Note Please read through to the end of the guide before submitting your images. Once you have made your initial upload, you will receive a confirmation email containing a User ID. With your email and ID, you will be able to submit additional images in the future prior to the submission deadline. If you have any remaining questions, please Contact Us.

Digital Images
We ask that the images you submit be of the highest professional quality. The same quality standards apply to traditional slide documentation and the digital slide format.

Image Specifications for SVA
Send 20 images of your own work as jpegs. (Do not send CDs or DVDs, as they will not be reviewed.) Each file (jpeg or gif only) should be at least 72 dpi, and the file size must not exceed 1MB. Please make sure to have all of your work ready to upload before you begin, as you will not be able to edit/modify your submission after you have submitted it. Read all instructions carefully. No email applications, please.

Submitted images must be of the following dimensions

Please size the dimensions of your image to be 1024 pixels along both edges. The canvas background color should be set to black to fill any additional space around the image.

Squaring your images allows for size differences between projected horizontal and vertical digital images by ensuring that all work is scaled and displayed fairly.

Vertical images should be formatted with vertical black bands on the left and right of the image.		Horizontal images should be formatted with horizontal black bands on the top and bottom of the image.

Why Squared Digital Imaging is Important

The following images portray the problem created by horizontal images and how squaring images removes the majority of imbalances that may occur during digital projection.

Figure # 1 (below) displays the available digital image projection space.

Figure #1

If SVA allowed for images of any height and width within the range of a digital projector to be submitted, horizontal artwork would have a distinct advantage over vertical artwork by using a larger amount of projected space.

Figure #2 (below) shows how horizontal artwork is capable of using nearly all of the available digital projection space.

Figure #2

Figure #3 (below) demonstrates the disadvantage of vertical artwork when digitally projected. Figures #2 and #3 both have the same dimensions, but without squaring, their sizes differ greatly during projection.

Figure #3

Squaring your images allows for size differences between projected horizontal and vertical digital images by ensuring that all work is scaled and displayed fairly. Figure #4 represents the projection of a squared horizontal image while Figure #5 represents the projection of a squared vertical image. The black masking eliminates any possible white space and allows the image to contrast more strongly for better viewing quality.

Figure #4                                   Figure #5

Preparing Images for Uploading
The following steps are generalized formatting instructions for preparing images to SVA upload specifications. The steps may vary based upon your photo editting software.

1. Open the image file in photo editting program.
2. Select Image Size or Resize located within the menu options.
3. Set the image resolution to 72 ppi or dpi (Standard for the web).
4. Set image size to 1024 pixels, and then set canvas size to 1024 pixels.
5. Fill or set the background to black so that any space not used by the image, either vertical or horizontal, is black space.
6. Apply to the image.
7. Use the Save As or Save for Web option.
8. Save image as a JPEG file. Name the file appropriately, including the .jpg file extension.

Photoshop Tips

1. Begin with an original uncompressed image that has been prepared (contrast, color adjustments, shapenning, etc.) and is no less than 1024 pixels (square). If a Raw or Tiff image is not available, Jpeg images will work fine.
2. Open image in Adobe Photoshop
3. In the toolbar select Image -> Image Size
4. First set Resolution to 72 pixels/inch (under Document Size).
5. Second set the longest edge (width or height) to 1024 pixels (under Pixel Dimension).
6. Apply to image.
1. Constrain Proportions and Resample Image should be checked off (default).
2. Leave Bicubic.

7. Select Image -> Canvas Size
1. Set the other lesser dimension (W or H) to 1024 pixels, located under New Size so that the image is now a 1024 x 1024 pixel square.
2. Apply to image.

8. Make sure that any space around your image is filled with black if it isn't already.
1. Select paint bucket tool and set black as the foreground color in the tool palette.
2. Fill any white areas or transparent areas by hovering over them and clicking with the mouse to fill with the paint bucket tool.

9. Select File -> Save for Web
1. Make sure the file Setting is JPEG
2. For Quality, use Maximum - 100 or any setting greater than 70
3. Select Save
4. Do not select any other options
5. Save Jpeg image on your computer in an easy to locate place
6. Name Jpeg image with something easy to remember myname_image1.jpg.
7. Select Save (all options should be left as is)

Repeat for all images you plan on submitting.

Image size on disk
Your final image file must not 1MB in size. The above steps will help you render a file within this requirement. Do not use Adobe PhotoShop's estimated file size to determine the actual file size.

How to locate the final image file size?
Locate the image file on your computer, right-click and select Get Info (Mac) or Properties (PC). The final image size will be displayed within the infomation box.

Tips for taking Digital Images
Digital images yield better results than scanning photographs or slides. For better results use a camera with at least a 3.5 megapixel resolution. The white balance on the camera should be set using a neutral white source by following the steps outlined in the camera's manual. Use a camera that allows you to save images in a lossless format (TIFF or RAW) that can later be converted to a JPEG. If your camera saves images in the JPEG format, convert the images to TIFF formating before resizing. Following these steps will retain the maximum ammount of detail.

Converting Slides to Digital Images
Most full service photo labs contain the technology required to scan traditional slides and convert them to a digital format. When scanning slides it is best to use originals to garuantee that color and detail have not deminished due to reproduction

Photography Tips

• Remove frames from 2D artwork to minimize glare
• Use proper lighting when photographing 3D artwork
• Use a neutral background behind any piece of artwork
• Avoid harsh shadows and background colors that distract from the art
• Photograph indoors if possible
• For the best lighting, remove all other sources (overhead, sun, etc.) and use two tungsten bulb floodlights on either side of the artwork at a 45 degree angle.
• If photographing outdoors, choose a clear day and use the shadow from a building to block potential glare.
• Attempt to capture the true colors of the artwork
• Attempt to exclude all external objects from the photograph, allowing the artwork to fill as much space as possible.
• Make sure not to crop any parts of the artwork
• The digital images submitted are to represent the originals. If a photograph does not appear to properly represent your artwork, taking additional photographs may return better results.

The internet and many photolabs offer free software that can be used to edit images and save them as JPEG files (Kodak Picture CD). Your camera may also have included image editting software.

35mm scanners are also available for purchase and allow for digitalizing images on a home computer.

Digital Imaging Software

• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Digital Image Suite

We recommend investing in a photo editing program that is comfortable for your needs and skill level.

Equipment
For best results, use a 4 or 5 megapixel digital camera. Do not use a camera below 3.2 megapixels. Always use a tripod to steady your shot. If you choose to take your picture on film and digitize from a negative you need to use good color film like Fuji Provia 100F (also called RDP-III) or Kodak Ektachrome 100 Professional or Kodak Elite Chrome 10.

Film and Lighting
Lighting effects film at varying degrees. You may use a daylight film or tungsten film depending on the lighting scheme of your photograph.

Daylight films are color balanced to daylight and electronic flash light. Daylight film is commonly available at any supermarket or photography shop.

Tungsten films require lighting from incandescent (or tungsten) light sources and are harder to find. They are not available in a 35mm negative and can be found in specialty photography stores. The packaging for tungsten film is differentiated from daylight films by a T after the film speed, i.e. 64T.

Remember that if you are using daylight film you should eliminate other light sources, such as incandescent lights or fluorescent lights. These other light sources may 'contaminate' the illumination. In the same respect when using tungsten film, you should not let other light sources like daylight or fluorescent light 'contaminate' the illumination.