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This booklet is written for the photographer wanting to present images by digital projection. Probably, the photographer will also be interested in other uses for digital image files, such as making quality prints or writing high definition slides. The photographer must be flexible at the capture and image manipulation stages, and follow this by precise and dedicated preparation for each intended use.
Practical procedures for Projected Digital Images (PDI) are still developing. The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain has ratified (April 2007) and published a set of standards for its own events, accompanied by extensive guidance which may interest many event organisers. In turn, organisers will publish the requirements for their own events, and it is these with which the individual photographer must comply.
These pages are to help photographers comply with the likely requirements of PDI events. Much of the advice is generalised, but with specific information refering to the internal events of Harrow Camera Club. Unfortunately, there is no way to make this completely simple. Precise instructions are prefaced by explanations, but basic computer skills and familiarity with either Photoshop or Elements have had to be assumed.
For the following steps, it is assumed that your image is open in Photoshop / Elements and you have completed any required image manipulation.
Your image is now saved ready for projection, and you need to submit it to the event organiser.
View the Extras pages (PDF)
© HCC(mdbs) 2007, 2008, 2009
It is assumed that you capture each digital image without pre-supposing its use, which might be a high quality print, writing a high-definition slide, digital projection, for e-mail or for a web site.
Always use the native resolution of the camera. If your camera uses terms such as ‘large’ ‘medium’ ‘small’, then use the largest image size available.
o You may shoot in RAW format, if available on your camera, for best quality and to allow a reasonable amount of image adjustment. You will need a raw image processor program, such as that provided with later versions of Photoshop, with Elements, by your camera manufacturer, or using independent software.
o You may shoot in JPG format if you don’t want to use so much card memory, or the best quality of print or slide is not required, or you want to avoid the extra work of raw processing. JPG compression may be indicated on your camera by terms such as ‘superfine’ ‘fine’ ‘normal’ etc, in which case choose the finest quality available. Note that cameras and their manufacturers have not standardised these terms, and even the finest quality JPG may be heavily compressed.
All cameras shoot in RGB colour. Some cameras have settings to convert in-camera to monochrome or sepia: don’t use these settings unless you only want to print the image directly from the camera/card.
All cameras can use the sRGB colour space, while more advanced cameras offer the AdobeRGB colour space as an alternative. For the simplest colour management, it is recommended that you use only the sRGB colour space throughout your workflow.
Your camera may have individual adjustments for these, or they may be set in a group via themes or styles such as ‘Portrait’. You will need to experiment and choose settings which suit your style of photography.
Always use the native resolution of the scanner. Check your scanner documentation for this information.
8 bits per colour is adequate, although 12 or 16 bits per colour can give a smoother histogram during image processing.
For the simplest colour management, it is recommended that you use only the sRGB colour space throughout your workflow.
If the image file is saved from the scanner, always choose an uncompressed format such as TIF. If the image file is imported directly to Photoshop/Elements, then the uncompressed PSD format becomes available to save the image.
Follow the policy intended to promote accurate transcription.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008, 2009
Do: Menu > Edit > Colour Settings...
Do: Menu . Edit > Preferences...
Do: Menu > Edit > Colour Settings...
Do: Menu . Edit > Preferences...
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008, 2009
It is assumed that you have captured your image; then imported the image to Photoshop or Elements; and then processed the image as you require. Your image file may now be quite complicated, with layers, masks, channels, retouching, etc.. At this point you may be tempted to sharpen the image: don’t! Sharpening is part of the preparation for a particular output medium, and comes later.
An advantage of digital is the ability to interchange between media for your images. Images may be presented as
And, you may want to return to your image to make further adjustments.
To keep that flexibility, you must preserve a master file of your image. Then, only a copy of the master file is prepared for each specific use. An image file prepared for projection cannot be used to make a good quality print: it won’t have enough pixels. It is an advantage that a small web site picture cannot be made into a good quality print because that limits plagiarism.
Do: Menu > File > Save As... to save the master file of your image, and use the PSD file format to retain all its complexity. Choose a folder location and a filename which suits your own requirements for managing your files. For example:
Once your master file is saved, it is important that you do not overwrite it unless you really intend to replace it with a revised version. Whether you carry straight on, or whether you reopen the master file to prepare it for projection (or another use), remember that your intention is to work on a copy. For projection this will be saved with a different filename and filetype as required by the event organiser. For a print, you may never save the file sent to the printer.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008, 2009
The mode describes how the data is assembled to make the image. Photoshop has a more extensive set of modes than Elements. Examples of modes include:
When the image is captured, it is in RGB. During processing you may switch your image into and out of other modes. For example, you may use Grayscale for monochrome images, and as a prelude to multitone images.
Whatever the mode you use for your master image file, the copy being used to work towards projection must be in, or must be converted to, the RGB mode, in 8-bit depth, even for monochrome images.
Warning: Whenever the mode is changed, the colour space (see below) is converted to the default for the new mode. The colour space must be checked after any change of mode.
A review of the requirements for other events have not found any disagreeing with the use of RGB mode. However, many do not state this requirement specifically. Therefore, always use RGB mode even if the requirement is not stated.
Within the RGB mode, the image data decribes each colour within a colour space which can be captured and reproduced. (Note: Adobe uses the term ‘Profile’ to mean the colour space. There are many colour spaces available, and Photoshop supports a larger number than Elements. But, there are only two colour spaces of any interest.
When the image is captured, it may be in sRGB or AdobeRGB, although it is recommended here that you set all capture devices to sRGB, and use Photoshop/Elements with sRGB as the working space. Projectors are generally limited to the sRGB colour space, and sRGB should be used in all images intended for projection.
Whatever the colour space you use for your master image file, the copy being used to work towards projection must be in, or must be converted to the sRGB colour space.
A review of the requirements for other events shows that sRGB is the commonest colour space required, but not all state their requirement. sRGB is definitely the safest to use, to ensure no unexpected loss of quality in projection. The organiser may say that the display software is colour-aware, or that the AdobeRGB colour space is allowed. All that means is that the organiser’s software will do a colour conversion, which is out of your control. Doing the conversion to sRGB yourself is preferable so you can check the result. There is never any advantage in converting an sRGB image into AdobeRGB.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008,2009
When preparing an image for projection, the image should be sized by the author to fit within the maximum dimensions provided by the projector. Harrow CC uses a projection size of 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high, also called XGA. These notes are written to use the XGA size, but also refer to the ‘Other Events’ section below.
Display software differs in the actions taken if the image is either oversized or undersized, and some software may have options to control the actions.
The author is not in control of the display software, and cannot know how any resizing may work. For events at Club level, it is safer for the organiser to enable resizing downwards so that all images will be shown completely, even if the quality suffers for those authors who have not sized their images correctly.
Your image is unlikely to fit the maximum dimensions exactly. That means, if you size the image to 1024 pixels wide, it will not be 768 pixels high, and vice versa. To ensure that your image is not resized by the display software, and that you keep control of image quality:
Notes:
Warning:
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008,2009
You previously created and saved a master image file which may have many layers. Subsequently, you have been working on a copy of that file. If you have not already flattened the image file to a single layer, now is the time to do that. Flattening must be done before sharpening.
Photoshop / Elements. Do: Menu > Layer > Flatten Image. There is also a Flatten Image option in the flyout menu of the Layers palette.
Photoshop. Then also check that you have no saved alpha channels, and delete any that exist.
The digital workflow, from original data capture through many forms of image manipulation involves a slight loss of quality which shows up as a softness of the image. There are many other reasons for softness in an image, including camera shake, limited lens resolution and out of focus. Emphasising the tonal changes in the image gives the appearance of increased sharpness. Sharpening does not restore the image to its original state: it is not a complete solution, but it helps.
When sharpening, the main requirement is never to make it obvious. If you can’t get an apparently sharp image without the sharpening being obvious, then the image isn’t good enough for competition/exhibition. Oversharpening shows up as halos around objects where the tonal density changes a lot. Pale halos around dark objects and dark halos aound light objects. As sharpening is adjustable, watch the image carefully to make sure halos are not appearing.
Everyone has their own preferred method of sharpening. This method is for the first time user.
Warning. There is a sharpening method which involves mode conversion to LabColor and back. Note the warning on modes that any conversion will reset the colour space to the default for that mode. If you use this sharpening method, then the colour space must be rechecked and set to sRGB.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007, 2008,2009
Photoshop / Elements.
o Do: Menu > File > Save As... to open the Save window.
o Browse to a suitable folder location for saving your file. You may want to use a folder for each competition/exhibition you enter.
o Type the filename in this format, which is as required by the ImageCompPro competitions software:
o TITLE by Author
§ TITLE is your chosen title in all upper case, and with spaces and hyphens permitted.
§ by is typed as shown, with exactly one space between TITLE and by and exactly one space between by and Author.
§ Author is your name in capitalised lower case with spaces and hyphens permitted.
§ Dot ‘.’ must not be used anywhere within the file name.
o An example would look like this:
§ LATTICE WINDOW by Henry Fox-Talbot
o There is a length limit on filenames. Try not to make them too long.
The requirements for the file name may differ eg, when you submit to events outside the Club. Files for each event should ideally be prepared separately from your master file of the image, and saved with the required filename. But, if you have already prepared the file for projection, and the only difference is in the filename format, then make a copy file and rename it.
A review of the requirements for other events shows that organisers may show an example of the filename alongside their statement about the filename format, but sometimes the two do not match exactly. Usage of spaces, hyphens, and underscore characters can all give rise to misunderstandings.
o Choose JPG from the drop-down file type list in the Save As window.
o If JPG is not in the list, you may have left the data in 16-bit depth. Cancel Save As and check the mode.
o If you forgot to flatten the image, you will get a warning and the Layers box must be unticked before you can save the file.
o If you have a saved alpha channel in the file, you will get a warning and the Channels box must be unticked before you can save the file.
o Tick to include the ICC Profile (colour space), which must be sRGB if you followed the previous instructions.
o Tick to use lower case file type, which then uses .jpg
o OK the Save As window to bring up the JPG Quality window.
o Set the highest quality (level 12), or move the slider to the right side for the largest file.
o The file size will be shown at the bottom of the Quality window. If it exceeds 1MB you may have forgotten to size the image properly.
o OK the Quality window to save the file.
TIF File Type. A few events require the uncompressed TIF type. They include the PAGB (InterFederation Competition, InterClub Championship, Great British Cup) and the RPS (Distinctions). TIF files are larger than JPG: a projection TIF file may be up to 3MB. There is no evidence that the projection quality of a TIF file is better than a maximum quality JPG file, and a TIF file resized during projection may be worse. TIF files will save multiple layers and channels without a warning, and these cause problems with some projection software.
o If the Layers option is ticked in the Save window, either go back and flatten, or untick the box before saving.
o If the Alpha Channels option is ticked in the Save window, either go back and delete the saved channel or untick the box before saving.
JPG File Size. An XGA sized image, of JPG type, and compressed at quality 12, varies in size depending on the image content, but is unlikely to exceed 900KB. An SXGA+ sized image is about 70% larger than its XGA equivalent. Events which allow or require files to be submitted by e-mail or a web form, are likely to require smaller files, and they may state a maximum size eg, 450KB. The best method for reduced file size is to use the File > Save to Web function rather than File > Save As. This will remove a large amount of non-image data from the file, saving about 20KB off the file size. Also untick the ICC profile box which saves another 3KB, but make sure your image is in the sRGB space. The quality slider in the Save to Web function is measured in percentages, and the slider can be reduced while watching the resulting file size calculation. This is the only realistic way of making a file small enough, below 50KB, to be of best use for e-mail and web publishing. An organiser who requires reduced file size when submitting files on CD should be challenged to justify this.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007,2008,2009
Media are specified by the event organiser. Correct use of media is how you make sure your image files are handed over to the event organiser, so that your entry is acceptable. Your use of file name and file type ensure that your images can be managed for inclusion in the event. Your use of mode, colour space and image size ensure that your images will display correctly during the event.
Preparatory:
Burn CD:
Label CD:
Afterwards:
Faced with a deluge of CDs (or e-mails), the event organiser has to make sense of the images being submitted. There may be multiple sections in the event, or images may have to be shown in a particular order, and not alphabetically by filename as found on the media. Usually, there will be some sort of entry form.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007, 2008,2009
The Photographic Alliance Standard A2 for Projected Digital Events requires an event organiser to have policies and procedures for the safe and legal handling of all the data arising during their event. That includes recognition and protection of copyright in the images, and protection of personal data about the authors.
All competitions and exhibitions require you to have taken the original photographs, including all the elements where an image is assembled from several photographs. And, you must not have infringed anyone else’s copyright when taking the pictures. The copyright in the resulting image remains yours.
Plagiarism means taking a copy of someone else’s work, in this case a photograph, and then using it as if it is your own work. Regrettably, cases of photographic plagiarism come to light regularly. When discovered, the author will almost certainly be reported to the ultimate membership organisation: for Clubs, which is the Photographic Alliance. The Photographic Alliance (PAGB) shares details of plagiarism cases with the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) and the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP).
Plagiarism has been somewhat facilitated by the widespread use of the internet for digital images. Authors would naturally like their work to be seen, and web sites are a good way of doing that. Those who create web sites containing photographs should be certain that the authors have given permission, and should also restrict the image size so that copy and reuse at high quality is hardly feasible. Consideration should be given to applying a visible watermark of the author’s name over the image. An invisible digital watermark is a means of proving that copying has occurred. It is less easy to copy from a book or printed catalogue, although that has been known to happen.
Harrow Camera Club respects the copyright of images in its custody. Our web site galleries are published with permission, and cite the authors’ copyright.
Authors submitting to other events should judge for themselves, or enquire if uncertain, how the organisers intend to use the images, particularly after the event. Media should be returned or destroyed. Hard disk copies should be deleted. There may be an illustrated catalogue, and/or a CD, and/or a web gallery. The organiser should be able to say how they intend to minimise the risk of plagiarism from any material published by their event.
Data Protection is a legal duty on all holders of data about an identifiable living person.
Harrow Camera Club is aware of its responsibilities for data protection of personal information. The names of the authors entering competitions, and their scores, are retained as long as required to calculate promotions and trophies, and as a published archiveof trophy winners. Names of authors are printed in exhibition catalogues. Consent to hold and use this data is required via the Club’s Competition Rules for anyone entering a Club event.
Authors submitting to other events should judge for themselves, or enquire if uncertain, whether the organisers have established adequate procedures to meet their legal obligations for data protection of personal information.
[ Contents ] © HCC(mdbs) 2007, 2008,2009