How to Prepare Photographs for Digital Projection

By John Tunney

Step 1: Size the picture (see Figure 1)

In order for the projector to show your picture properly, the picture can be no wider than 1024 pixels and no higher than 768 pixels.  Here’s how you do it:

1. Open the file.  Go to Image/Image Size.
2. Make sure “Scale Styles,” “Constrain Proportions” and “Resample Image” are checked.
3. Go to “Pixel Dimensions” at the top of the window.  The maximum width is 1024. The Maximum height is 768. You will notice that when you change the width of the picture that the height changes, too.  This is because you checked “Constrain Proportions.”  If you change one dimension, the other will automatically change to maintain the correct proportion.   If you change the width to 1024 and the height is greater than 768, you will have to change the height to 768.  Remember that 1024 and 768 are maximums.  The dimensions can be smaller if you wish.
4. Once the height and width are set, hit “Okay."

Step 2: Convert Color Space to sRGB

The color space determines the gamut of colors available to reproduce an image. For projected digital images, it is best to use sRGB.

Photoshop Users: Go to Edit>Convert to Profile. If the Source is sRGB, don't do anything. You're all set. Just hit cancel. If the Source is Adobe RGB, change the Destination Space to sRGB IEC61966-2.1.

Elements Users: Go to Edit>Color Settings and select Limited Color Management.

Step 3: Save the Image for Projection

The projector displays images at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch (PPI).  An image with a higher resolution 300 PPI will not look any better than a picture with a resolution of 72 PPI when displayed with the projector.  Photoshop and Photoshop have an easy, automated way to save your image to the correct resolution for digital competitions.

1. -         Go to Files/Save As and click on “Save for Web.”  A new window opens.
2. -         Set the file type to JPEG (it’s usually the default, but check to make sure). 
3. -         Set quality to 100
4. -         Check “optimize”
5. -         Uncheck “Progressive” and “ICC Profile”
6. -         Click “Save”

Step 4: Name Your File

We have a special way to name files for competition: Title-Category (A or O)-First Initial and Last Name.jpg. There are two digital categories: Open and Altered Reality.  Use “O” for Open and “A” for Altered Reality.  For example, a file might be named Sunset-O-JTunney.jpg.  “Sunset” is the title, the “O” stands for “Open” category and JTunney is my first initial and last name. 

Step 5: Email your pictures to the Competition Chairman

Email your images to ccaacc_webmaster@comcast.net . Entries must be emailed no later than midnight of the Sunday before competition. 

 If you have any questions about any of this send me an email at j.tunney@comcast.net.