Hi All,
I am considering putting some of my images on a photo library site.
On checking their details for requirements I came across the following :

• Note for images from digital cameras - We strongly recommend that images are captured on a digital camera capable of producing files of 17MB and upwards (6 megapixels). Please then interpolate the images to a minimum of 48MB using professional upsizing software. We recommend Genuine Fractals™, although other professional upsizing software is equally acceptable, including Abobe Photoshop versions 7 and CS/CS2 (if the bicubic option is used). 

I have never come across this before so is there anyone here who can tell me in simple terms what it means and how to go about it.  
Thanks 
Eddie

Alamy Stock Photography..?

Yes

Anyway, I don't have Genuine Fractals, but since Adobe Photoshop CS2 is acceptable (and providing you have it), just do the following: Open your original image in Photoshop CS2. (original image size must be at least 17MB) Go to the Image menu and choose Image Size... In the first Width box, type 4800 (pixels). In the Height box, type 3600 (pixels). Note: of course, if your image is portrait oriented, inverse these values... ;o)) Edit Note: I realize now that these dimension values correspond to the Olympus Four Thirds image standard. Your image dimensions will probably be slightly different. As long as your Pixel Dimensions reach the required 48MB, it's OK... Now you see that the image size has increased to 49.4MB (which meets the requirements). In the screen capture, you see where the bicubic option option has to be checked. I also read on the Alamy site that they ask that you don't use any sharpening... Keep your image as 'pure' as possible (if you plan on doing some image manipulation before submitting it). These are some very heavy requirements, by the way...

Hi girsempa,
thanks for the info.

I haven't seen this requirement anywhere else,hence the reason for asking.

You say it is a very heavy requirement,could you explain that a bit more please

Eddie

Well, a whole lot of stock photography images are about 18MB in size... here the minimum requirement is 48MB, that's what I mean with 'heavy requirements'. If you should interpolate that filesize to the actual camera pixelsize, without upsizing, you would need at least a 17 megapixel camera..!! That sounds really professional, to say the least....

Yes, Alamy has been asking for this for some time now....Is it "heavy"?.....I think the answer to that lies more in the the fact that the "quality" of upsizing software has gotten much better....

So much better in fact that  it is now a REQUIREMENT of a respected stock agency.

BTW...a 6MP cam image gives you about a 17MP TIFF...that's where Alamy's numbers come from. Girsempas PS instructions are correct....in addition to Genuine Fractals, you can also d/l the Alienskin blow-up demo and give it a try....it is supposed to be quite good as well.

@Girsempa...Of real concern is this......We have just gone through the Xwall incident and you were the first to notify this forum of those rips.  Do you realize that all of those rips could turn into quality size print material with the upsizing software discussed above?  I have been investigating these upsizing programs for some time now...and their quality is very good....depending on the type of image...upsizes of six to eight times are feasible.

So, let me ask you this.....do you still want to keep posting your 800X600 images here without heavy watermarking?

@Gradient: yes, I'm beginning to think about 'image protection' methods... Although personally I tend to avoid the popular 'croud pleasing' wow-images, so my images are not likely to get ripped very often. Who would want to steal a macro image of an empty chocolate box..? o)) The question is highly relevant for some of our more popular photographers though... But that's a little off-topic here...

@Girsempa:
Agreed in that it may be a bit off topic...But I think it is important for members who post here to understand the capabilitites of upsizing software....and the inherent danger.  One of the methods previously accepted to minimize image theft was to post smaller......that is no longer a viable option.

Unfortunately the recent Xwall example is just the "tip of the iceberg".....interest has already waned...in two weeks folks will have forgotten all about it....until someone again discovers a major rip site.  While many images have been removed, there has been no statement by Xwall or Rendo on this matter....there has been no apparent punishment of the offenders by Xwall.  All the work to remove the images has been done by the affected members here ( and some mods)...do you not think it is strange that neither site has commented officially?

Anyway, back to the issue of upsizing.....Until Rendo implements mitigative measures (and supports you in instances of theft) you as members should realize that you now only have two options to make it more difficult to steal your work.....1)either do not post....or 2) Post with a HUGE watermark.

P.S.....yes, girsempa....folks will even steal that macro of your empty chocolate box....they probably think it is full and want to eat the chocolates!...LOL!

Onone has a December sale going. Genuine Fractals for half price (thats how I got mine ).

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the help - this is way beyond what I know of imaging.
I have Photoshop CS2 - is there a write up or something where I could read about this more in depth.   
Eddie

Hi Eddie,

I don't know what camera you use so I'll use a 8mp camera example using Adobe Bridge & CS2.
Alamy want you to have a 48Mb +  file as your finished original.  It should be an 8 bit file as they do not accept 16Bit. It has to be in Adobe RGB 1998 colour space.

Camera.
Set your camera to shoot RAW images.
Set your camera's colour space to Adobe RGB 1998

**Computer.
**In PS CS2 set your colour working space to Adobe RGB 1998 (Under colour settings)
In ACR set you convert workspace to Adobe RGB 1998 and turn off auto sharpening (Under preferences)

Now you are ready to start shooting stock images. 

Process the RAW file through Adobe Bridge and ACR convert the RAW file to a 16bit Tiff in the Adobe colour space.  Do as many adjustments as you can in ACR to get the image as near as it can be to the finished article. Then convert and the image will open in CS2.   

Now resize the image using 'image size'. Change the pixel nomination to percentage and change 100% to 150%. Click OK.   Check the file size is as wanted.
(The 150% figure is an approximation that will work consistently well with a Canon 20/30D  you may have to use a little more or a little less depending on image and camera used) 

Make any final adjustments to the image.

View the image at 100% and carefully go over it for any dust marks or imperfections and use the clone/healing tools to remove them.  Alamy will not accept any images that are not top quality so do this thoroughly.

Finally when you are happy it is the best you can produce convert the image to 8 bit (under mode).

Save the file. This is your 48Mb+ file.  

They want a Jpeg of this file so also save as a copy using the jpeg extension.  A window will appear asking you what quality and the level must be at 10 or above. 

hth
 

Very nice tutorial for this Richard. Always the font of valuable information I see. :) Good luck ejn. BTW John, if members keep their jpeg resolution rather low when uploading to online galleries (ie: 60% or below), upsizing results will not be as good if the image is snatched.

Hi All,

Once again thanks for all the positive input.

I shoot on a Nikon D100 and use CS2.The Nikon gives a file at 3000 x 2000 px.

A question - yeah another dumb one maybe.

If one resizes the document doesn't this cause the image to pixilate.

If so what is the point and if not - why not.

Grateful for anymore help you people can offer.

Thanks.

Eddie

Somone else can probably better answer than I, but in short, yes, it does. That is why there is the abundance of specialized upsizing software made to avoid pixelization. In CS1, upsizing and choosing the "soft" option provides better results. Some say to upsize in 110% increments -- I don't know if that really works. I've heard with CS2 the upsizing algorythm is better.

Pixelation is the process where every individual pixel of your original image gets enlarged if you upsize your image. The pixels themselves become larger, so they become more visible. Now, the upsizing in PS CS2 doesn't enlarge the pixels, it recalculates them. Let's say you have a sharp border of 2 pixels in your original image... The upsizing won't make those 2 pixels larger, but will recalculate the pixels and make a 3 pixel border out of it. The only thing is that your original sharp border will look slightly less sharp in 100% view in the resulting image, because the recalculation will take some of the adjacent pixels on each side of the border into account. But that is not the same as pixelation. The pixelation does happen when you enlarge a GIF image however, because GIF images are made up differently, with fixed pixels (not continuous tone pixels). Strictly speaking, you can't enlarge GIF images for that reason. Needless to say, you need the best possible original image quality (highest possible compression quality, or no compression at all, like RAW format) to make a good upsized image...

Hi Again,

Well this has been very educational for me and thanks to all who have replied.

Regrettably I shot all my images on high quality jpeg,Oh well there is always next year.

Looks like I will have to seek out libraries that don't have such high requirements -  any suggestions ???

 

Eddie

There are quite a few out there, I am sure you will uncover some with a little looking. Good luck!

I had recently acquired Photoshop CS2 and noticed it can do this, to my amazement. It also works for printouts in the print mode.