In the following procedure it is assumed that you set your software to "constrain proportions" when resizing images so that you do not change the aspect ratio of the image, height to width relationship. It is also assumed that you allow the software to resample the image (change the number of pixels).
General Rule
Each dimension of the image should be no greater than 768 pixels.
Photoshop Users
If you use PhotoShop, George Garbeck has made your life easier. He has developed an Action that will resize all images. Download the Actions using the Actions link. Save the file on your hard disk some place and then go to the Actions palette in PhotoShop and perform a Load Actions. Once the Action is installed all you have to do is perform a Play of the Action. Nothing could be easier thanks to our PhotoShop guru. For detailed downloading, installation and running instructions go to Instructions. The first two Actions in the downloaded Action folder are for preparing competition images. One Action, Digital Competition 7.0A, must be used if you have any release from 6.0 to CS or if you want to use the Unsharp Mask to sharpen in CS2. If you want to use the new Smart Sharpen in CS2 use the Digital Competition 7.0B version.
Photoshop Elements 3 Users
If you use PhotoShop Elements 3, George Garbeck has made your life easier. He has developed Actions that will resize your images. Download the Actions using the four Horizontal.atn Horizontal.psd Vertical.atn Vertical.psd links. Be sure to use the 'save' button in the download dialog box - not the 'open' button. For detailed downloading, installation and running instructions go to Instructions.
If you have made a selection and saved it in the image in Photoshop Elements you need to perform the following in order to have your image placed correctly in PowerPoint for viewing during the competition.
1) First save the image as a master copy.
2) Go into the Layers pulldown menu and select Flatten Image just in case the image has multiple layers.
3) Go into the Select pulldown menu and select Delete Selection
4) Delete ALL selections that show up in the pick list. You will have to go back to the Select pulldown menu and select a Delete Selection again if there are multiple selections in the image.
5) Then you are ready to perform the rest of your normal procedures to prepare the image for transmission to the club.
Lightroom Users
Using the Library>Export function you can set the sizing, color space and file format parameters in the one export panel.
You can now name the file anything you want such as IMG_2345.jpg. For a makeup entry include the word makeup at the end of the title
The color space or profile of the image should be sRGB
Files should be in JPG format. Save the JPG including the ICC Profile and using The Highest Quality setting (the lowest compression).
All files for all competitions must be received by the Sunday prior to the competition. Please adhere to the schedule and give yourself enough time to get your images in by the deadline. Circumstances outside of our control can cause you problems if you wait until the deadline is close.
If you are not using a color and luminance calibrated monitor to preview your image there is a possibility that the projected color and brightness of your images may not be to your expectation. (The lawyers made me write this.)
First time participants will need to become authorized to enter images into Photo Contest Pro. To do so, send an email with your name (your first and last name exactly as shown on the Membership List page) and desired password to the following email address: pcpregistration@ridgewoodcameraclub.org Please allow 1 week for authorization to be set-up. (You may change your password once you are authorized in PCP.)
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After that one time registration you can use the following procedures to enter your images:
Go to http://www.photocontestpro.com/Default.aspxlogin with your email address, the one you have given the RCC and shown in the Membership List on the RCC website, and password and select Upload Pictures.
You may change your password at any time as soon as you login using the Change Password o Email function. Store this password in a safe place. If you forget your password you can request the system to email it to you.
After you have logged in go to Upload Pictures and select the Contest you want to enter. Note that there are separate contests for Class A and B in Pictorial, and separate contests in Nature for General, Zoological, Ornithological and Botanical in both Class A & B, a single Contest for Assigned Subjects and two separate contest for the Annual; Pictorial and Nature. The date of the contest is given as well as the cutoff date for uploads.
Note that your name has been filled in for you. Then use the New Picture button to find the image file on your computer that you want to upload. Enter the Title that you want to give the image such as Sandhill Crane in Flight. For a makeup entry include the word makeup at the end of the title. Click the Save Picture and Info button and your file will be uploaded to the site.
Complete the last three steps for all images you want to upload and you are done!
You can Replace or Delete any of the files you have uploaded or change the title of any image.