Women's Color Photo Club of Minneapolis
Photography and Camaraderie Since 1944
WCPC Guidelines
How to Submit Digital Images for Monthly Salons
How to Submit Digital Images for Monthly Salons
Screen Shot #1
- Go to image>size>resize to pull up the image size dialog
- Make sure "constrain proportions" is checked on bottom left. This will cause the height and width to stay in the same proportion (symbolized by the chain lock at the bracket inthe A section).
- Also in the A section, make sure option is set to pixels, not inches.
- If your image is taller than it is wide, change the height number to 1024.
- If the image is wider than tall, change the width number to 1024. The other dimension will change so that the image keeps the same proportions.
- In the B section, check "resample image," and
- In the bicubic, either leave at "best for smooth gradients" or click on the triangle in the bicubic box and select "bicubic sharper" from the dropdown list.
- Click ok.
- See below (Screen Shot #3) for how to save.
Screen Shot #2
Screen Shot #3
- Saving/naming your picture file:
- Go to file>"save as." Do not use just "save" or "save for the web" as the image will get too small.
- Click in the box next to "save as" (by the A in screen shot 1). This is where you can name your file with the nomenclature needed to ID it for the contest. Each member gets 2 entries in each category. This is why you have 2 numbers.
- Put your number first,
followed by a comma and the
title. May also include the
category name if you wish.
- Step B make sure jpeg is selected in format.
- Decide where you want to
save so that you will remember, or
just save to desktop—the spot you
choose is where you see the
rust folder in my screen shot to
the left.
- Then click "save."
Screen Shot #4
- The next window to pop up is
JPEG options. The important
thing here is to decrease the
number in the quality box until the number below the preview
window is less than 500K.
- Click ok. High quality is not needed for viewing on a computer screen or digital projector.
- If files are larger, then the total file I try to email to
the judge exceeds the amount the server will permit to go through.
- To mail your image, attach to an email from your regular email, not Photoshopʼs share feature. (Photoshop throws away too many pixels).
- Email providers differ so no screen shot.
- Look for a spot that allows you to choose
the size of the attached image
and make sure actual size is
selected. On mine, it is located in
the lower right corner of the
window.
N4C Digital Contest Resizing Tips
5/1/08
Page 1 of 3
Ken Johnson, Digital Slide Contest Chair
Tips to Resize Your Photos for N4C Digital Slide Contests
SCOPE:
This paper is not a set of rules. It is a quick attempt to help entrants deal with some of the technical details of submitting entries to their best advantage. To some this will be very basic. I invite input from others and help adding instructions for other software packages. I would like to continue to add and develop this document to help all of us present our photography as favorably as possible. Ken Johnson web@n4c.us.
OBJECTIVE:
The N4C rules specify the longest side to no more than 1024 pixels and to keep file size below 500KB.
In general terms, the “window” for projecting images for judging is 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels high. The objective is to have horizontal images fill the width and vertical images fill the height. If your image is smaller than these dimensions, it will appear proportionally smaller for the judges on the screen. When the image size is larger than this “window”, the image is automatically reduced to fit and will not be cropped.
Below are instructions for using a few common software packages to resize images. When you resize and save your photo for a contest, use “Save as…” and give it a new filename – always keep your original image file.
When resaving a digital photo, the "quality setting" (level of compression) to use is an important consideration. The JPEG file format allows a trade-off between file size and image quality.
JPEG (and nearly all lossy file formats) are not suitable for intermediate editing. Repeated saves will generally reduce the working file's quality. Besides the cumulative addition of visual artifacts (errors), repeated recompression also introduces destructive color changes.
"Lossless" file formats (such as TIFF, PSD, BMP, etc.) are better choices for intermediate processing. JPEG should only be used for storing the final image or for a specific use, such as a contest or printing, and possibly the initial capture.
Quality levels and settings are not standardized values amongst photo editing software. Sometimes it is best to test saving – always from the same original file – at various quality or compression levels and look at the resulting file size. Also examine the results on your monitor at 100% size.
Experience with the N4C Digital contests reveals a noticeably lower image quality when file sizes were less than 100KB. Images in the range of 150KB to 300KB seemed much better – sharper and smoother gradation of colors.
Within Photoshop, “Save for Web…” is not a good choice for resizing and saving for a contest. The image metadata will be lost (time / camera / lens / date / aperture / shutter speed / etc).
Photoshop 7.0, CS to CS3 or Elements:
1. With CS2 & CS3 CHOOSE COLOR SPACE:
a. Edit > Convert to Profile
b. Set “Destination” space to “sRGB IEC61966 2.1”
2. Or with 7.0 & CS CHOOSE COLOR SPACE:
a. Image > Mode > Convert to Profile
b. Set “Destination” space to “sRGB IEC61966 2.1”
3. RESIZE:
a. With 7.0, CS, CS2 or CS3 Image > Image Size (see illustration on page 2
OR - With Photoshop Elements: Image > Resize > Image Size
Pixel Dimensions: (set longest side - width or height - to 1024 pixels)
Width: _________ Pixels
Height _________ Pixels
Document Size: (for viewing on a monitor or for contest entry there is no need to change this)
Width: _________
Height: _________
Resolution: _________ pixels/inch
If you change the Resolution, do so BEFORE setting the Pixel Dimensions above.
Check: Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions, and Resample Bicubic Sharper.
4. SAVE IMAGE FILE
a. File > Save As
b. Choose JPEG (*.JPG, *.JPEG, *.JPE)
c. Enter a file name (see N4C rules – Example: 01,CE034,DP,Red Rose.jpg)
Use YOUR member number NOT “CE034”
d. Adjust the Quality Slider until the estimated file size (circled below) is less than 500K
e. Check the color profile box if there is one.
5. If JPEG is not a choice in step #4, check:
a. Image > Mode and check “8 bits/channel and then save as in step #4.
N4C Digital Contest Resizing Tips
5/1/08
Page 2 of 3 Ken Johnson, Digital Slide Contest Chair
N4C Digital Contest Resizing Tips
5/1/08
Page 3 of 3 Ken Johnson, Digital Slide Contest Chair
Paint Shop Pro 7.0
1. RESIZE with PSP 7.0
a. Image > Resize
b. Click “Pixel Size” and set longest side – either width or height – to 1024 pixels
Picasa2
1. CHECK THE SIZE with Picasa
a. Click on a thumbnail to choose an image
b. Check the size in the information bar below the thumbnails or below the image. Or Right-click on the thumbnail and select “Properties”.
2. RESIZE
a. File > Export
b. Choose the location of the exported folder
c. Click “Pixel Size” and set slider to 1024 pixels, Image Quality 85% or less
