MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Alamy.com => Topic started by: cardmaverick on July 31, 2009, 17:41
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Hey Guys,
I'm looking for some help on preparing files for Alamy Submission. I'm a bit perplexed by the whole thing, especially this whole upsizing fetish RM agencies seem to have with file size. I have quite a few finished JPEGs for this year. How are you supposed to upsize them? I suppose I could double the resolution to increase the file size, but that seems kinda stupid since the image will become softer.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
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Hey Guys,
I'm looking for some help on preparing files for Alamy Submission. I'm a bit perplexed by the whole thing, especially this whole upsizing fetish RM agencies seem to have with file size. I have quite a few finished JPEGs for this year. How are you supposed to upsize them? I suppose I could double the resolution to increase the file size, but that seems kinda stupid since the image will become softer.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
If you're using PhotoShop, there's a useful script here http://www.phototechniqueswiki.com/Article.aspx?articleID=35 (http://www.phototechniqueswiki.com/Article.aspx?articleID=35)
And yes, the image will become softer. They know that and will allow for it, but if excessive it might trigger a rejection. Make sure the images are well focused to begin with (not sharpened, or if so, only with care).
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Always store the master as a tif. That way it is easier manipulated later for size.
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Any help would be appreciated!
It's always useful to take a look at previous threads:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/what-is-the-correct-way-to-upsize-for-alamy/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/what-is-the-correct-way-to-upsize-for-alamy/)
http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/alamy-questions/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/alamy-questions/)
http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/two-essential-links-to-read-from-alamy/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/two-essential-links-to-read-from-alamy/)
http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/confusion-about-submitting-to-alamy-question-please/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/alamy-com/confusion-about-submitting-to-alamy-question-please/)
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Now this was SUPER helpful with explaining what they are really after, better than the threads I found at the Alamy site:
http://www.youngimaging.com/Article-HowDoISizeAnImageSoAlamyWillAcceptIt.asp (http://www.youngimaging.com/Article-HowDoISizeAnImageSoAlamyWillAcceptIt.asp)
Seems many people think they need to send in 50MB files, when in reality, they just need to open up into 50MB. They could easily be 7MB files on disk, they just have to uncompress out to the 50MB size. Alamy did a horrible job explaining what they need...
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From Alamy's upload page:
Uncompressed file sizes of more than 48MB, we recommend that you do not interpolate your files to more than 55MB. This means you should make your JPEG file from an 8 bit TIFF file that is at least 48MB.
What part is unclear?
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Here's the sticky message on the Alamy forums. The same question gets asked about three times a week. On their forum, right below the sticky that says Submission Guidelines and File Size. You may not have found the forums, so this may serve two purposes.
http://alamy.com/forums/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=4337 (http://alamy.com/forums/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=4337)
Make it 5050 on the longest side if you haven't cropped it into something other than digital photo proportions.
Want a free Alamy File Size checker? This guy made one.
http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html (http://www.braeside.plus.com/photography/alamy/alamy.html)
Be warned, it will say Fail, Fail, Fail if you have anything other than Adobe RGB photo colorspace. Alamy doesn't reject for this, and takes sRGB and other files. Nice utility and it's fast which will prevent you from having an upload failure because you missed that one undersized photo.
Don't go for exactly 48mb, they will fail! Make them at least 48.2 and you don't need to make them bigger than 54 according to Alamy, because buyers don't usually care if it's 79 or 49 UNCOMPRESSED FILE SIZE when they buy.
Real simple. File size on disk is one file size. Uncompressed photo file size is the other. It's easy to get confused when the same two words File Size are used for two different meanings.
PS always edit in TIF and save as a JPG as the last step, if you shoot JPG. From RAW, do all editing and last step, save as a JPG. Never edit a JPG and save as a JPG. You may lose something in the process.
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I've asked this before, but - what on earth is the point of demanding upsized images? It's just a huge waste of time, bandwidth and server resources. If a customer actually wants an upsized image, Alamy could produce it automatically, on demand, instead of filling up hard drives with big images that will never sell.
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I've asked this before, but - what on earth is the point of demanding upsized images? It's just a huge waste of time, bandwidth and server resources. If a customer actually wants an upsized image, Alamy could produce it automatically, on demand, instead of filling up hard drives with big images that will never sell.
Because they said so. :D And they make the rules! ;)
This is a throwback to the old days when making a photo this big, scanning a negative or slide, would show the reviewer and buyer a large view and insure that the file could be of suitable quality. The same question comes up at annual meetings, since most modern DSLR digital cameras approach this size and it's just an exercise in making photos bigger.
I suspect it also discourages people with P&S cameras from even trying to sneak one past the reviewers?
Any camera that will pass Alamy's QC is "approved."
Edit: July 2009 last update, recommended camera list for Alamy. As far as I know, they don't reject for camera model, but there seems to be some evidence to the contrary. I suspect that along with the rejection for one reason, such as soft or lacking definition, they may have added, This Camera not Suitable for Alamy, as a bit of advise? Or they have changed the procedure and policy.
At any rate, here's the current list. http://www.alamy.com/contributors/stock-photography-rec-camera-list.asp (http://www.alamy.com/contributors/stock-photography-rec-camera-list.asp)
At present we recommend the following cameras for submissions to Alamy:
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Alamy used to allow photos from my 10 MP Powershot G7. Not anymore :-\
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From Alamy's upload page:
Uncompressed file sizes of more than 48MB, we recommend that you do not interpolate your files to more than 55MB. This means you should make your JPEG file from an 8 bit TIFF file that is at least 48MB.
What part is unclear?
They did not dive into the details of file size on disk VS when its opened in say photoshop. This is what has thrown so many people off with submitting to them it seems. Actual disk size could be 9MB but it has to uncompress out to more than 48MB.
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I've asked this before, but - what on earth is the point of demanding upsized images? It's just a huge waste of time, bandwidth and server resources. If a customer actually wants an upsized image, Alamy could produce it automatically, on demand, instead of filling up hard drives with big images that will never sell.
It's a historic thing. Most trad agencies still ask for this. Now of course with huge sensors files have to be reduced in many cases to meet the requirements.
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From Alamy's upload page:
Uncompressed file sizes of more than 48MB, we recommend that you do not interpolate your files to more than 55MB. This means you should make your JPEG file from an 8 bit TIFF file that is at least 48MB.
What part is unclear?
They did not dive into the details of file size on disk VS when its opened in say photoshop. This is what has thrown so many people off with submitting to them it seems. Actual disk size could be 9MB but it has to uncompress out to more than 48MB.
An 8bit TIFF file of at least 48MB takes at least 48MB of disk space. Maybe because I am used to saving to TIFF this was very clear to me, although there may be a slight difference in byte numbers depending where you check this size. What looked odd to me was that this file size meant that good cameras at that time would not reach it and so they had instructions for upsizing.
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Here's another on on the blog. According to them, they don't reject by camera but only for quality. However this explains better that if you fail, they may advise you that your camera doesn't meet their standards, as a a tip.
http://www.alamy.com/Blog/contributor/archive/2009/05/19/4764.aspx (http://www.alamy.com/Blog/contributor/archive/2009/05/19/4764.aspx)
This list will give you an idea of whether the camera that you are using is capable of producing the results required (when used correctly) to pass QC. Of course, even the best cameras on the market will only produce technically acceptable images in the hands of a knowledgeable operator.
At present we recommend the following cameras for submissions to Alamy:
Also: this answers another common question:
In our submission guidelines we state that contributors should use a DSLR camera with a resolution of at least 6 mega pixels. Images from 6MP DSLR cameras can be acceptable to Alamy but will require careful upsizing and processing to produce an image that will pass QC.
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Alamy will accept files from any source as long as they think the quality good enough. I had a 6MP (Pentax *istD) shot accepted today, in a mixed batch with 5D and K10D pics. All resized to 5120px on the long side, then a touch of Smart Sharpen if needed.
Whenever old pro's moan on the AlamyPro list about rejections, it's hardly ever a camera or lens problem, it's heavy handed processing that lets them down every time.