Alamy - The Challenge - DPChallenge Forums

05/21/2006 01:22:01 PM · #801

OK Guys - I'm now ready to start to attempt to get into the Alamy world. Now I have the 5D I should easily make the technical quality criteria.

My question is about the micro-stock accounts I have. I will be closing them down as each one pays out, but do Alamy refuse membership if I have EVER contributed to the MS sites?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/21/2006 01:24:30 PM · #802

Originally posted by Falc:

Alamy does not restrict you from microstock participation -- just don't post the same images there. Alamy -- at least the last time I looked -- was non-exclusive.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/21/2006 02:39:59 PM · #803

that is right.

you can submit to both alamy and the micros at the same time, additionally it is wise to do so. Just don't post the same images at both places.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/22/2006 02:08:18 PM · #804

WOOOOoooooOOO HOOOOooooOOO!!!!!!! I just got this!!!

Dear Contributor,

We are working on a new, easier and faster way for you to send
us your images. When AlamyUpload launches later this year, you
will simply upload your images online at Alamy and see instantly
if they have been received. You will no longer have to burn and
post discs, so it will save you time, money and the uncertainty
of the world's postal service.

AlamyUpload is still under development, but we will keep you informed
about progress and give you more details as the work nears
completion.

In preparation for AlamyUpload, we ask that you now:

. Send images as JPEGs instead of Tiffs;
. Save JPEGs at the highest quality setting and at 48MB in size
once uncompressed (all other quality control requirements remain the
same).

When AlamyUpload launches we will phase out our existing submission
process and will not accept discs in the future. We appreciate that
this will involve changes to your workflow so we wanted to give you
plenty of notice to prepare for the change.

Best regards

The Content Team
Alamy

I am so excited!!! This will be so much easier!

Canon EOS-20D

05/22/2006 02:13:31 PM · #805

Wow, that makes Alamy sound a lot more appealing to someone like me who still has Christmas presents packaged and ready to be mailed.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

05/22/2006 02:14:33 PM · #806

Sweet! :)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/22/2006 02:32:44 PM · #807

Originally posted by mk:

Wow, that makes Alamy sound a lot more appealing to someone like me who still has Christmas presents packaged and ready to be mailed.

It's OK, they'll get there in plenty of time (for next Christmas).

I'm curious to see how long the uploads take -- I'd think those files would be 2-6MB each. For someone submitting their first batch for QC check it could take a long time.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

05/22/2006 02:39:16 PM · #808

Originally posted by GeneralE:

I'm curious to see how long the uploads take -- I'd think those files would be 2-6MB each. For someone submitting their first batch for QC check it could take a long time.

I thought about that too... I have a folder with about 300 images in it waiting to be upsized and burned on CD. Think I'll hurry up and do that before I'm forced to upload all 300. After that a few at a time shouldn't be an issue (let it run overnight or whatever).

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

05/22/2006 02:56:09 PM · #809

I just ran a quick test to see file sizes. Took a 49MB TIF file (at 8 bit) and saved as JPG. The JPG file was around 10MB.

I am SO glad I finally have DSL. By doing this Alamy is pretty much excluding anyone with dial-up internet access.

05/22/2006 03:15:24 PM · #810

I'm a little confused about the file size- anyone who understands care to elaborate?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/22/2006 03:35:57 PM · #811

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

I'm a little confused about the file size- anyone who understands care to elaborate?

The uncompressed file size has to be 48MB -- that ends up being about 5000 x 3400 pixels. Basically it is W x H x (3 bytes/pixel) = file size (in regular 8-bit RGB).

How much room it takes to save on disk after compression varies tremendously.

Message edited by author 2006-05-22 15:36:33.

05/22/2006 03:38:35 PM · #812

Originally posted by glad2badad:

what about this? shouldn't the file size be 48 MB still? or will I have to go and upsize as JPEG now?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/22/2006 03:42:27 PM · #813

No -- as I said, the uncompressed file size -- what you'll see in Photoshop if you go to the Image Size dialog or in the lower left margin of the window -- has to be 48MB.

The whole point of using compression is to take that amount of image data and store it in a compressed (and uncompressable) form which takes up fewer bytes, so it takes less room to store or time to transmit.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/22/2006 03:44:04 PM · #814

Thanks!!!

ganders

Canon EOS-40D

05/22/2006 03:45:52 PM · #815

I find it slightly odd that they're shifting from TIFF to JPEG - ok, so at max quality there shouldn't be much data loss, but then the size difference between a max quality JPEG and a TIFF with LZW isn't exactly massive either.

David.C

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/22/2006 03:49:12 PM · #816

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Download and Upload manager technology, that allows for resuming after disconnect, has been around a long time. Sure a company as large as Alamy will incorporate it into the process. An upload manager that runs in the background at low priority would not inconvienance anyone and would still be faster than their current method -- even on dial-up.

/edit: to add that this change will likely have the most impact on those parts of the world that have pay-per-use internet access. The cost of uploading the files will cut into their profits.

David

Message edited by author 2006-05-22 15:52:34.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/22/2006 03:50:32 PM · #817

The current iteration of top-level JPEG compression is reputed to be lossless (i.e. PS CS2, level 12).

They may want to quit paying royalties on the LZW decompression algorithm.

They know that people are too dumb/careless to use TIFF properly, and it simplifies tech support to have only one file format.

dpgadal

Nikon D100

05/26/2006 01:19:44 AM · #818

So, does this mean that I can take a tiff that I was going to submit and save it as a high quality JPG and submit that through the upload process?

Is this what they are saying?

Damian P. Gadal

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/26/2006 01:58:25 AM · #819

Yes, once they have the upload process up and running, that's what it means. Just like on the microstock sites ... : )

roseha

Nikon D70

06/06/2006 08:23:37 PM · #820

Hi I'm back!

Alamy just approved my second QC batch today, I'm really happy.

I'm very happy about this upload/FTP thing also, I wish it could start right away but I guess it will be soon?

Thanks for everyone's advice

Roseha