A free ‘virtual safari’ provides insights into key graphic arts technologies from 25 experts in a week-long programme.

Workflow developer Enfocus has brought together 25 speakers to address issues such as digital asset management and wokflow automation in 28 sessions from May 19-23, with follow-up Q&As on Twitter & LinkedIn.

Each day of the Virtual Safari Conference will include six hourly blocks between 11am and 5 pm US Eastern Daylight Time. Attendance is free.

VIP executive sessions feature graphic arts “gurus” Mark Bohan and Julie Shaffer of Printing Industries of America, and independent industry consultants and writers including Frank Romano, Richard Romano, David Zwang, Tom Crouser and Ron Ellis.

Additionally, 20 channel and vendor representatives will cover topics and solutions including color management, digital asset management, imposition, media, MIS, postpress finishing, web-to-print and workflow automation for “all types of print service providers”.

Enfocus product manager Michael Reiher says graphic arts professionals at all levels are hungry for “more education than ever”, but have difficulty traveling to physical conference locations for the latest information.

Seminars offered include ‘lights out’ automation, on demand books, variable data printing, web-to-print, automated imposition and PDF quality control.

In order to keep the conversation going, and provide the semblance of a real conference environment, a Twitter hashtag and Linkedin group have been established. On Twitter and Linkedin, presenters as well as Enfocus experts will be on-hand, throughout the week, to answer questions from attendees.

“Interactivity is important to us,” says Reiher. “We want this event to be educational, and we want it to be interactive, like a real conference.”

Content is pitched at production managers, IT professionals and prepress operators. Sessions are being recorded and will be made available after the conference to preregistered attendees.

More details from http://virtualsafari.enfocus.com

Companies represented are Aleyant Systems, All Systems Integration, Apago, CHILI Publish, Colorlogic, CrossXColor, Dynagram, EFI, Enfocus, HP, Magento, MBO America, Mondi, Pilot Marketing, Prisco Digital, Ron Ellis Consulting, ThePowerXChange, Tribay Enterprises and Ultimate Technographics.