This summer, the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies will be hosting a series of training courses that focus on image-licensing workflow. To present the courses, BAPLA has partnered with London neighbor Electric Lane, a digital-imaging and picture-archiving consultancy established by former BAPLA CEO Sarah Saunders.

"The industry has been in dire need of training for some time," according to BAPLA CEO Linda Royles, who feels that digital workflow has changed the skills necessary to manage images. "We are encouraging all people who handle images to get the training they need, so that publishers and designers can be confident in the quality of images passing through to press."

The new suite of courses addressing the knowledge gap created by new technologies. However, the courses are unique in that they center on workflow, as opposed to software training. Among the key goals are to ensure that people in photography, image-licensing, design and production industries maintain standards throughout the workflow.

Courses are tiered based on skill level, including introductory, intermediate and advanced sessions. Topics addressed range from the basics of image quality to color correction, technical standards and improved workflow processes.

To achieve the goal of improving international technical, metadata and workflow standards, BAPLA has previously worked with the U.S.-based Professional Photographers of America on Pic4Press guidelines and produced its own guidelines publication. BAPLA is also actively involved in the IPTC Photo Metadata Working group and the Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines, an international consortium of nonprofits that unites the Picture Archive Council of America, the PLUS Coalition, PPA and the Stock Artists Alliance with overseas colleagues.

Electric Lane, which developed and will present the new BAPLA training, holds accreditation for short courses in digital imaging from Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media. A joint venture of the government and the private sector, Skillset supports training for individuals and businesses, ensuring that U.K. creative industries remain competitive in the global market. Electric Lane director Saunders, an expert in picture archiving and commercial image-licensing, is chair of BAPLA's metadata group and its representative on the IPTC Photo Metadata Working Group and at UPDIG.

Courses are scheduled for June and July. Details are available through BAPLA.