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05/05/2005 03:10:48 PM · #51
I used Genuine Fractals; it's not cheap but put next to the price of Photoshop it's not too bad, and it IS a stunning bit of code.

My workflow tends to be convert to tiff->neat image->genuine fractals->editing. I think to be honest there are as many answers as photographers - whether I'm doing it the right way around or not only time will tell (I'm still sat in the QC queue at Alamy!)
05/05/2005 03:34:31 PM · #52
ganders, thanks for your reply! That's very helpful information. Now I just have to figure out if Genuine Fractals works with Paint Shop Pro. :)
05/05/2005 06:21:06 PM · #53
I upsize using Extensis Pxl Smartscale, which may work with PSP if Fractals doesn't.

M
05/05/2005 06:24:12 PM · #54
Originally posted by ganders:

I used Genuine Fractals; it's not cheap but put next to the price of Photoshop it's not too bad, and it IS a stunning bit of code.

My workflow tends to be convert to tiff->neat image->genuine fractals->editing. I think to be honest there are as many answers as photographers - whether I'm doing it the right way around or not only time will tell (I'm still sat in the QC queue at Alamy!)


I also use a 20D. I shoot RAW and my file sizes are around 8 Mb is size. When you talk about 'up-resizing' you loose me. What is this and how does it work? With an 8.2 mega-pixel sensor an 8 Mb file would seem appropriate. Does teh Genuine Fractals software extrapolate the color/tone/brightness between pixels and add more data to the file? This seems to me like it would degrade the image quality, especially if your adding 5 times as much data as in the original to obtain a 48 Mb file. Are there setting on my camera to increase the size of the file that is recorded? I've not seen anything in the manual to indicate this to me. I appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Mike
05/05/2005 06:55:46 PM · #55
The filesize that Alamy talks about is TIFF size; uncompressed that takes 3 bytes per pixel (r,g,b) so the 20D will produce roughtly 24Mb tiff files.

Genuine Fractals effectively extrapolates and 'invents' data, pretty much as far as you want to push it. Obviously if you do it massively then it looks bad but in actual fact upsampling from 24Mb to 48Mb isn't too bad, and it does a grand job.

As for how it does it... it's complicated - it's not as simple as the basic 'image resize' stuff that Photoshop does, and it doesn't result in nasty pixellated images. If you have Photoshop, there's a demo which will let you resize 10 or so images; it convinced me!

(although on a side note - the demo works in PS6 but the full version doesn't, which meant a slightly unexpected upgrade!)
05/05/2005 07:03:50 PM · #56
Originally posted by Judith Polakoff:

I don't have any experience with stock photography at all, so please forgive this basic question, but I was wondering about the 48MB file size requirement for Alamy. They recommend using the Genuine Fractals software for up-resizing. So my question for Jodie, nsbca7 and anyone else who has had experience with stock photo sites, do you use the Genuine Fractals software, or are there other programs that are less expensive that do as good a job?

Another question: Do you edit the 17MB photo and then resize up, or the other way around?


I use PS CS to interpolate. I simply go to Image Size and punch in 12x18 @ 300dpi for an uncropped image. Never had a problem. Edit either way. I edit first most time, but sometimes I will find something after I resize.
05/05/2005 08:13:55 PM · #57
Thanks, nsbca7 and mavrik, for your responses! I just did a little experiment in Paint Shop Pro, using basically the Fred Miranda theory of upsizing in 10 percent increments, and it worked beautifully! The only problem I'm having now is trying to figure out how to convert to 8-bit. That's another of Alamy's requirements that I don't quite understand. The only way to convert to 8-bit in Paint Shop Pro is to "reduce colors," but when I do that the photo looks absolutely awful! Does anyone know how to do that conversion without losing all picture quality?

Thanks for your help!
05/05/2005 09:22:46 PM · #58
Question for anyone who has been accepted by Alamy.
Does alamy care if you use programs such as neatimage?
05/05/2005 09:35:48 PM · #59
Originally posted by Damian:

Question for anyone who has been accepted by Alamy.
Does alamy care if you use programs such as neatimage?


Probably not. Unlike most agencies they don't reject much. As long as you meet the 48mb file size and don't over sharpen. (They ask you not to sharpen but I know some who do.)
05/06/2005 10:20:13 AM · #60
Originally posted by ganders:

The filesize that Alamy talks about is TIFF size; uncompressed that takes 3 bytes per pixel (r,g,b) so the 20D will produce roughtly 24Mb tiff files.

Genuine Fractals effectively extrapolates and 'invents' data, pretty much as far as you want to push it. Obviously if you do it massively then it looks bad but in actual fact upsampling from 24Mb to 48Mb isn't too bad, and it does a grand job.

As for how it does it... it's complicated - it's not as simple as the basic 'image resize' stuff that Photoshop does, and it doesn't result in nasty pixellated images. If you have Photoshop, there's a demo which will let you resize 10 or so images; it convinced me!

(although on a side note - the demo works in PS6 but the full version doesn't, which meant a slightly unexpected upgrade!)


So, if I convert my RAW images to TIFF they will be in the size range of 24 Meg? I'll give that a try tonight when I get home.

On another front, I would like to start assembling a portfolio to submit to stock agencies. I've never actually sold any images (and don't have any uploaded anywere to view). My question: does anyone have any suggestion on any books to guide me in content and technique for shooting for stock agencies?

Thanks for all the great input and advice that is shared in the forums. You guys are a wealth of information.

Mike
05/06/2005 12:04:17 PM · #61
Originally posted by AllgoodPics:


On another front, I would like to start assembling a portfolio to submit to stock agencies. I've never actually sold any images (and don't have any uploaded anywere to view). My question: does anyone have any suggestion on any books to guide me in content and technique for shooting for stock agencies?


There's a ton out there, but for starters, check your local library for this one:
//www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1581150873/qid=1115395371/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-0577871-4921465?v=glance&s=books
05/11/2005 07:00:57 AM · #62
Just a quick update to give hope to anyone else waiting in the QC queue - my test CD finally worked it way through the queue yesterday, so I'm now officially an Alamy photographer :-)
05/11/2005 07:31:20 AM · #63
Congratulations!

This is something that I am potentially quite interested in. I would be very interested to hear what level of income you find yourself making as a new photographer on that site, and how hard it is to establish a set of "new" photographs that have buyers salivating.
05/11/2005 08:10:56 AM · #64
Originally posted by ganders:

Just a quick update to give hope to anyone else waiting in the QC queue - my test CD finally worked it way through the queue yesterday, so I'm now officially an Alamy photographer :-)


Congrats!!! How long were you in que? I was just notified this morning that my pictures were received and are pending QC.
05/11/2005 08:17:52 AM · #65
Originally posted by ganders:

Just a quick update to give hope to anyone else waiting in the QC queue - my test CD finally worked it way through the queue yesterday, so I'm now officially an Alamy photographer :-)


Well Done! Can I presume from your profile that 12 out of the original 15 were accepted?
05/11/2005 08:25:59 AM · #66
Originally posted by Gurilla:

Well Done! Can I presume from your profile that 12 out of the original 15 were accepted?

Actually I found that 15 wouldn't fit onto a CD, so I only sent them those 12 - they all passed.

That's the only trouble with them demanding 48Mb files; in the future I'll send them DVDs instead, or I'll have to start buying CDs in bulk :-)
05/11/2005 08:28:07 AM · #67
Originally posted by clarmore:

Congrats!!! How long were you in que? I was just notified this morning that my pictures were received and are pending QC.

They were booked in on 26th April, so it was pretty much exactly 2 weeks from booking in to being approved.

They didn't email me to tell me they'd finished the QC process (as the original email said they would) but my obsessive daily checking finally paid off!
05/11/2005 08:30:10 AM · #68
Originally posted by AllgoodPics:


On another front, I would like to start assembling a portfolio to submit to stock agencies. I've never actually sold any images (and don't have any uploaded anywere to view). My question: does anyone have any suggestion on any books to guide me in content and technique for shooting for stock agencies?


I would highly recommend Photos that Sell: The Successful Art of Freelance Photography by Lee Frost. Quite inspirational.
05/21/2005 07:03:15 PM · #69
17 days later, still waiting.
05/21/2005 09:43:08 PM · #70
wow thats a really slow turnover for them.
05/22/2005 10:01:11 AM · #71
Originally posted by mavrik:

17 days later, still waiting.


Was that 17 days after you sent it, or 17 days after they aknoweledged getting it?
05/22/2005 10:15:30 AM · #72
After they acknowledged getting it. CD was sent 4/14.

M
05/23/2005 11:58:39 AM · #73
I have a fast question. I am wanting to submit a CD of test images to Alamy, but I am struggling with file size... I have a 300D that I used to take my pictures and I shot in RAW. How do I get my images up to 48mb? I am at less than half that...

Also, I will be getting my new 350D here in a week, should I wait and get new pictures with that and send them or send them with my 300D?

If Someone could jot down a list of the programs you use to get pics to Alamy specs that would be EXCELLENT!

I appreciate the time.

-Ryan
05/23/2005 12:03:32 PM · #74
Originally posted by Brantner:


If Someone could jot down a list of the programs you use to get pics to Alamy specs that would be EXCELLENT!


A number of posts in this thread discuss the software people are using. Did you read those?
05/23/2005 12:24:00 PM · #75
Originally posted by Brantner:

I have a fast question. I am wanting to submit a CD of test images to Alamy, but I am struggling with file size... I have a 300D that I used to take my pictures and I shot in RAW. How do I get my images up to 48mb? I am at less than half that...

Alamy recommend the use of something like Genuine Fractals - that's what I've been using and they seem to be happy (or at least, they accepted the images!)

If you have good enough pictures taken with the 300D I'd send them - all the ones I've so far prepared and sent were taken with the D70 which is about the same resolution.
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