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Sizing Pictures for Review

Posted by Larry Berman on September 21, 2010 at 7:15am in Jurying for Art Fairs & Craft Shows
If you're uploading pictures asking for advice, you shouldn't be uploading anything larger than 700 pixels long dimension or square in the case of ZAPP images. Judgments can't be made on images so large you need to scroll to see them. 700 pixels square is the size you see them enlarged in your ZAPP profile and 700 long dimension is the size you see them enlarged in your JAS profile. That's the same size the jurors see them for the 95% of the shows that use monitors on ZAPP and all the shows using JAS.

It's also the same size I set up on my http://JuryImages.com web site when you upload your images to test different presentations or work with a consultant. And when I photograph artwork for artists I put up 700 pixel images for them to preview and approve on my own web site prior to uploading them to ZAPP and JAS.

Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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  • h. t. roden April 20, 2011 at 3:35pm
    Despite my lameness with photoshop, I've had good luck in gaining entry to four of five shows recently, despite each having different image requirements for jurying. I was flunked by one  (Baltimore MD) no doubt in part as I could not understand their image requirements.   Now I'm flummoxed by the Bethesda Row show (Md) which seems to do a Semi_Zapp in saying "Images are requested to be 1920 x 1920 pixels at 72 PPI (pixels per inch) saved as high-resolution, baseline JPG format." Ok But then go on to say  "We recommend an file size of 400 KB or less for each image. "  Well, a hi rez image of 1900 pix saved at high rez will give you a good MB plus, so what I wonder is the best way to shrink it w/o losing its quality.  The site links to a Larry Berman article  trying (sigh) to get shows to get organized in their demands but while Larry has pointed out that Zapp does not require black border to square off a pix, they do want that.  Ok.  But how best to reduce an image of stipulated size and PPI and "high rez" and get it down to 400Kb.  Just knock it down in "image size" in Pshop? Color me slow I guess.  After Baltimore I'm wary.
    • Larry Berman > h. t. roden April 20, 2011 at 5:50pm
      Though ZAPP doesn't require black borders to square the images, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don't add black borders to square the images. If you don't, ZAPP will resave your JPEGs at a lower quality setting after adding the black borders if you apply to any of the better shows that project the images.

      For Bethesda, just upload your ZAPP images. That's the actual ZAPP images of 1920 pixels square.

      ZAPP has created a degradation of viewing jury images by not requiring the black borders. Horizontal and vertical displayed exactly the same size in 35mm slide format. The slide mount acted like the black borders in the original ZAPP instructions. Now horizontal will potentially display up to twice the size of vertical jury images if they are not squared to constraint the viewing size and makes them all display the same.

      Larry Berman
      http://BermanGraphics.com
      412-401-8100
      • Larry Berman > Larry Berman April 20, 2011 at 6:14pm
        Forgot to mention that if you upload smaller then 1920, ZAPP will add wider black borders to make your images 1920 when you apply to a show that projects the images. That means your images project smaller than your competitor's images. Evident if you've ever attended an open jury.

        Anyone who has ever read the articles on my web site or has spoken to me knows that I'm for EQUAL size images in the jury room. ZAPP can easily remedy this fiasco that they've created in the past year and a half by resizing any images uploaded to 1920 pixels long dimension and adding black borders to square them. It's actually easy for them to do. I had a script written for http://JuryImages.com that does exactly that. So feel free to use my web site to format your images for Bethesda Row if you can't do it yourself.

        Larry Berman
        http://BermanGraphics.com
        412-401-8100
    • MICHAEL ALAN STIPEK > h. t. roden April 20, 2011 at 5:41pm

      I can tell you how to do it on a Mac, but PCs are aliens from another planet, with three heads and vast, sucking tentacles.  Nothing personal, just bidness!

      I think shows want the 300 ppi because they can use the images in advertising for the show.  72 ppi doesn't work out very well for reproductions.  Also, if you send a file to someone who wants to see your images, not only should you watermark them, but make sure the file size is 72 ppi or something similar.  I learned the hard way years ago when I sent some hi-res files and suspected that the "client" just printed the images out from their computer, since they never responded to repeated requests for additional info about the potential order.

      BUT, in all questions about this stuff, Larry B. is the go-to guy.  If he sounds complicated, just hit the "subtitle" button on your computer and his replies will automatically be translated into layperson's English.

  • Larry Berman September 21, 2010 at 8:17am
    Since this came up I'm posting links to simulated ZAPP and JAS monitor jurying. How the jurors see the images.

    ZAPP Projection Jurying:
    http://bermangraphics.com/digital-jury-resources/zapp-projection-ju...

    ZAPP Monitor Jurying:
    http://bermangraphics.com/digital-jury-resources/zapp-monitor-juryi...

    Juried Art Services:
    http://bermangraphics.com/digital-jury-resources/juried-art-service...

    Larry Berman
    Digital J u r y Services
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
  • Leo Charette September 21, 2010 at 7:37am
    Larry, now this is a new piece of information. I was under the impression that Zapp wanted images to be high res. at 1920 pixels square, as Marc has done (that is what's written in the Zapp guidelines, yes?)

    Maybe I need to reread the image guidelines again. I would prefer 700px but I thought the larger image would give jurors the chance to see more detail when projected.

    Leo
    • Larry Berman > Leo Charette September 21, 2010 at 8:06am
      Doesn't matter. Changing resolution doesn't change the image at all. Changing the number of pixels does. Monitors and digital projectors don't see resolution, they only see actual pixels. That's why it's the exact same image no matter what the resolution when viewed for jurying.

      Larry Berman
      Digital J u r y Services
      http://BermanGraphics.com
      412-401-8100
    • Larry Berman > Leo Charette September 21, 2010 at 7:46am
      You need to upload 1920 pixel long dimensions to ZAPP and then ZAPP reduces them to the two sizes you see in your profile. The shows need the larger images for their program and advertising and for projection if they are projecting. ZAPP has relaxed the upload size as of August 2009 but any artist uploading smaller than 1920 pixel square images is doomed for failure if applying for the best shows because ZAPP is adding 1920 black borders to square them when projecting. I have articles about this on my web site, in Marc Duke's newsletter and the NAIA newspaper. DO NOT CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL ZAPP FORMAT OR YOU WILL LOWER YOUR CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED IF YOU APPLY TO THE BEST SHOWS THAT PROJECT THE IMAGES. Artists need to get out and observe open juries where the images are projected to see that when smaller images have been uploaded they project smaller with wider black borders.

      Larry Berman
      Digital J u r y Services
      http://BermanGraphics.com
      412-401-8100
      • Leo Charette > Larry Berman September 21, 2010 at 7:55am
        Now I am absolutely confused.

        On one hand you say: "you shouldn't be uploading anything larger than 700 pixels long dimension or square in the case of ZAPP images" and then you say: "ZAPP has relaxed the upload size as of August 2009 but any artist uploading smaller than 1920 pixel square images is doomed for failure if applying for the best shows because ZAPP is adding 1920 black borders to square them when projecting."

        It is early and my second cup of coffee hasn't kicked in yet... but you say what??? -- Leo
        • Larry Berman > Leo Charette September 21, 2010 at 7:57am
          The 700 size is for asking to have your images reviewed on a forum because the jurors see them at that size. The 1920 is for uploading your jury images to your profile on ZAPP. Two different things.

          Larry Berman
          Digital J u r y Services
          http://BermanGraphics.com
          412-401-8100
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