Specifications for image submissions to Photocuisine

Please do not hesitate to contact Maud if you would like guidance on subject matter: mstenegri@sucresale.fr.

Technical specifications for digital image submissions

1. Images must be delivered via FTP or WeTransfer.

We accept deliveries on hard drives provided they are formatted for both operating systems (PC and Mac).

2 File naming conventions.

No spaces or non-standard characters in the image name (file name). File names exceeding 32 characters will not be accepted. It is important to provide a caption for each image.

3 File types.

Images must be saved in JPG format only (quality 10).

4 Colour profile.

Adobe RGB (1998) (This setting is very important as it is the widest colour space)

5 External scans.

Native RGB files must be at least 4961 px on the longest side (unresized) – 8-bit RGB – JPG – Adobe RGB (1998) colour space

Please note: whilst working on your image in 16-bit is recommended, the file must be saved in 8-bit to avoid script errors.

Only scans carried out on professional equipment will be accepted. It is always preferable to send your Ektas directly to the agency for in-house scanning. The agency is equipped with an Imacon Flex Tight 848 scanner.

Important: Submitted files must be finalised, i.e. free from dust, specks of any kind, Newton’s rings, etc. … Where applicable, Photoshop guides, masks (including their layers) or paths must be removed, and images with layers must be flattened.

6 Digital photographs.

File specifications: 8-bit RGB – JPG – Adobe RGB (1998) colour space

Images should preferably be supplied at their native resolution, uncropped.

Photographers who are used to working with raw files may resize the images slightly using their conversion software. The file size limit of 35 MB may thus be increased to 45 MB.

NB: do not resize the image by more than 20% (based on an image of average quality).

Equipment approved as at 1 September 2012:

All SLR cameras fitted with sensors with a resolution of more than 12 megapixels.

All digital backs with a resolution exceeding 16 megapixels.

Important: be careful when cropping; images are considered to be at the full sensor format.

APPENDICES

Reminder of standard formats:

A5 – 14.85 x 21 – 2480 x 1754 pixels – (approx. 12.4 MB TIFF – 8-bit)

A4 – 29.7 x 21 – 3508 x 2480 pixels – (approx. 24.9 MB – TIFF – 8-bit)

A3 – 29.7 x 42 – 4961 x 3508 pixels – (approx. 49.8 MB – TIFF – 8-bit)

General recommendations

To be effective, a photograph must meet the following criteria:

- An interesting and evocative subject

- Impeccable and comprehensible appearance

-Original treatment

-Distinctive appeal

Files must meet a number of criteria, including:

· Legal standards

· Technical specifications

· Title information

· Commercial value

· Aesthetic qualities

· Originality: does the file offer something unique, or is it too similar to other files you have submitted or to content already available online in our collection?

· Be properly lit and framed

· Free from visible dust or noise

· Have a good composition

· Have undergone only minimal processing

Submit original content

Select only the most beautiful and distinctive images.

There is no need to submit multiple versions of the same image with different post-production effects.

Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and imagine what the image might illustrate.

Offer a different perspective and framing.

Check the overall composition

Make a few basic corrections and ensure the horizon is straight. Remove unwanted elements such as misplaced objects.

Optimising photos

Remove any colour casts to achieve perfect balance.

Ensure the tone is neither too warm nor too cool.

Shoot in RAW format to allow for greater flexibility when adjusting colours

Adjust the overall brightness of your photo to prevent it from being overexposed (too bright) or underexposed (too dark).

Opt for a reasonable level of contrast. A high-contrast image features extreme light and dark tones, whilst a low-contrast image can appear dull.

Colours should be pleasing to the eye. Overly saturated colours look unnatural, whilst under-saturated colours can lack vibrancy and dynamism.

Removing imperfections

Always select a magnification level of at least 100 per cent to spot dust particles, scratches and other imperfections.

Also watch out for digital noise, which is similar to grain in film photography. This occurs when taking photos in low light or when setting the camera to a high ISO sensitivity.

Look out for any halos or colour fringing along the edges.

These effects can occur when the camera’s optical system is unable to synchronise colours under certain lighting conditions.

Improving focus and image sharpness

Check that your subject is perfectly in focus, even if other parts of the photo are not.

Intellectual property, trademarks andpermissions

You must obtain permission from the subject or owner for every photograph showing identifiable people or buildings, as well as works of intellectual property (objects, images, sculptures, designs, etc.).

For the Lifestyle theme, here are a few tips:

-Suggest a slice of life in your shots; create a snapshot.

-Avoid making the subjects pose, as this detracts from the authenticity of your images.

-Subjects should not look at the camera but elsewhere to convey a genuine snapshot of a moment.

-The subject being photographed must be clearly identifiable, even in thumbnail format.

-Create clarity and meaning: what message do you want to convey?

-The trend is towards naturalness and authenticity; make use of greenery, outdoor shoots and play with natural light