Agency Based Discussion > Alamy.com

Confusion about submitting to Alamy - question, please?

(1/8) > >>

stockphotoshooter:
I was reading the guidelines for submitting to Alamy, but perhaps I'm just "duh" - a couple of things confuse me, so if I may ask for clarification from contributors please?

1)  Let's say I'm submitting using images from a Canon 40D (10MP).  It's my understanding that it's now ok to submit in JPG format online and you do not have to convert to TIFF, correct?

2)  It's saying the image file has to be 48mb in size?  So, I should upsize the 40D image until it reaches that size?   If I'm using CS4, what pixel dimensions should then give me around that file size?    Gee, even with a speedy DSL connection, a 48mg upload might take a while!  I guess I'm reading this right.  I can't just upload the 10MP 40D image as-is in it's native size then, huh?

Thanks ahead for clarification.

RGebbiePhoto:
Alamy has a great forum.  On a real quick search, I found this, you might wanna read thru it... will answer the questions you'll ask after you do something and it's not right yet :D
http://www.alamy.com/forums/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3557

Do a search thru their forums, they're full of good stuff :)

lagereek:
Here are some guidelines. Upsize the file to approx. 48-52 TiF,  after that you convert to jpg for uploading.
You can use two techniques for upsizing, either use General-Fractals ( program) or use PS, but dont mess with the Pixel-size. Go to picture-size in PS and just change the 100% to 110% ( Bicubic soft) and then in steps increase by 110% until you reach a size of around 50m TIF.
Above precidure is the very last you do and stay well clear of any USM sharpening, they dont really like that.

stockphotoshooter:

--- Quote from: lagereek on November 12, 2008, 02:20 ---Go to picture-size in PS and just change the 100% to 110% ( Bicubic soft) and then in steps increase by 110% until you reach a size of around 50m TIF.

--- End quote ---

Thanks to both of you for your help.

One thing, though.  In your example lagereek, it sounds like "stepping" when you upsize the image. 

Here is a blurb I found on Alamy's site under their submissions area:

"We advise that you do not use “step” or incremental interpolation. Check your software’s default settings to ensure that all sharpening is turned off."

Also, I was once reading in a forum (not specifically about Alamy though) where someone who claimed to be a Photoshop tester said that the resizing algorithms had been redone as of CS3.  He claimed at least, that if you actually used "bicubic sharper" (what you normally use when reducing size), that this produces BETTER results when *upsizing* now, due to the way the last programmers tweaked it.  It was something not advertised by them but supposedly tested and found to be true.  I'm assuming if it IS true, it carried over to CS4 (which I recently got).  Heard anything about this?

hali:
i used to shoot with a 7 MP camera. i shot in RAW then open the ORF file in photoshop and select the largest size for Alamy's purpose. which will be 5000 px on the longer side. you can process the raw file to sharpen and reduce any noise,etc...
then you save it as tiff. in 16 bit it will be about 100 -110 mb, in 8 bit tiff
it will be 49 -50 mb.
this is the size that you read as requisite for Alamy.
when you save this in jpeg, it will be much smaller, so it will upload faster.
do all your post processing on the raw, or tiff format.
don't save to jpeg until you are completely satisfied.

i hope i explained it as simple as i can. i can understand your confusion.
i was lost too at the beginning when i first join Alamy. but i contribute to Alamy first of all.
of course, if you want to make life easier, borrow or get a 14MP or higher camera. then your image will only need a little to upsize (increase in size).

yes, Alamy does not want you to upsize, no sites encourage this.
but without a high resolution camera ,you still need to upsize.
i hear some people have a software that actually increase the size without loss.
i have not tried it, so i can't tell you whether they work or not.

good luck. Alamy is a great place to join. sales are slow, but don't forget, the money is bigger, so you need less sales to earn the same .

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page