I've been meaning to upload some images to some stockhouses for a while now and have selected some of my favourites for Getty (they request 10 images for initial review).
My question is this.. I shoot Raw on a Canon 1Dmk3 then typically process in Lightroom then photoshop elements. They request a minimum file size of 50mb... how do you guys get to that file size. TIFF files? Interpolated JPEGs?
luke.price wrote:
Hi, I've been meaning to upload some images to some stockhouses for a while now and have selected some of my favourites for Getty (they request 10 images for initial review).
My question is this.. I shoot Raw on a Canon 1Dmk3 then typically process in Lightroom then photoshop elements. They request a minimum file size of 50mb... how do you guys get to that file size. TIFF files? Interpolated JPEGs? Luke
I save as TIFFs in 16-bit, then resize using Bicubic Smoother. If you save the original as 16-bit, you should be pretty close to 50MB using the 1D III. Converted files from the 1Ds (11MP camera), for example, are OVER 50MB when saved in 16-bit.
I don't sharpen (USM) until after I resize ... otherwise upsizing increases the width of the sharpening halos, if any, and/or make those that were invisible at native size become noticeable in the resize when viewed at 100%.
veroman wrote:
If you save the original as 16-bit, you should be pretty close to 50MB using the 1D III. Converted files from the 1Ds (11MP camera), for example, are OVER 50MB when saved in 16-bit.
I also just checked some files from my xsi/450D (12MP) ... and they're well over 50MB when converted to TIFF and saved as 16-bit. Same with the files from my 5D. I've never used the 1D III, but I imagine the converted files from that camera should already be at or near 50MB if saved as 16-bit TIFFs, no?
I am Getty Contributor and think I can help. Start with a TIFF and use a program like Alien Skin Blowup or Genuine Fractals (these tend to work better than Photoshop, alone) to upres your file to 3450 X 5174 pixels. Or, if you prefer using inches, resize to 11.5" X 17.25" at 300 dpi. This will give you a file approximately 51mp in size. Then do a "Save As" and save the file as a jpeg using the highest number (12) in terms of size. This is the file you can submit. It must be a jpeg. Getty doesn't accept TIFF.
Deezie wrote:
I am Getty Contributor and think I can help. Start with a TIFF and use a program like Alien Skin Blowup or Genuine Fractals (these tend to work better than Photoshop, alone) to upres your file to 3450 X 5174 pixels. Or, if you prefer using inches, resize to 11.5" X 17.25" at 300 dpi. This will give you a file approximately 51mp in size. Then do a "Save As" and save the file as a jpeg using the highest number (12) in terms of size. This is the file you can submit. It must be a jpeg. Getty doesn't accept TIFF. Hope this helps....Show more →
My experience with Blowup and Fractals is that they work best ... and most noticeably ... when you're enlarging from a fairly small file, ie 10MB, to something considerably larger, ie 50MB. But when you're already pretty close to 50MB ... as would be the case when shooting full resolution with a 10MP camera ... resizing in Photoshop or Alien Skin gives you pretty much the same result. I've had conversations with the Alien Skin folks, and they concur. It's when you're enlarging 300% to 500% and more that Blowup & Fractals truly outperform Photoshop.
I will admit, though, that if you use a loupe to compare PRINTED images upsized with Blowup or Fractals with Photoshop, even if the increase is only 20% or so, the Blowup/Fractals images will have slightly better detail ... which, unfortunately, will be virtually unnoticeable when viewed at the normal print size.
Anyway ... since you're a Getty contributor, I'd suggest the original poster follow your guidelines.
Also ... I didn't realize Getty only accepts JPEGs. Good to know....
Getty accepts images from 47-52MB's. When I process a RAW file to a TIFF in Lightroom, I don't save it in 16-bit because you cannot convert a 16-bit file to a jpeg - though I wish you could. Maybe in CS4 you'll be able to.
But as a result, my 5D files come in at 36MB. To resize to the 50MB size, you're looking at close to a 33% increase in size, which is why I use Blow Up. But I believe you're correct. Resizing a 16-bit file to 51MB would be just fine using Bicubic Smoother.
One other thing, Getty doesn't encourage any of their photographers to sharpen their images. They'll allow just a tiny bit of sharpening, but they really prefer to leave that up to the folks who buy the images.
Deezie wrote:
I don't save it in 16-bit because you cannot convert a 16-bit file to a jpeg - though I wish you could. Maybe in CS4 you'll be able to.
Alas, no. It's a limitation of the JPEG format rather than a software limitation. JPEG 2000 supports 16-bit, but it doesn't have anywhere near the traction of plain ol' JPEG.
luke.price:
They request a minimum file size of 50mb... how do you guys get to that file size. TIFF files? Interpolated JPEGs?
What Getty and most other agencies are looking for is an image size of 50MB+, which is distinct from the file size. (A much smaller JPEG file will still contain 50MB worth of image; file formats are basically vacuum packing the image data.)
For the sake of simplicity, a 50MB 8-bit image is going to be roughly 5121x3414 pixels. If you're not shooting in the 20 megapixel range, you'll have to interpolate to around that resolution. That's just under 150% if you're starting with a 10 mpix file.
Getty doesnt want tiff files anymore, they want jpegs, do this: from a raw file, uprez it with a good uprez program like genuine fractals to get you 48-52 mb file (8 bit only) then save it at the highest jpeg setting, which is twelve in Photoshop. even though youve saved it as a jpeg and the file size is 5 to 15 mb, when getting reconverts the jpeg back to tiff it will be its original 48-52 mb, I suggest you go to the getty Images contributer website to see there new submission guideless which the introduces with there new online upload portal http://contributors.gettyimages.com/
Deezie wrote:
I am Getty Contributor and think I can help. Start with a TIFF and use a program like Alien Skin Blowup or Genuine Fractals (these tend to work better than Photoshop, alone) to upres your file to 3450 X 5174 pixels. Or, if you prefer using inches, resize to 11.5" X 17.25" at 300 dpi. This will give you a file approximately 51mp in size. Then do a "Save As" and save the file as a jpeg using the highest number (12) in terms of size. This is the file you can submit. It must be a jpeg. Getty doesn't accept TIFF.
Hope this helps....Show more →
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batpAl
Can you advise me regarding this?
Stock agencies that request 50MB files want 8-bit 50MB files. So, unless you're using a 21 or so megapixel or larger chipped camera, you have to upsize. I've used bicubic smoother in PS or Genuine Fractals with equal success.
I just upgraded to the 5DII and this was a major reason.
veroman wrote:
I also just checked some files from my xsi/450D (12MP) ... and they're well over 50MB when converted to TIFF and saved as 16-bit. Same with the files from my 5D. I've never used the 1D III, but I imagine the converted files from that camera should already be at or near 50MB if saved as 16-bit TIFFs, no?
I can't speak for other stock agencies, but its been this way at Getty for a few years, now. 50mb files seem to meet most needs for the average buyer. I believe that a buyer can request a TIFF format and Getty will pass that request along to the photographer for him to decide, but I'm not sure.
The 50 Mb standard is in reference to a magazine double page spread. A 50 Mb file in 8-bit from a camera with a 35mm aspect ratio is equal to roughly 11"x17" at 300ppi. Resizing in the initial RAW conversion is almost always your best bet to bring the image up to the required size.
You have the info form a contributer so follow that, I use the stair stepping method in PS. I can add a few things on your 10 uploads for consideration if you want to be accepted and stand out form the crowd and it's a large high quality crowd.... no Landscapes, no flowers and no sunsets. Again apply no sharpening they want their clients to be able to sharpen the image and be prepared to have your images edited at100% ...and good luck.
Does it seem odd to anyone that the stock house should mandate that the photographer up-rez the file to a given size, but insist that the end-user client be able to choose how to sharpen it? Surely the most sensible approach would be to ask the photographer for a TIFF or JPEG at the original shot resolution, and let the end-user client up-rez it to their specific requirements? What is to be gained by pretending the source image is anything other than what it is?
The final image is uploaded to their site and available at several sizes. The customer them pays for usage and files size. If they need a double page spread or larger the high rez 50MB is required. EG a royalty free image on Corbis/Getty will be available in a bunch of sizes and depending on your need you buy. The larger the file size the more the customer pays. Why they do not want you sharpening is because they don't want over sharpened images. You do it then the client does it and you run into problems. Also there can be a tendency for shooters to try and slip an image by editors that's not sharp from the start.
