square in the midst of the Mesa Lab's 
second basement.

Accomplished two weeks ago, the move came nearly 20 years 
since the last move for Graphics and even longer for 
Photographics and the Copy Center.  The new quarters feature an 
open-space motif for all except the Copy Center and a small 
darkroom.

"I think most of the group is excited about the move," says Justin 
Kitsutaka, Graphic Services manager.  "The new space fits our 
identity as a group working on common projects and sharing the 
latest technology."

Along with the physical move comes the beginning of a much 
different move for Graphic Services - a shift toward all-digital 
treatment of images and publications.  The process will take 
months, even years, to complete, but it promises quantum leaps 
in efficiency and versatility for scientists and others who make use 
of the group's services.  "The bottom line," says Justin, "is 
reduction in turnaround time, total control of every image, and 
the elimination of redundant tasks."

All photographs eventually will be scanned from slide or negative 
film and stored in digital format.  Some images will be transferred 
to Photo CDs, which "seems to be the most cost-effective format 
right now," says Justin.  Using software such as Adobe PhotoShop, 
the Photographics staff will be able to remove scratches and 
imperfections from any image.  Instead of traditional prints, the 
shop expects to be providing digitally produced dye-sublimation 
prints by later in the year. 

"We are looking at keeping the digital stock of images on-line in 
some type of archive, possibly the NCAR mass storage system," 
says Craig Ruff (Scientific Computing Division, or SCD), who is 
working with Justin on digital imagery techniques.  "These images 
would then be available to all staff.  In-house compact-disc 
mastering is another possibility."

SCD's Text and Graphics Server (TAGS) now can put either 
35-millimeter or four-by-five inch images onto slides.  "We are 
working on new TAGS macros that use the full frame of 35-mm 
mounted slides for high-quality presentation slides.  Digital 
images could even be incorporated into videotape output."

Another source of high-quality transparencies in sizes as large as 
8 1/2 x 11 inches is the DICOMED film recorder.  A recent 
improvement in the DICOMED process now allows full-frame 
recovery of standard slides, whereas formerly some of each image 
was lost in the conversion to 
8 1/2 x 11-inch sizes.  On request, Graphics can use the DICOMED 
to add text and to supply professional backgrounds for slides.

To help subsidize their new services within the current UCAR 
accounting system, Graphic Services will shift to a cost-recovery 
procedure for its services, including black-and-white prints, in the 
coming fiscal year.  Color separations will go to an outside 
production house, as before.

If you'd like to see the new Graphic Services space, you're invited 
to an open house to be held in the near future.  Watch Staff Notes 
for details.  --BH