Guidelines for digital images in Clubworker Competitions
Preamble:
The "Rules for Clubworker Competitions" states:
"Image display size, file type, colour space, storage medium, and filename must comply with guidelines issued by the Competition Secretary to suit the digital projector and display software currently in use".
These are those guidelines, and cover all of those topic.
In addition, these guidelines provide assistance for verifying that an image has met the guidelines.
And, purely for information, they describe the calibration of the club's projector, to give confidence that competitions will be run with high quality projection.
Storage medium for handover:
An option may be provided for entry by email; if so, there will be a Notice to this effect. If not:
Images must be handed over on one of: a USB Drive; a CD, or a DVD. The preference is a USB Drive, because experience shows that this is the most convenient and reliable medium for the competition organisers.
Image display size, file type, colour space:
Each image must be in JPEG format. (That is not to say its file extension must be "JPEG").
It must be exactly 1400 pixels wide and 1050 pixels high, and if the picture itself is smaller than 1400x1050 pixels, the remaining area must be a chosen background, for example black.
It should be converted (if necessary) to sRGB colour space, and ideally the colour profile should be embedded.
(Parameters such as "DPI" or "PPI" will be ignored).
File name:
The filename is:
CCC-PP.jpg
"CCC" is the member's "Competition Number" expressed as precisely 3 decimal digits with leading zeros. (For example, competition number 26 would be "026").
"PP" is the priority for this competition expressed as precisely 2 decimal digits with leading zeros, where "01" is the highest priority and "05" is the lowest priority. The numbers must be unique and contiguous, starting at "01". Highest priority images, at least those from "01" to "03", will certainly be judged. Lower priority images may be judged if there is time.
The extension "jpg" should be used. Otherwise, although there will be no unnecessary rejections, it cannot be guaranteed that the image will be judged.
Verifying conformance to the guidelines:
Experience shows that up to half of all digital images submitted to our events, such as internal and Exhibition competitions, are incorrect in some way!
It is recommended that members open all of their images in Photoshop or similar for a last check before submission. This only takes seconds, but can save a lot of time and anguish.
The screen-shot here shows what the "Info" panel in Photoshop CS3 looks like with a conformant image, if it is configured suitably. To use it for this purpose, Photoshop itself needs to be using "pixels" as its "Ruler Unit", using Edit > Preferences > Units & Rulers. Then the "Info" panel needs to display the illustrated information, using Palette Options via the drop-down menu shown in red to set all the "Document ..." information.
The essential details are highlighted just for this page:
- This shows the normal "Doc" size. (This is what an uncompressed JPEG image of this pixel size would be. It is not the actual file size).
- The "sRGB" line shows how a JPEG with an embedded sRGB profile looks to Photoshop.
- "1400 pixels" must come first, then "1050 pixels". (The PPI is ignored).
Now - verify the filename! Ensure that it has precisely 6 characters before the dot, and "jpg" after the dot, with no extraneous details such as a name or a title.
Information about projector calibration:
We have invested in a state-of-the-art 1400x1050 (SXGA+) resolution projector (Canon XEED SX60)
We have calibrated our Shuttle PC + Canon Projector system using our Spyder 2 Pro.
(Guidelines revised 18 November 2009)