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Sail-World.com : Internet Images Rules for Events, Sponsors and Event Photographers
Internet Images Rules for Events, Sponsors and Event Photographers
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Sailing is one of those sports which is much more followed on the Internet than in magazines, newspapers or on television. It is therefore vital that marine events and marine industry professionals pay careful attention to the needs of Internet consumers.
Here is a short summation of just how the online world is changing and what events need to consider.
Much larger Internet quality images are needed by online media– for many years events have distributed ‘internet quality’ images of 500 pixels now, but with bigger, higher resolution screens and faster and faster bandwidth - you must supply bigger images.
The new standard is 1280 pixels wide (this will continue to drive upwards in coming years. )
Image editing
Horizon correction is essential. While a crooked horizon was hardly noticeable to a casual glance on a 300 pixel wide image, it’s very visible when the image is full screen. The world’s top marine photographers never ever send out an image with a 1, 2 or 3 degree slant on the horizon, unless they are being arty and then 10 or 20 degrees is fine. All photographers need to follow their example.
Digital images need sharpening. Digital photographs, by their very nature, appear somewhat soft focus. Some cameras sharpen the image as part of their software, and some cameras let you specify how much sharpening (if any) you want the camera to do, but usually as part of your processing you'll want to fine tune this process in your imaging program. Or do it manually image by image.
Colour correction is important. Contrary to popular belief sailing does occur on dull and overcast days. That does not mean images need to be dull too. Professional marine photographers always look carefully to see if images need colour or brightness correction. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for all events.
Image captioning. Sending out a slew of pictures or posting on event photo galleries with file names like DSC4756812, with no caption information is unforgivable. All too often that image contains no bow number of sail number, its exciting close up action. The photographer looking at the lead up full boat shots for instance can easily see that information and can identify the boat and sailor. The media seeing the one image has no chance unless he can recognise a face or a crew uniform. There is no event that can allow photographers to not provide this critical information.
File sizes and emails. Every now again an event attempts to distribute medium and high resolution images by email. They send seven 5 meg images attached to the one email and wonder why, it takes so long to send and routinely bounces. Many internet accounts are limited in file sizes to 5-7 meg.
Alternatively they send seven emails each with a five meg file. Now that’s fine if they are requested, but to do it uninvited is just unprofessional.
Professionally run events like Rolex and Volvo have high res image galleries, so media can download the images they want.
Image Mode . Online JPG images are displayed in RGB (Red Green Blue) format. There is NO internet browser or monitor that can display images in the print CMYK format, so don’t ever send images in that format to any media unless they specifically ask for it. (Print publications custom calibrate CMYK for their particular print process.). By the way DO save images at JPG format not gifs, or png. Makes it simpler for everyone.
Compression quality settings for JPG’s. Compressing an image in a JPG format selectively discards data.
When saving a JPG images graphics program users are presented with a choice on image quality 1-12 with a default of 10.
The higher the Quality setting, the more detail is preserved in the image, however that means a large file size.
Generally unless the image is destined for large format poster printing a quality setting of 10 for print use and 8 for online.
Metadata - a method of storing textual information in images defined by the International Press Telecommunications Council. Sending out four images with the same DSC47568… series of image with text in the email that say Image 1 is Bill Bloggs approaching the top mark, is hardly less unforgivable. The image one you loaded into the email may be image four in a numerically sorted computer file, this a road beset by tears (at the very least rename the images XYZ event Bill Bloggs approaching the top mark.jpg).
Professional photographers populate the Metadata set with an image caption, the full event name, their name, creation date etc. – If your event photographer is not using Metadata – ask him to start using it today. Tomorrow ask him to show you the Metadata he is putting on each image.
In summary – to produce good quality images for online use.
1. Straighten images and crop
2. Sharpen and colour correct.
3. Caption images and use Metadata if possible
4. Reduce file size to 1280 pixels wide and compress
A 1280 pixel image, edited as above will be less than 150k in file size. So there is no need to attempt to load 10 images each of 5meg, which will stop your computer cold while it tried valiantly to send out 50meg of files.'
The TetraMedia Group makes it easy for events and PR groups to load their images (and stories) to the Sail-World.com, Powerboat-world.com and MarineBusiness-World.com sites with its direct upload system.
We recommend events use that process. You will see our Submit News, Events & Pix button on the first newsline on the site on the top of every page. Note if you attempt to upload ten five meg images, total 50 meg, you will tie up your own internet connection, maybe not receiving an email for an hour and in all likelyhood timing out your internet connection. If you reduce images down to say a meg each, life will be much much easier.
by Brendan Maxwell - TetraMedia
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12:52 AM Sun 25 Jul 2010 GMT
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