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Negative body image: Should retouched images be labeled as such?

Peter Townshend — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:43:45 +0000

A recent paper reported clear links between negative body image and retouched digital images in advertising and on social media. So is labeling retouched images the answer?

On August 2, 2022, the UK’s Health & Social Care Committee published a report that focused on the impact of body image on mental and physical health.

The report had some alarming findings – and, unsurprisingly, found that retouched digital images were recognized as a driver of negative body image. Here, we look at the broader findings of the report, the recommendations it makes, the role played by digital images in particular, and the ways in which the issue could be mitigated.

What is negative body image?

Negative body image refers to a person’s dissatisfaction with the way their body looks. This could be down to its size, for example, its shape, or its general appearance.

Looking in the mirror and feeling like you could lose a few pounds may be dismissed as a harmless passing thought by many. But in such a hyper-connected world that is dominated by unregulated digital media, negative body image has the potential to develop into a more serious issue.

For example, it has been linked to damaging physical and mental disorders, such as body dysmorphic disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and depression.

What were the findings of the report?

The Health & Social Care Committee’s paper reported a number of concerning statistics around body image and mental health.

A 2019 study by the Mental Health Foundation, for example, found that 20% of adults felt shame, 34% felt down or low, and 19% felt disgusted by their body image at some point in the preceding year. The same study found that 13% of adults felt suicidal thoughts as a result of negative body image.

Furthermore, it was found that 21% of adults cited images used in advertising as a cause of negative body image, while 40% of teenagers said their body image issues were caused by images on social media.

In this article, our main focus is on sections 61-63 of the report, which concentrate on the potential link between negative body image and retouched digital images used in advertising and social media. The report states:

“We believe that more needs to be done in regard to the regulation of digitally altered images for advertising and social media use. We heard evidence about the potential harm from online content that promotes an idealized, often doctored and unrealistic, body image and the link to developing low self-esteem and related mental health conditions.”

The report goes on to recommend that specific action is taken, calling for new research into the impact of social media on body image dissatisfaction. It emphasizes the need to better equip new generations with skills such as critical thinking and image appraisal that can help them recognize when an image has been retouched.

It also calls for the clear labeling of retouched commercial images. “We believe the Government should introduce legislation that ensures commercial images are labeled with a logo where any part of the body,” it says, “including its proportions and skin tone, are digitally altered.”

This is a practice already adopted in Norway with the passing of a new law in 2021 that requires content creators to “ensure that the advertisement in which the shape, size or skin of a body has been changed by retouching or other manipulation must be marked.”

What role do digital images play in fueling negative body image?

With so much different content hitting us from so many different angles today, there are countless ways retouched digital images can find their way into our lives and contribute to negative body image.

However, the Health & Social Care Committee’s report quotes a number of individuals who cite social media as playing a significant role. This view is backed up by a study from Science Direct, which found that social networking is positively related to body image concerns.

With a reported 4.7 billion social media users worldwide spending an average of 2hrs 29min a day on these networks, is the connection really a surprise?

Social media influencers in particular have faced criticism for their role in this in recent years, leading to body-positive campaigns like the Dove Real Beauty Pledge and hashtags like #bodypositive and #nofilter, which have helped to put a greater focus on self-esteem and authenticity.

However, while this greater responsibility around commercial content has helped to raise awareness, research shows that the biggest driver of negative body image is actually content from friends and acquaintances.

This is concerning because, while commercial content can be regulated by consumer-protection bodies such as the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the USA’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC), personal content from friends and connections is much harder to control.

What defines a retouched image?

The idea of labeling an image to indicate it has been retouched – as the Health and Social Care Committee’s paper suggests – is certainly the right sentiment. The only problem is that defining a ‘retouched’ image is harder than it sounds.

It wasn’t long ago that many of us would regard image retouching as a practice reserved for professionals in expensive photo-editing suites, airbrushing images of supermodels on national magazine covers and high-level advertising campaigns.

Today, however, retouching images is easy and often free through software programs and countless apps that can do anything from adding eye shadow to completely reshaping facial features. These apps are simple to use and, in many cases, the technology is so advanced that it can be difficult for the untrained eye to spot.

Apps such as these are the more extreme examples of image retouching being used to deliberately alter a subject’s physical appearance, but there are many other less obvious and arguably less damaging ways to change the appearance of an image. So where do you draw the line?

For example, professional portrait photographers often spend a significant amount of time and effort using image-editing software to ensure their photographs look their best. While they may not change the physical appearance of the subject, it is likely they will make tweaks to contrast or color to enhance the overall result. So should these images be flagged as being retouched?

Even digital images straight out of the camera with no filters or subsequent editing cannot be described as truly authentic due to the processing that happens in-camera between the sensor capturing the scene and the image file being created.

Then there is the question of the hardware that is used. A lens with a moderately long focal length and a wide aperture that can achieve a shallow depth-of-field is usually the most flattering equipment setup for portraiture. Granted, this is not retouching, but could be considered a form of image manipulation. Should this also be taken into consideration?

With so many ways to alter an image, and degrees to which it can be manipulated, what is the answer?

Potential solutions

Labeling images as one or the other is a step in the right direction. But with so much grey area surrounding what constitutes a ‘retouched’ image, the more useful option would be to provide complete transparency over what edits have been made.

This can already be achieved with technology such as the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), which is currently in development. By adopting CAI technology, it is possible to automatically attach tamper-evident image provenance data to a digital image in-camera at the time of its capture, such as date, location, author, and technical information.

Furthermore, CAI can track and record every edit that is made to a digital image throughout its lifetime, from simple contrast adjustments or filters right up to compositing and more advanced image editing. It is even possible to view thumbnails of the image before and after edits were made.

Rather than having to determine whether or not each and every image has been retouched, this approach provides the user with all the information they need to make their own decision on the trustworthiness of what they see.

Learn more: Content Authenticity Initiative: What you need to know

Image-streaming technology, which has been used to display the images in the body of this article, can also be useful here.

This method of publishing images online provides built-in captions for context; permanent attribution and theft deterrents for security; and interactive features like Hyper Zoom and full-screen viewing for higher engagement. A demo that incorporates both systems has also been developed.

Conclusion

While some images used for advertising or posted on social media can be problematic, deciding on and labeling retouched images is a complicated and potentially time-consuming process that could be difficult to implement effectively.

By adopting the technologies mentioned above, social media platforms could ensure transparency when it comes to image editing and manipulation, and address some of the issues they have had to grapple with in recent years around negative body image.

They could lead the way in creating safe havens for digital imaging in which users can make their own decisions on the authenticity of the content they are viewing, and this could in turn pave the way for a whole new digital image ecosystem for the wider web in which content can once again be trusted.

The post Negative body image: Should retouched images be labeled as such? appeared first on SmartFrame.

How to future-proof your digital images

Peter Townshend — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 10:59:34 +0000

Ensure your photographs stand the test of time with our guide to future-proofing your digital images

There’s no doubt a photograph can be an extremely powerful thing from the moment it is captured, but the addition of time can really add something special. As years go by, even what once seemed like the most mundane of images can become remarkable.

Many of us have enjoyed looking at old photographs, traveling back in time to admire the fashion, laugh at the hairstyles, and romanticize the years gone by. But have you ever considered how future generations will do the same with your photographs?

Since the transition to digital photography, the ever-evolving nature of technology has seen photo storage go through a number of different formats, with those that are replaced quickly becoming forgotten.

For example, even as late as 2010, many photographers could still be found writing their images to DVD-Rs. However, just 12 years later the format is all but obsolete, with disk drives no longer a standard feature on most modern personal computers and the disks themselves useful as little more than coasters in many of today’s homes and offices.

With the decline of printed albums and the possible risk of format obsolescence, it is important to ensure that you have done everything you can to future-proof your digital images so they can be enjoyed in years to come. So what are the key things to consider?

Using the most accessible digital image file format

It is not just hardware that changes – software does too. Updates take place frequently – often automatically – and as software evolves, so do supported file formats.

For example, we have recently seen the introduction of the HEIC file format on Apple devices. This proprietary image file format was introduced with the iOS 11 update and is the only format used by iPhone and iPad cameras operating on that system or later.

This evolution of file types presents two concerns. On one hand, as more are introduced and those that have been superseded become less common, there is a danger the latter could slip into obsolescence.

On the other, new file formats such as HEIC, which has limited support outside Apple’s ecosystem, restrict wider compatibility and could potentially cause problems in the future. For example, while unlikely, there is a possibility that in 50 years’ time Apple may no longer exist.

Learn more: Image file formats: Which is best and how to convert between formats

For this reason, where possible, it is a good idea to save your most treasured photographs in a format that is widely accessible and compatible across hardware to ensure it will stand the test of time.

Most smartphone cameras do not offer the option to choose what file type is used, although it is relatively easy to convert files after taking them using photo-editing software or online converters.

Shooting Raw

If you’re using a mirrorless or DSLR camera, you will have the option to take photos as Raw files in addition to standard JPEGs. This option is also available on more premium compact cameras and an increasing number of smartphones.

As the name suggests, a Raw file contains all image data captured by the camera’s sensor in its entirety, without the usual processing. This data is also typically losslessly compressed or uncompressed, which helps to preserve maximum quality.

The advantage of this is that, by using a Raw file as your starting point, it is possible to create most other image file types with the highest possible quality. For this reason, it is one of the most futureproof image file formats.

That said, even Raw files are susceptible to the unstoppable evolution of the digital world, and camera manufacturers tend to offer different formats from one another, from Canon’s CRW, CR2, and CR3 files to Nikon’s NEF and NRW files and Sony’s ARW, SRF, and SR2 files.

As specific cameras and their corresponding Raw files grow older and less common, there may come a time when photo-editing software simply stops supporting them. In an effort to combat this, Adobe created the DNG format.

What is a DNG file?

A DNG or ‘Digital Negative’ file is an open standard for the Raw file format. It was developed by Adobe and is designed to provide universal compatibility across hardware and software providers.

Not only does this make DNG files future-proof but they are also smaller, so they take up less storage space.

While this sounds like the perfect file-storage solution, the problem with DNG files is that they have not enjoyed widespread adoption. While some cameras, such as those manufactured by Leica and Pentax, can write DNG files natively, many still use their own specific Raw file formats.

It is, of course, possible to convert Raw files to DNGs before archiving, but this can be a time-consuming addition to already busy workflows. Nevertheless, many would argue that this is a small price to pay to ensure the most future-proof image file format available.

Employing an effective digital image filing system

A digital image archive is only as good as its filing system. That’s why it is important to ensure that your images are appropriately labeled and arranged in a way that is easily accessible.

What constitutes an easily accessible filing system is entirely dependent on the collection of images and your own personal preference.

A good way to approach it is to start at the end. Consider your future self, searching for an image. How would you begin that search? By date? By location? By genre?

Alternatively, think of a filing system you have used in the past that you have found most intuitive and replicate that.

Another thing to remember is to always attach and preserve accurate metadata to the images you take. This will ensure you always have a reliable record of when, how, and even where each photo was taken (provided your camera supports geolocation and the feature is activated).

Choosing reliable digital image storage

In a study carried out by the Library of Congress into the longevity of information stored on CDs, almost 10% of disks tested failed within 25 years of their manufacture, when subjected to an accelerated aging process designed to simulate this length of time.

Given that the first mainstream digital cameras were released in the late 1980s, it’s startling to consider how many treasured memories are tucked away on disks at the back of cupboards that are in genuine danger of disappearing forever.

For this reason, it is important to ensure your photo storage stays up to date. Below, we offer some ways to ensure yours is as future-proof and dependable as possible.

Cloud storage

Probably the most well-known and convenient form of digital image storage is cloud storage. Cloud storage refers to storage space that is located away from a physical device you own, and accessed via an internet connection.

A big advantage of cloud storage is that, in many cases, it backs up your images in real time, as soon as they appear on your device. This eliminates often tedious periodical manual backups.

Popular cloud storage solutions include Dropbox, Google Drive, SmartFrame, Microsoft OneDrive, and Apple iCloud.

While cloud storage does offer convenience, it is worth remembering that the space is only yours for as long as you can pay the subscription fee.

External hard drive

Another option is to create a backup of your photos on an external hard drive, which can either replace or complement cloud storage. The two most popular forms are solid state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs), and both of these have specific advantages over the other.

While SSDs are the most reliable, they do come at a cost, so many people opt for the more affordable HDD option instead, which comes in a variety of capacities to suit most requirements.

External hard drives are more expensive than cloud storage in the short term, but it is a one-off payment compared to an ongoing subscription. Additionally, they offer the added security of being offline, keeping you in complete control of their whereabouts.

While external hard drives do come with many advantages, remember that they are physical objects – some with moving parts – and are therefore susceptible to wear, damage, and malfunction.

Second backup

A great way to protect yourself against the unexpected loss of your digital image archive is to create a second backup.

One hard drive failure is possible, but the chance of it happening twice is naturally far slimmer.

It is also well worth considering storing the second backup in a different location to the first, as this can protect against burglaries, fire damage, and similar issues.

RAID storage

For the ultimate reliability, consider a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage setup. A RAID device is made up of a number of different individual hard drives that are connected using disk mirroring or disk striping to allow photographers to write their digital images to multiple different hard drives simultaneously.

This setup not only improves performance but also increases fault tolerance to maximize reliability.

Printing

Finally, while the world we live in is becoming increasingly digital, it would be remiss of us not to mention the good old-fashioned photographic print.

Granted, a photographic print does not provide the option to produce high-resolution copies, but it can be a great way to physically back up your memories.

Of course, with the average person taking hundreds, if not thousands of photos a year – and keen photographers likely to take considerably more – most of us will not have the physical storage space to print every photo.

However, by being selective, it is possible to create a collection of your most treasured memories that will last a lifetime, regardless of future advances in digital storage technology. After all, the healthy human eye will always be able to see a printed photograph.

The post How to future-proof your digital images appeared first on SmartFrame.

The photography industry in 2022: What state is it in?

Peter Townshend — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:55:48 +0000

A number of recent studies have highlighted the challenges faced by professional photographers. Here, we examine the main issues and what can be done.

The photography industry was undoubtedly hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown restrictions brought a reduction in income for a large proportion of self-employed photographers around the world. But how has the industry recovered? And what can we expect from the future?

We take a closer look at two recent surveys that aim to provide an insight into the state of the photography industry in 2022.

A positive start

In April this year, the 2022 State of the Photography Industry Report was released. Conducted by photography web platform providers Format and Zenfolio, this report collates data obtained from a survey of 3,398 photographers from around the world.

Of those surveyed, 71% were full- or part-time, self-employed photographers, while the remaining 29% consisted of hobbyists, students, and full-time employees.

The survey confirmed the huge impact the pandemic had on business, with 63.8% of surveyed photographers experiencing a drop in activity. Alarmingly, this was a drop of more than 40% for 43.6% of respondents, illustrating the scale of the problem.

It’s easy to see why the effects were so profound, with 59.5% of respondents saying they generate revenue from photo shoots, which rely on face-to-face contact.

However, despite such gloomy results in 2021, the outlook for 2022 was positive, with 32.2% of photographers thinking that business will remain steady and 56.5% expecting things to get busier.

This outlook aligns with the more general expectation that there will be a surge in group events such as parties, weddings, commercial events, and trade shows after such a long period of isolation.

A profession in crisis

While the above report paints a hopeful picture for the industry in 2022, the State of Photography 2022 report, which arrived a month later, provides an altogether less positive assessment.

The report, which was compiled by researchers Tara Pixley, Martin Smith-Rodden, David Campbell, and Adrian Hadland, in collaboration with CatchLight and Knight Foundation, aims to provide an insight into how a photographer’s ethnicity, gender, disability, and nationality affect their chances of success in the industry.

The study focused on 1,325 photographers from 87 countries, with 49.46% of respondents identifying as female, 46.23% as male, and 1.97% as non-binary.

The results suggest that the pandemic had a long-lasting impact, with 54% reporting a “great deal” or “moderate” level of personal debt. In fact, 46% of women said they were considering leaving the profession altogether due to financial insecurity.

There was also found to be an overall disparity in pay for historically marginalized groups, specifically defined in the report as women, those identifying as non-binary, and people of color (POC), who reported a median income of $20,000-$29,999 per year, compared to $40,000-$49,999 for those who did not identify as being in any of these three groups.

This adds further negativity to an already discouraging finding that over half of respondents earn less than $40,000 a year after tax, and as much as 30% earn less than $20,000.

Furthermore, over half of respondents claimed to supplement their income with other work, suggesting that the photography industry alone is unable to support the lives of many of its members.

A challenging future

While the first of these studies offers a more hopeful outlook than the second, both point toward an industry that is currently facing challenges.

But while it has certainly had a significant impact in recent years, industry problems are rooted deeper than the difficulties brought by the pandemic. The democratization of photography, the arrival of the digital age, and overall image value leakage has meant decades of depreciation for the industry as a whole.

Research shows there were over 6.2 billion smartphone subscriptions worldwide in 2021. That equates to a single subscription for over 75% of the world’s population – and many of these phones will be equipped with a pocket-sized digital camera.

When you combine this with the arrival of the internet and the insecure image formats that are used to display photographs reportedly leading to €532.5bn of annual losses, it’s clear that something needs to change if the photography industry is to remain sustainable.

New opportunities

While wider access to more advanced photo equipment is not something that can or should be stopped, the same can’t be said for photography value leakage. Indeed, its prevention could play a key role in the survival of the industry.

Sitting at the heart of the problem are the current online image file formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF, which can be easily stolen with a right-click, screenshot, or drag-and-drop action.

There are a number of ways photographers can try to combat this, such as watermarking, downsampling, and adding copyright information to image captions or metadata, but none provide a complete solution. They either sacrifice image quality or user experience, both of which can themselves have a detrimental impact on the value of an image.

The key to solving this issue is by protecting images from being stolen in the first place.

Technology such as image streaming can provide protection against right-clicks, drag-and-drop actions, and screenshots, while at the same time enhancing user experience through interactive features such as multi-level zoom and full-screen viewing.

This technology also allows photographers to view image analytics data and even control image distribution, with optional share buttons and the ability to block domains if required.

What’s more, when images are streamed, it’s possible to serve contextually targeted digital ads in the frame. This opens up a whole new revenue stream for photographers as a share of the ad revenue goes straight into the image owner’s pocket.

Conclusion

The 2022 State of the Photography Industry and State of Photography 2022 reports provide evidence of how the effects of the pandemic, combined with decades of devaluation, mean it’s now harder than ever to earn a living as a photographer, especially for marginalized groups.

It’s a clear warning that something needs to be done to ensure the profession remains sustainable in the modern digital world.

With value leakage and low income forming a large part of the issue, further exacerbated by a disparity of pay and opportunity, image streaming offers a way to secure assets, boost engagement, reach wider audiences, and increase revenue, all with minimal disruption.

The online digital landscape is constantly evolving. So isn’t it time to question why we continue to use the same image formats online that we always have?

The post The photography industry in 2022: What state is it in? appeared first on SmartFrame.

How Minden Pictures uses SmartFrame for its stunning nature images

Peter Townshend — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 00:38:33 +0000

Take a closer look at how Minden Pictures utilizes SmartFrame’s image-streaming technology to showcase the very best of its nature photography

Minden Pictures is a premium collection of nature and wildlife stock photography that encompasses a wide range of species, regions, and topics.

With a team of award-winning natural history photographers behind it, Minden Pictures’ collection uses powerful imagery to illustrate not just the beauty of the natural world, but also the threats it faces.

Our image-streaming technology enables Minden Pictures to stream high-resolution images from a secure central server to an unlimited number of approved websites without a single copy being made – much like embedding a YouTube video.

This allows Minden Pictures to display its collection online in brilliant quality without the fear of theft, misuse, or slow loading times.

Interactive features

Each SmartFrame also features interactive in-image controls that help to boost user engagement.

Whether it’s the finest macro details, the second a predator pounces, or an immersive faraway landscape, the full-screen viewing mode helps to present these striking moments in all their glory, while built-in sharing controls maximize organic reach.

Furthermore, easy-to-read, embedded captions and photographer credits ensure Minden Pictures’ SmartFrames always appear in context, with proper attribution, wherever they’re published.

Below we’ve picked a few favorite examples of how our technology is complementing this stunning photographic collection.

Our top nature photographs from Minden Pictures

Relish the moment

This photograph epitomizes the importance of being in the right place at the right time – for everyone except the salmon, of course. Take some time to appreciate it in all its full-screen glory.

Get closer to this adorable amphibian

The relaxed pose, the beautiful golden skin, and that irresistible smile. There’s lots to love about this photo (and this frog).

Explore a landscape that’s out of this world

The rising dune in the background of this image resembles the scorched sky of a faraway planet, beautifully illustrating both the vastness of the desert and the otherworldliness of this uninhabitable environment.

Lose yourself in the crowd

Brilliant photographs like this rely so much on detail that they can never truly shine in the current online image ecosystem. SmartFrame’s full-screen viewing mode lets you experience every detail without affecting loading times.

Appreciate the full span

When viewed in full screen, the wide angle used to capture this flash of color from the wings of a northern flicker puts you right at the heart of the action.

This cliff needs to be scaled up

Enter the full-screen mode to enlarge this striking photograph and be reminded of just how small we really are.

Make the full stretch

From the split-second timing to the pleasing composition and stunning color, this remarkable image has it all – go big to enjoy every bit.

Look again …

If anything deserves a closer look, it’s this fascinating shot of a leaf-tail gecko living up to its name.

Share the experience

Like what you see? It’s possible to share any of these SmartFrames via social media and email, or through a direct link. Alternatively, you can publish them on your website in the same way we have in this article.

Simply click the integrated Share button in the top-right-hand corner of the SmartFrame and follow the instructions.

NOTE: Certain restrictions apply, so please familiarize yourself with Minden Pictures’ Embed Terms and Conditions before sharing.

Explore more of Minden Pictures’ fascinating collection here, or browse the rest of our website to discover what SmartFrame’s image-streaming technology is doing for content owners

The post How Minden Pictures uses SmartFrame for its stunning nature images appeared first on SmartFrame.

Historic England launches Aerial Photo Explorer tool using SmartFrame’s technology

Peter Townshend — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 11:47:11 +0000

Historic England has launched its Aerial Photo Explorer tool, which uses SmartFrame’s image-streaming technology to showcase hundreds of thousands of previously unavailable aerial images

It is now possible to gain a truly unique view of how England’s landscape has evolved over the past 100 years thanks to Historic England’s brand-new Aerial Photo Explorer tool.

Accessible from the Historic England website, this new feature lets visitors use an interactive map to search, scroll, and zoom in to landmarks across the country. When a location is selected, it opens a SmartFrame containing one of over 400,000 available aerial images that span an entire century.

By making it possible to view evidence of medieval settlements, see famous industrial landmarks in their heyday, and marvel at modern-day architectural wonders, this tool provides a fascinating glimpse into England’s past and present, while documenting its continued transformation into the future.

The collection is being made available as part of the ongoing digitization of over six million aerial photographs preserved in the Historic England Archive. As such, it will be continually updated with new images from the collection.

Enhanced user experience

The Aerial Photo Explorer is a great example of how SmartFrames and their interactive features can be used by image owners and publishers to fantastic effect. The Hyper Zoom function enables viewers to zoom in to the finest details of each image, while full-screen viewing offers an even more immersive experience, all without affecting page loading times.

By enabling the Share function in the top right-hand corner of each image, Historic England has also made it possible for site visitors to legally share its images on social media and even embed them on their own websites for free.

The latter can be achieved by simply clicking the ‘Embed’ button, copying the code, and pasting it into the text editor on the back end of a website (be sure to read Historic England’s terms and conditions beforehand).

By doing this, you are streaming the image from its original source file rather than making a copy, much like embedding a YouTube video.

Another great benefit of image-streaming is the ability to embed SmartFrame Captions at source – a feature put to good use here by Historic England. These captions ensure every image features a permanently attached credit that will follow it wherever it is streamed. Many also specify the landmark and location the image depicts, further improving the user experience.

Behind-the-scenes benefits

The benefits for the user are clear for all to see, but there are also huge advantages behind the scenes for Historic England. By using SmartFrame’s image-streaming technology, the organization is able to better secure its images against theft while maintaining complete control over their distribution.

This is achieved through right-click and screenshot protection, which helps prevent bad actors from making copies of Historic England’s image files, whether intentional or otherwise. The same security protects its photographs from image-scraping bots that can steal countless files in seconds.

In addition to this enhanced security, SmartFrame provides Historic England with detailed image analytics, which deliver valuable insights into how users are interacting with its content.

It is possible to see the number of impressions each SmartFrame has enjoyed, along with the amount of engagement it has received.

With all this security and control, Historic England can ensure its extensive archive of images is not only protected, but always used in context and for agreeable means.

The post Historic England launches Aerial Photo Explorer tool using SmartFrame’s technology appeared first on SmartFrame.

Aspect ratios in photography and video: Everything you need to know

Peter Townshend — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 18:13:32 +0000

While individual photographers and videographers are free to use any aspect ratio they like, the industry as a whole has settled on a few standard options. Here, we explore some of the most common aspect ratios in photography and video, explaining why they were chosen and when they are typically used.

What is aspect ratio in photography and video?

Aspect ratio in photography and video is the relationship between the width and height of the image or video being displayed.

These are most commonly shown as units of width and height separated by a colon. However, they can also be displayed as a single number that equates to the width divided by the height.

For example, an aspect ratio of 3:2 could be displayed as 1.50 (3 divided by 2). Oftentimes, this number is then put back into ratio form – for example, 1.50:1.

It’s important to note that, when using the colon separation, aspect ratios are always arranged with the width first. So, if the above example is displayed in portrait orientation, the ratio would change to 2:3.

Why use different aspect ratios?

Several different factors dictate the use of a specific aspect ratio in digital photography or video.

The camera sensor

Different cameras use different sensors, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes and this is important because the camera’s sensor shape affects the image or video it makes.

For example, a photo from a full-frame camera looks wider than one from a medium-format camera. The reason for this is that full-frame sensors have a 3:2 ratio, whereas medium format sensors usually have an aspect ratio that results in images closer in shape to a square than a rectangle.

The display

Another reason is to optimize the image or video for the container in which it will be shown.

Examples of different displays could be a TV screen, computer monitor, social media feed, or even a printed picture frame.

A responsive website, for example, might require your content to be 16:9 because that’s the most common sizing of desktop monitors. On the other hand, a smartphone app might advise sizing more similar to 9:16 to suit the portrait orientation of smartphone screens.

Personal preference

Photographers and videographers may choose a particular ratio to suit the photograph or video they are trying to create.

In photography, for example, portraiture might lend itself to a 2:3 aspect ratio, while panoramic landscapes might work better in a much wider 3:1.

In most cases, this is done using post-production software, which makes it easy to crop content to your desired size. However, many cameras will allow you to select a specific aspect ratio at the point of capture.

What are the most used aspect ratios in digital photography?

While it is possible to crop a photograph to any aspect ratio, some are more prevalent than others.

1:1 in photography

Also known as the square format, 1:1 has been present in photography since the early large format cameras, and more recent Polaroid instant-film cameras. However, it has seen a huge surge in popularity in the era of digital photography due to the social media platform Instagram.

There are no consumer camera sensors in the 1:1 aspect ratio, but most digital cameras have the option to shoot in a square format within their menus.

5:4 (1.25:1) in photography

5:4 was made popular by photographers of years gone by who used 5×4 film in large format photography, as mentioned above.

This aspect ratio does exist in the era of digital sensors, but it is extremely rare. Nevertheless, its popularity has endured, and it remains a recognized standard for prints.

4:3 (1.33:1) in photography

4:3 is by far the most common aspect ratio in digital photography because it’s used in most mobile phone cameras, which are responsible for the vast majority of digital images today.

Furthermore, it is also used by Four Thirds, Micro Four Thirds, and digital medium format camera sensors.

3:2 (1.5:1) in photography

The aspect ratio of 3:2 is prevalent in the domain of digital photography, tracing back to the 35mm analog photographic film.

This specific ratio is adopted by all full-frame and APS-C sensors, constituting the predominant format utilized in DSLR, mirrorless, and compact cameras within the contemporary market.

16:9 (1.78:1) in photography

While 16:9 has not always been common in photography, it has gained popularity in more recent years due to the elongated shape of widescreen computer monitors and smartphone screens.

Sensors are not manufactured in this shape, but most cameras will offer this as a capture option in their settings.

What are the most used aspect ratios in digital video?

To a certain extent, understanding ratios in digital video is less complicated because there are fewer common variations to get used to. That said, there is a complex history behind why these have been chosen.

4:3 (1.33:1) in videography

4:3 (often referred to as fullscreen) was where it all began for video. It was originally adopted out of necessity rather than choice as it mirrored the sizing of film stock at the time. Nevertheless, it remained the cinema standard up until the introduction of widescreen formats in the 1950s.

It was also the standard of the consumer television screen and computer monitor right through to the late 1990s when manufacturers began phasing it out in favor of wider formats.

While 4:3 is rarely used in current digital video production and display, it can still be seen regularly in modern digitizations of older productions.

256:135 (1.90:1) in videography

When the television set started to appear in homes in the 1950s, the movie industry began to worry. After all, why would anyone pay to go to the movies when they can watch feature films in the comfort of their own homes?

The solution was to move away from the traditional 4:3 to offer a more immersive experience than television could. From then, widescreen cinema became the standard for movie theaters around the world, with Cinemascope and many others adopting a much wider 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

Although the specific technology of Cinemascope is now outdated, wider screens for films at movie theatres continue in the digital era.

The 256:135 (1.90:1) aspect ratio represents the complete framing capability of a Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) projector, constituting the maximum frame size achievable by such a projector. Consequently, many premium consumer mirrorless cameras are configured to record in the standard 1.90:1 format.

The final appearance of a video in a movie theater is contingent upon whether it is projected onto a FLAT (1.85:1) or SCOPE (2.39:1) screen, determining the aspect ratio. Recording at the 1.90 aspect ratio enables editors to tailor footage for either screen container during post-production optimization.

16:9 (1.78:1) in videography

The widescreen ratio of 16:9, now considered the contemporary standard for TVs and computer monitors, has become widely prevalent in current times.

While it’s the most common video format today, understanding its adoption as the successor to the 4:3 aspect ratio requires familiarity with various movie and TV ratios outlined earlier.

Manufacturers opted for the 16:9 ratio as the widescreen replacement for 4:3 due to its ability to strike a balanced compromise among the diverse ratios prevalent at that time.

This choice accommodated the narrower fullscreen 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio, the expansive Cinemascope 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and everything in between, minimizing unnecessary wastage, as depicted in the diagram below.

Swiftly embraced by manufacturers, 16:9 became the preferred ratio for the new era of high-definition digital TVs and computer monitors.

What are the most popular mobile aspect ratios?

While there is a set standard aspect ratio for TVs and a clear favorite for computer monitors, mobile device displays are much more varied due to the fact they are handheld devices.

Smartphone screens adopt a portrait orientation to achieve the most comfortable ergonomics. However, actual aspect ratios can differ significantly from model to model.

The key reason for such variation is the interactive nature of mobile device touchscreens, in that they are both the display and the control panel at the same time.

For example, the latest Google Pixel phone, the Pixel 8, has a 6.2-inch display with a 20:9 aspect ratio whereas the iPhone 15 has a 6.1-inch display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

With user experience such an important USP in the tech industry, it’s unlikely this variation in smartphone and tablet screen aspect ratios will change any time soon.

What are the best aspect ratios for social media?

The perfect ratio depends on a few things such as what platform you’re posting to, the type of content, and your audience’s preferences. Allowing room for experimentation is key but there are some guidelines to keep in mind.

For Instagram, the square (1:1) ratio is best suited for feed posts, while landscape (16:9) shines for scenic shots and portraits (4:5) are best for close-ups. However, stories and reels are typically best suited to a 9:16 portrait format.

When it comes to video, long-form YouTube videos are best in the landscape style (16:9), whereas Reels, Snapchat and TikTok prefer portrait (9:16).

The post Aspect ratios in photography and video: Everything you need to know appeared first on SmartFrame.

8K resolution: What it is and whether it’s worth it

Peter Townshend — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 12:19:47 +0000

8K resolution is on track to become the new standard for TVs and monitors, but is it really worth the extra money? Read on to learn about the teequirements, and other things to consider before investing in 8K.

We’re only just beginning to see 4K video widely accessible through our favorite content providers, but its successor – 8K – is already available.

So what’s the difference between 4K and 8K resolution? How can you record 8K video? Where can you watch 8K content? And is it worth the additional cost? In the following article, we answer these questions and many others.

What is 8K resolution?

8K resolution is the next step up from 4K resolution, with four times the number of pixels of its predecessor.

As with 4K, the term applies to both devices that record in this resolution (cameras and smartphones, for example) and displays capable of showing it off (televisions and computer displays).

Whereas 4K recording devices and displays use 4840 x 2160 pixels, 8K devices and displays boost this to 7680 x 4320 pixels – a combined total of 33,177,600 pixels (33.2MP).

Some 6K devices, which sit between the two, also exist, although this resolution tends to be confined to a handful of professional recording products rather than widely available consumer devices.

Resolution comparison table

	Full HD	4K UHD	8K UHD
Dimensions	1920 X 1080	3840 x 2160	7680 X 4320
Total pixels	2.1MP	8.3MP	33.2MP
Aspect ratio	16:9	16:9	16:9

Why is it called 8K?

The name 8K refers to the number of pixels found on the horizontal edge of the image, which is approximately 8,000.

While this name is commonly used as a catch-all term, it’s actually broken down into two main sub-categories: 8K UHD (Ultra-High Definition) – also known as UHD2 – and 8K DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives – a partnership between a number of major movie studios that was formed to establish standards for digital cinema systems).

8K UHD vs 8K DCI: What’s the difference?

8K UHD has the standard 16:9 aspect ratio used by the majority of modern TVs and computer monitors, and has 7680 x 4320 pixels.

8K DCI refers to the slightly wider 256:135 aspect ratio used in movie projection, measuring 8192 x 4320 pixels.

This dual format is common to previous display resolutions, such as 4K UHD vs 4K DCI and Full HD vs 2K DCI, as illustrated in the diagram below.

The reason for the difference is simple: by making movies in a wider aspect ratio, people still have a reason to go to the cinema.

Widescreen cinema was first adopted in the early 1950s, when TVs were becoming a common feature in people’s living rooms and the movie industry wanted to be able to offer viewers something extra.

While modern 16:9 TVs are now much wider than their 4:3 ancestors, the differentiation remains, enabling cinemas to provide a more immersive widescreen experience.

How does 8K work?

To understand how 8K works, it is important to understand resolution. The term ‘resolution’ can mean different things, but in this article, we’ll be talking about pixel resolution – that is, the total number of pixels included within an image or frame of video footage.

Learn more: What is image resolution? Everything you need to know

Each of these pixels can only represent a single value, so the higher the number of pixels in each frame of footage, the more detailed a video can potentially be. And when you consider that 8K includes four times the number of pixels found in 4K, its capacity for additional detail is huge.

However, that’s not to say 8K automatically makes a video better. There are many other factors that determine video quality, such as the quality of the lens used to record footage and the skill of the videographer, along with the choice of frame rate, bit rate, and color depth.

How do you record 8K video?

In order to record 8K video, you need to use a device that is capable of creating footage at that resolution.

These cameras used to be reserved for professionals, but recording in 8K is now much more accessible to the everyday consumer.

In fact, many mirrorless and 360 cameras have this option, while advances in mobile sensor and processor technology mean that it’s even possible to record 8K footage on some smartphones.

Qualcomm has even taken it a step further by recently releasing the first ever 8K HDR footage recorded on a smartphone.

As long as your device has this capability, there’s little more to it than selecting the option to record at 8K resolution and pressing record. There are, however, a couple of things to consider beforehand.

First, a higher resolution results in a larger file size (assuming all other things are kept equal), so you should make sure you have plenty of memory card space.
Second, all this additional information requires additional processing power, so you should check that your memory cards are fast enough and that your post-production setup can handle it.

How do you watch 8K video?

You need an 8K-ready display in order to watch 8K footage. These are now quite commonplace, with current 8K TVs relatively cheap compared to the more expensive price tags attached to earlier models. 8K computer monitors are also readily available for consumers, although these are more expensive.

That said, an 8K display is pointless if you have nothing in 8K resolution to watch. Of course, if you have the means to record in such high resolution, you can watch the footage you create in all its glory, but for the vast majority of us who aren’t professional filmmakers, endless home videos might leave a little to be desired. So where can you find 8K content?

Can you stream 8K content?

The short answer is yes, but it comes with a couple of caveats.
First, the only streaming services that currently support 8K are YouTube and Vimeo, and while the footage looks great on 8K and non-8K displays alike (see video below), the choice is limited.

Second, the bandwidth required to stream 8K content is estimated to be 20-50Mbps. If your connection does not support this, you may encounter issues.
While these internet speeds are available in most territories around the world, there are still large numbers of people who would not be able to achieve them. Therefore, be sure to check your connection before investing in a new 8K display.

Is 8K gaming possible?

Once again, the short answer is yes, but it needs a bit of unpacking.

It’s possible to buy a PC that supports 8K gaming, and the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles are also capable of supporting this resolution.

However, the problem lies with a shortage of 8K games to play on them.

In the video game world, resolution has never been the priority. Developers have instead preferred to focus on other aspects of graphic quality, such as texture, dynamic range, and – arguably most important – frame rate.

What is frame rate? Put simply, frame rate is the number of frames that are displayed in sequence every second to create a moving image. The more frames per second (‘fps’ or ‘p’) that are displayed, the smoother the moving image.

There are a number of additional benefits that high frame rates bring to gaming, so making a game at 4K/120p is more desirable than making a game at 8K/60p.

Watch the video below to learn more about the fundamentals of frame rates in gaming.

This means that video games are often one step behind a console or PC’s resolution capabilities because game developers will instead use the extra processing power these machines possess to improve frame rates and other areas of graphic quality.

It’s for this reason that, while the latest consoles have the power to support 8K gaming, the feature is not yet available to actually use.

Manufacturers have said full support for 8K will be activated via a future system update once the format is more commonplace. So, bear this in mind if resolution is your main reason for upgrading.

Does Blu-ray support 8K?

The answer to this is a slightly more straightforward ‘no’, but the situation could still change.
4K is currently the highest resolution Blu-ray supports, via its Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and players. However, while there’s no indication that 8K Blu-ray will be launched any time soon, it remains a possibility.

With the high demands that 8K places on storage and bandwidth potentially leading to unstable playback, there are certainly advantages to playing content directly from a disc over streaming.

Can the human eye even see 8K?

This seems like a simple question, but it’s actually quite complicated. First, we need to answer another question: what is the resolution of the human eye?

While this is a complex subject, with endless variables (watch the above video for an entertaining explanation), scientist and photographer Roger N. Clark did the calculations and concluded that the resolution of the human eye is 576MP.

576MP is, of course, much higher than 8K’s humble 33.2MP, but that doesn’t settle the issue. We must also consider the size of the display and the distance it is from the eye, as both of these factors also play a significant role.

Why’s this? Imagine you are standing on a shingle beach. Looking down, you can clearly see each individual stone around your feet in detail, and you can make out the different colors and textures of each one. Now imagine you are standing at the top of a tall cliff that overlooks the same beach. From such a distance, the stones have lost all their individual color and definition, blending into one.

The same is true for screen resolution in that the further away from the screen you sit, the less detail you will see, until you eventually reach a distance at which it’s impossible to tell the difference between 4K, 8K, and even lower resolutions like Full HD.

When dealing with super-fine resolutions like 8K, the optimum viewing distance can become very short. Therefore, while your eyes are indeed more than capable of seeing the benefit of the additional pixels, any enjoyment you gain will likely be offset with discomfort at having to sit so close.

For example, research suggests that in order to appreciate the benefits of 8K resolution on a 60-inch screen, you would need to sit between 0.6-1.25m away from it.

Another factor to consider is visual acuity (or clarity of vision), which can vary significantly between individuals.
For example, Warner Bros. and a number of other movie production companies reportedly collaborated to perform a double-blind study to see if people could tell the difference between 4K and 8K. While the overall results showed the majority of subjects didn’t see a huge improvement, visual acuity did play a significant part.

Why buy an 8K display?

With so little 8K content available to enjoy, combined with the fact you’ll probably not even notice the difference in an everyday environment, why buy an 8K display at all?

First of all, 8K displays are perfectly capable of showing lower-resolution content by automatically upscaling the video to fill the extra pixels.

This means that you can not only watch 4K Blu-rays and Netflix shows, and play video games on such displays, but also be able to get the most out of them in the future when watching footage that was originally recorded in 8K.

Another advantage is that, because 8K is still relatively new technology, the TVs and monitors that support it are often the latest models with the most up-to-date features. This means they are more likely to benefit from things like fast refresh rates, high dynamic range (HDR), and wide color gamut (WCG), which are arguably more important than resolution when it comes to overall image quality.
So the inclusion of an 8K badge on a display’s box could translate into a lot more than just higher resolution, but it’s not a given and could even go the opposite way. Therefore, be sure to check specifications carefully and compare them to your current display before committing to a purchase.

What’s the point in recording 8K?

While the benefits of an 8K display may be hard to see for the everyday consumer, the benefits of recording in 8K are abundant. Indeed, many of us are already enjoying them without even realizing it.

More shooting and editing freedom

Shooting 8K footage for a 4K production brings great advantages for filmmakers.

With 8K offering so many more pixels than 4K, it’s possible to crop significantly into footage without losing the resolution required for 4K output.

This brings much more freedom when framing shots because it makes it possible to alter composition and stabilize footage in post-production.

It’s even possible to pan across an image or zoom in when working with such high resolutions. A filmmaker could, for example, record a long, wide-angle shot, before splitting it into wide and close-up shots by simply cropping in. This means one camera effectively does the work of two, saving both time and money.

Potential for better overall quality

It’s not unusual for hardware manufacturers to have their devices record 4K footage at a higher resolution if it’s possible (such as 5K or 6K) before downsampling the footage to 4K for output.

It is often claimed that by doing so, better quality footage can be obtained than if it were simply recorded at 4K to begin with.

So it’s entirely possible that the surplus of information that 8K recording brings may also benefit downsampled footage, with respect to certain aspects of video quality such as color and image noise control.

Futureproofing

While this is still new technology, there will come a time when it’s the norm, so there’s no harm in being prepared by adopting 8K now. Filmmakers will be ensuring their work stands the test of time and editors will already have the processing power and storage in place to ensure they’re ready for a seamless transition.

What about 12K and 16K?

12K and 16K may sound like they’re a long way off, but they’re closer than you think.

Back in April 2019, Sony unveiled a huge 63ft by 17ft 16K commercial screen at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show, estimated to be worth up to $5m. Later that same year, it announced that it would be bringing the same capabilities to its consumer products.

Footage for a screen this size currently has to be made using more than one camera, but with companies like Blackmagic already offering 12K recording capabilities, it won’t be long until they reach the next stage.

Conclusion

So is 8K worth it? From a viewer’s perspective, it very much comes down to the individual and their specific display. As mentioned, visual acuity, preferred viewing distance, screen size, and overall display specification all contribute to the viewing experience, so they all need to be considered.

From a production point of view, the answer is much more straightforward. Recording at 8K and even 12K resolutions gives producers and editors an unprecedented level of creative freedom. While storage and performance issues need to be considered here, if it allows filmmakers to overcome certain challenging conditions on location, or achieve more creative compositions, or save time and money on additional equipment, it ultimately ends up appearing as the most logical option.

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Image streaming: How it works, why you need it and everything else you need to know

Peter Townshend — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 10:50:01 +0000

Image streaming is set to revolutionize the way we view and publish images online. But how does it work? And what are the benefits? We explain all.

Any new or unfamiliar technology can seem intimidating at first – and image streaming is no exception.
Indeed, just the idea of streaming images might itself seem odd. Why exactly would you want to stream an image? What’s wrong with just uploading a JPEG?

The reality is that image streaming is easy to understand and even easier to use – and the benefits for image owners, publishers, and advertisers are huge.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about image streaming, and show you how you can make it work for you.

What is image streaming?

Image streaming is a secure and efficient way to publish and display images online.

Instead of uploading individual image files such as JPEGs, PNGs or GIFs directly to a website, images are embedded using a piece of code, much like you would embed a YouTube video.

Can anyone stream images?

Yes, anyone can stream images. All you need to do is set up an account and you’re ready to begin streaming your images securely online.

How does image streaming work?

The first step is to upload your images to a secure, password-protected central server.

Once uploaded, you can generate an embed code that links to a specific image, which can then be pasted into a compatible webpage editor such as WordPress or Weebly.

Embedded images will be displayed publicly much like when uploaded via traditional methods, but with numerous additional features (outlined below).

You can also allow images to be shared by activating embed and social sharing buttons, which appear within the image frame. This enables anyone viewing the image to copy the code and embed it as they wish.

Why is streaming images better than posting JPEGs, GIFs or PNGs?

It’s more secure

The current method of publishing images online leaves them completely unprotected against theft. A simple screenshot, right-click or drag-and-drop action is all it takes for a bad actor to create a copy of your image and redistribute it without your consent (or knowledge).

Worse still, image-scraping bots can crawl your entire website unchecked, downloading every image as they go.

By streaming images, you protect them against the above threats. And as they are all streamed from one place, no matter how many times an image is embedded or viewed, it’s always streamed from a single file for maximum security.

It looks better

Usually, images on websites are static and restricted to low resolutions to ensure the fastest possible loading times.

Image-streaming technology changes this, turning ordinary JPEGs into highly engaging images designed to have maximum impact.

Through features such as full-screen viewing and the ability to zoom in to the finest details, your images become fully interactive. Further integrated options, such as embed buttons and sharing controls, encourage users to share them securely.

Furthermore, because images are streamed rather than permanently uploaded to a site, only the detail that’s required on demand is served. This keeps image delivery efficient and your site light, while still ensuring that users see all the detail they require as they jump to full-screen views and zoom in and out.

It provides you with complete control

The fact that every image is streamed from one location gives you more than just security – it also gives you unprecedented control.

Once uploaded, it’s possible to attach uneditable metadata, captions and attribution to your images, and these stay with the images wherever they’re embedded.

Additionally, it’s possible to view a list of every URL and domain that is displaying your images and block them at your discretion so that they only appear where you want them to.

It also gives you comprehensive analytics

The ability to track where your images are viewed and shared is one of the prime advantages of image streaming over conventional uploading. But an additional benefit of this is that you also gain valuable data on usage.

Detailed image analytics provide you with the opportunity to measure image performance by the number of views, clicks, shares and other engagements. You can also see where these shares take place, view theft attempts and much more.

Can I make money from image streaming?

Absolutely. It’s possible to serve digital advertising into image-streaming windows, which means the more impressions images receive, the more money they stand to make.

In-image advertising works on a contextual basis. It uses a broad set of metadata and artificial intelligence (AI) to read both the contents of an image and the contents of the page on which it’s displayed. Not only does this mean that advertising is always relevant, but it also ensures brand safety for advertisers.
A proportion of the ad revenue generated goes to both the content owner and the content publisher, putting well-deserved dollars back into the hands of those hardest hit by the unsecure nature of the current online image ecosystem.

What are the benefits of image streaming for content owners?

Content owners can be anyone from independent photographers and visual artists through to global news agencies. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, you’ll enjoy the same benefits of image streaming.

Image streaming gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your content is displayed in a high enough resolution to look good across various devices, but protected against theft. It’s also fully tracked and easier to control where your images travel online.

This means you can be completely sure your images are being used as intended, always appearing with your chosen caption and/or credit.

In-image advertising also opens up a new revenue stream for content owners. This new way to monetize images is welcome in a digital imaging landscape where it’s getting harder and harder to make money.

These combined factors give artists, photographers, and other content owners the freedom to distribute their images to a wider audience without the fear of theft or value leakage.

What are the benefits of image streaming for publishers?

Publishers that stream images include anyone who embeds an image on their domain. This could range from an individual blogger to an image library.

Because image streaming allows content owners to monetize their images through advertising, many are happy to make their images available to you for free.

This gives you access to a huge pool of high-quality, free content that would otherwise be subject to usage fees under the traditional restrictive licensing model.

Image streaming also offers your audience a better user experience than with conventional images, with built-in interactive features such as Hyper Zoom, full-screen viewing, and captioning encouraging higher engagement.
However, possibly the best part is that if the images you publish receive enough impressions from your domain, you’ll get a share of the advertising revenue. This means you can earn money simply from embedding an image on your site.

Additionally, image metadata and various AI technologies ensure all ad placements are relevant and contextual, and leading ad-security providers prevent threats from bad ads. This means you can enjoy complete brand protection.

What are the benefits of image streaming for advertisers?

Advertisers keen on taking advantage of image streaming can enjoy a long list of benefits. If you’re looking for high-visibility placement on webpages relevant to your ads, in-image advertising is for you.

Images are often the focal point of any online article or page, so by serving ads over them, you gain premium ad placement.
The ads appear briefly and only occasionally in selected SmartFrames. These are also contextually targeted, which means they work with a webpage’s content and the image on which they are displayed so that they are as relevant as possible.

This also means they don’t require the use of intrusive third-party cookies; considering the current changes in data collection and the effect these will have on personalized ads, this provides a far more logical foundation for a future-proofed ad strategy.
Furthermore, with image streaming, you’re protected from the potential damage caused by badly placed ads. That’s because in-image advertising makes use of AI to check images and webpage content so that your ads are always shown in brand-safe environments.

How do I start streaming images?

Content owners

If you’re a content owner, it’s easy to start streaming your images. Simply go to the SmartFrame registration page, enter your details and follow the instructions.

If you encounter any issues, our extensive Help Center is on hand to provide you with everything you need to know.

Publishers

If you’re a website owner or publisher who wants to stream other people’s images, all you need is an embed code. You can get this by simply clicking on the embed icon – which looks like – within the image window, before copying the code and adding it to your web editor’s HTML or text editor. Take a look at our Embedding guide for more information.

The content owner has to activate the embed option on their streamed images, so if the embed icon isn’t there, the image is not available for free embedding.

In exchange for a free embedded image, the content owner will usually require that contextual ads are served over the images you publish. In order to ensure this happens, you’ll need to add the SmartFrame Publisher ID to your domain’s ads.txt page.

If you don’t have an ads.txt page, you’ll need to create one – here’s how it’s done. This gives our ad partners permission to sell inventory on your behalf. Want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to know about ads.txt.

The post Image streaming: How it works, why you need it and everything else you need to know appeared first on SmartFrame.

Image file formats: Which is best for images and graphics?

Matt Golowczynski — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:48:38 +0000

Which image file format is best for photos and graphics? And what do you need to know when converting from one to another? Learn about image types and conversion in our complete guide to image file formats.

Most of us don’t need to concern ourselves too greatly with image file formats. We take a picture on our smartphones or cameras, and perhaps post it online, and then we simply keep it on a computer, hard drive, or in the cloud for safekeeping.

But when it comes to uploading images online, using graphics, or archiving our creations, it pays to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different formats available, and the kinds of images for which they may have been specifically designed.

Why do image formats matter?

At a basic level, understanding image formats helps you to maintain image quality. Whether an image is just for yourself or destined to be seen by others, you’ll clearly want it to look as good as possible – particularly if it’s designed to represent your brand.

It’s also important as some image types aren’t as widely supported as others, and so they won’t be usable or viewable everywhere. Furthermore, some files support certain features that allow them to be displayed correctly, or edited at a later date, while others may not.

Another important reason concerns efficiency. Understanding file formats means understanding files sizes, which helps you to send and store images efficiently. This also affects load times for your website’s pages, which has a knock-on effect on both user experience and SEO.

In this article, we’ll run through the main image formats used today, and explain their pros and cons, before we take a look at the things you should bear in mind when converting an image from one format to another.

Best file formats: At a glance

JPEG (.jpeg)	Widely supported and used online, with small file sizes making it very efficient. Compression artifacts can be an issue, however, and it’s not ideal for graphics.
PNG (.png)	Designed for graphics and widely supported online. Can preserve transparency layers, unlike most other formats. Not as efficient as JPEG and not designed for real-world images, but a good choice for photograph/graphics composites.
TIFF (.tif)	Great where maximum image quality is required and for archiving. Can be saved with or without lossy compression, although file sizes are larger than those of equivalent JPEGs, which makes it less ideal for online display.
PSD (.psd)	Photoshop’s default file format. Ideal for saving an image with layered edits, but images must be converted to another format before being displayed online.
HEIC (.heic)	Apple’s proprietary format for images captured using iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 11 or later. Designed to produce images with the quality of JPEGs but with more efficient compression. Limited support outside of Apple’s ecosystem.
SmartFrame	Interactive image format designed for optimum presentation and security online, and perfect for graphics that don’t require the preservation of transparency channels. Easily embedded using File sizes are usually small enough for such images to be shared and posted online without any issues with speed and performance. But to get these efficient file sizes, JPEGs have to be compressed. JPEGs can be compressed to particularly high ratios, which is great from the perspective of storage, but it’s the nature of the compression – known as ‘lossy’ compression – that can create problems. With lossy compression, some information is discarded when the image is created in an attempt to get the file size down to a more reasonable level. This isn’t usually something you notice, but this becomes more problematic as you compress images to a greater degree. Read more: How secure is watermarking? It can lead to unsightly artifacts, such as defined blocks where there should be smooth transitions between different areas. These are particularly obvious when an image has large flat areas with little detail, such as with blue skies. Opening and saving the same file over time also degrades the image’s quality, as it’s constantly being compressed and uncompressed in a lossy way, losing a little more information each time it’s saved. There have been forays into ‘lossless’ JPEG compression, but these are not supported by mainstream devices or editing programs. One thing JPEGs do not support is layers (explained below). Alpha channels, which will be discussed a little later, are also not supported by JPEGs. What is a layer? Layers allow you to make edits to an image without directly editing the image contents itself. Edits are made on individual layers that you can add and remove. You can also change the properties of a layer with respect to things like opacity. You don’t see these layers in any way in the image, just the edits you make, and you can always revisit them later on. While you can edit a JPEG image using layers in a program such as Adobe Photoshop, it’s not possible to save it with these layers intact, as you can with certain other file formats. This makes it less than ideal if the image needs to be edited again. Good for: Real-world photographs and other images that contain natural elements Not so good for: Graphics and images that contain graphics, as well as images with large areas of flat detail (which can also give rise to compression artifacts) PNG (extension .png) The Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file is the first choice for graphics online. While it doesn’t quite have as wide a level of support as JPEG, in most cases where it isn’t supported, you’re likely to be using real-world images rather than graphics anyway. It is, however, supported sufficiently for it to be used in emails, on social media sites, and so on. Indeed, it was conceived with the internet very much in mind. The PNG format has superseded the older GIF format for graphics, which today is used more commonly for animations, and it improves on GIF in a number of ways. While both formats use lossless compression, PNG uses an alternative method that results in greater level of compression. It also supports a far broader range of bit depths, which means that it can describe a significantly wider range of colors than GIF files. One of the main advantages of the PNG format over others here is support for alpha channels. These allow pixels to be transparent to the degree of your choosing, so that when an image is saved this way, it can be placed over, and blend into, a differently colored background. So, a circular graphic, or one with more complex details (such as the one above), would need to be saved with a transparency layer, as any background on which the graphic is placed can then fill in any areas that don’t show detail. If saved as a JPEG, such an image would, by default, have these transparent pixels filled by a solid white. Read more: What is image resolution? Everything you need to know Compression is lossless, which is great from the perspective of image quality. PNG files tend to be larger than equivalent JPEGs in file size, although they’re often used for smaller graphics with information that’s easy to compress, rather than real-world photographs with plenty of intricate detail. Like JPEGs, PNG files support RGB color spaces, although as they are designed for online use rather than printing, CMYK spaces are not supported. Support is also provided for images with a bit depth of up to 16 bits per color channel, as opposed to the maximum 8-bit support provided by JPEGs. As with JPEGs, you can open a PNG file and edit it using layers, but you cannot save it with these intact. If, therefore, you need to save an image you may wish to edit in the future, the PSD or TIFF formats would be better options. Good for: Online graphics, particularly when transparency layers are required Not so good for: Not usually required for photographic images, and not as efficient as JPEGs TIFF (extension .tif or .tiff) For a handful of good reasons, TIFF files aren’t as widely used as JPEGs. But when it comes to maintaining image quality, it pays to understand their advantages. Arguably the main advantage concerns compression. You can choose to leave files uncompressed or compress them losslessly, which preserves image quality (although lossy compression is also an option). By contrast, JPEGs are always compressed using lossy compression, which discards information and can lead to artifacts appearing in images. Because of this, TIFF files are a great choice for many applications. Photographers will typically save their edits as TIFF files, particularly as they can be saved with editable layers. They’re also an ideal format for printing images, and they’re widely used for scientific purposes, where distortion from compression artifacts cannot be tolerated. Support for layers and avoidance of compression artifacts also makes them perfect for archiving images, although it’s also wise to keep the Raw file from the camera (where available) as this provides a better starting point for editing. The main downsides of TIFF files are their size and the fact that they aren’t as widely supported as JPEGs. One would not normally post weighty TIFF files online, as JPEGs are often sufficient, better supported, and don’t affect page load times as TIFF files do. Good for: High-quality prints, scientific applications, and images otherwise likely to be affected by lossy compression artifacts Not so good for: Large files aren’t ideal when embedding online, and support is more limited than with JPEG PSD (extension .psd) PSD files, whose name derives from the term Photoshop Document, are, unsurprisingly, supported by Adobe Photoshop. It’s the default file format when you create a new file in Photoshop, and some other Adobe programs support it too, although certain programs from other manufacturers – such as Corel’s CorelDRAW software and the free open-source editor GIMP – can also open these. You can even preview PSD files in Google Drive, although many files are likely to be too large to be opened here. The main advantage of PSD files over JPEGs is that they can be saved with individual layers and without lossy compression. Each layer can have separate adjustments made to it, so that when you open the file back up you can add and discard individual layers, and edit existing layers, without affecting the rest of the image. Read more: Google reverse image search: Everything you need to know These layers can also have special properties. They might be alpha layers, for example, which can have their transparency determined, as well as text layers and editing masks among other things. PSD files are best thought of as works in progress, or files that you may want to revisit and re-edit, rather than finished works. That’s not to say that archiving a PSD file with multiple layers intact is a bad idea, but if you know you will no longer be editing an image, it’s easier just to save it as a TIFF file – which you can save with layers, just to be in the safe side. Good for: Files that may need to be re-edited, particularly where you’ve made good use of layers Not so good for: Immediate use online due to size and lack of support for PSD format HEIC (extension .heic) HEIC might not be as familiar as the JPEG or PNG standard. Indeed, you may have not even heard of it – although millions of people are currently using it. So what is HEIC? This is the default image format Apple has used for its iPad and iPhone devices since the launch of iOS 11. When you capture an image on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 or a more recent version, it will be saved in this format (unless you disable it, in which case it will capture JPEGs). HEIC is the container format for HEIF files, which stands for High Efficiency Image File format. It was designed to retain the visual quality of the JPEG format but with the advantage of smaller file sizes. The main issue with the HEIC format is one of compatibility. When you share a HEIC file between Apple devices it will retain its file format, but when shared to a device that does not support it, it will convert it to JPEG to ensure compatibility. Good for: Efficient storage on mobile devices Not so good for: Compatibility with devices outside of the Apple ecosystem SmartFrame All of the above image formats are used to produce a file that can be copied, saved and moved between different devices. This may be convenient in some respects, but security options are limited and there’s no way of knowing how many copies of an image are out there – and indeed, where these can be found. The SmartFrame format is different. While a SmartFrame appears just like any other image online, the fact that it’s being streamed means that it’s not possible to download it to a computer or another device. As soon as the user closes the browser, the streamed SmartFrame vanishes from the page as though it never existed. The other major benefit of streaming the image is that you have complete control over where the SmartFrame can be viewed and how it can be shared, with analytics on every interaction reported back to you. You also have the choice of adding a raft of interactive elements, such as the option to zoom into the image or view it in a full-screen mode. You can also have copyright messages displayed whenever anyone tries to download or screenshot your image, and buttons that direct people to your website or online shop. You can even choose to have ads within your images to generate additional revenue. All of the above functionality can be enabled, disabled, and amended whenever you like, and updates will be applied instantly – regardless of where your images are online. Changed your watermark style? Spotted a typo in your caption? Want to allow people to share your SmartFrame on Facebook but rescind sharing options for Twitter? You can do it all in one place in a matter of seconds. SmartFrame supports JPEG or TIFF files, with a maximum image size of 100MP – more than sufficient for online display. It’s suitable for use in any environment online where you would ordinarily use a JPEG, although it needs to support as this is how the SmartFrame is embedded – otherwise a small, customizable thumbnail will be used in its place, which links through to the original SmartFrame. Read more: Copyright and images: What you need to know Layers are not supported, as SmartFrames are not designed to be edited through layers, rather interactive elements. While SmartFrame does not currently support PNG files, you can safely convert these images to TIFF files before uploading to SmartFrame to avoid any compression artifacts that might result from converting to a JPEG. If you need to preserve alpha layers for graphics, however, you should continue to use PNG files. Good for: Maximum security and interactive display online. Ideal for valuable images that are more likely to be stolen Not so good for: Wherever transparency layers in graphics are required Converting images from one format to another How do you convert images from one format to another? And what should you think about before you do so? We take a look at some of the most popular conversions below, and the things you should bear in mind when moving from one to another. PNG to JPG Why convert a PNG to JPG? The most likely reason why you would need to convert a PNG to a JPEG is that a platform or service you’re using doesn’t support PNG files. What to think about when converting from PNG to JPG Like JPEGs, PNG files are compressed as standard – although the way in which this happens with PNGs is quite different. PNGs use a form of compression known as lossless compression, whereas JPEG use lossy compression. So what’s the difference? Whereas lossy compression discards information when compressing files, and then attempts to use the remaining information to essentially fill in the blanks, lossless compression simply reorganizes the information for efficiency. This means that images compressed with lossy compression stand to remain higher in quality. Images that are compressed using lossy compression stand to suffer from further artifacts as they are opened and closed, which degrades the file over time. The main issue you’re likely to encounter when converting PNG files to JPEGs is compression. Heavily compressed JPEGs are likely to show a blocking effect where there is supposed to be a gradual change in tone between different areas. Where graphics are involved, you’ll also tend to lose a little crispness in details, as the images above show. These issues can be even more problematic when an image is uploaded to a social media site or somewhere else online, where additional compression can take place. You may also see worse results with certain colours. PNG files with graphics that make heavy use of reds can be particularly problematic when converted to JPEG. Neither PNG files nor JPEGs support layers, so there is no issue with losing any upon conversion. JPG to PNG Why convert from JPG to PNG? It’s not that usual to convert from a JPEG to a PNG file, although there are good reasons for doing so. You may have found compression artifacts to be an issue with a JPEG posted online, and so converting it to a PNG file may maintain the image’s quality. This is useful if the online platform in question supports both PNG and JPEG formats, although bear in mind that it may be subject to compression of some sort as you upload this (which you cannot control). Not only does saving an image as a PNG mean you’ll be using lossless, rather than lossy, compression, but you no longer have to the issue of images degrading over time as they are opened and saved over an over (as you do with JPEGs). It may also be the case that you have a photograph that incorporates some sort of graphical element saved as a JPEG. In this case, you should consider saving the image as a PNG file to help maintain the quality of the graphics. What to think about when converting from JPG to PNG Your file size is likely to be larger, and you won’t be able to use it where PNG files are not supported. PNG files also don’t retain all the Exif metadata of JPEGs, which may be important depending on how an image is used, although they can store a full range (Core and Extension) of IPTC metadata. TIFF to JPG Why convert a TIFF to JPG? There are a few reasons why you may want, or need, to convert an image from a TIFF file to a JPEG. Probably the most common reason will be a lack of support for the TIFF format. Many online portals and social media sites will not allow a TIFF file to be uploaded, but they will happily accept a JPEG. Read more: Image SEO tips: 8 ways to optimize images for search engines The other issue concerns size. Although TIFF files can be compressed, they are usually significantly larger than JPEGs in file size, particularly when saved with their layers intact. Even when these layers are flattened, the file size may still be over the threshold set by certain websites, and when sending email attachments. Naturally, producing smaller files makes the JPEG far more suited to situations in which you need to store a number of images within a fixed amount of storage space, such as on flash drives or cloud storage services with limited space. What to think about when converting from TIFF to JPG TIFF and JPEG images are similar in the sense that they are designed to be the final format for an image, as opposed to a Raw file from a camera, or a PSD file, which you may want to revisit and re-edit. For that reason, conversions are relatively straightforward and successful, particularly when you save images on the highest-quality JPEG setting. That said, the loss of layers is one thing you will want to think about when going from a TIFF to a JPEG. If you need to send a finished image to a client or someone else who may need to adjust layers, TIFF is the way to go. Compression artifacts when moving from TIFF to JPEG are a concern too, although in many images this may only be a problem if the image itself contains large, flat areas with little detail, where these artifacts are more apparent. Another difference is that JPEGs can only be saved in a maximum 8-bit format (8 bits per color channel), whereas TIFF files can be saved in 16-bit per color channel. This still means you have the potential for 256 values per red, green, and blue color channel in JPEGs, which gives you around 16.7 million colors in total – incidentally, more than the human visual system can make out. But if you plan to make further edits, saving images with the highest level of information is always desirable. PSD to JPG Why convert from PSD to JPG? If you’ve edited your image and you no longer need to keep these layers separate, you may want to save the image as a JPEG or a TIFF file. While it’s a good idea to save it as a TIFF file to avoid compression artifacts, if you need it for an online printing service, a social media page, or anywhere else where a PSD is unlikely to be accepted, JPEG should work just fine. What to think about when converting from PSD to JPG JPEGs do not support layers like PSD files, so while you’re likely to end up with a smaller file than a PSD file, it won’t be as flexible when you open it back up in a program like Photoshop. JPG/TIFF to SmartFrame The process of converting a JPEG or TIFF to a SmartFrame is straightforward: you just upload it to the SmartFrame Admin Panel and it happens instantly. It’s not possible to convert an image to a SmartFrame in any other way, such as through Photoshop or a similar image-editing program. Why convert from JPG/TIFF to SmartFrame? There are many reasons you may want to use SmartFrames over JPEG or TIFF files online, although these tend to fall into one of four categories: presentation, protection, insights, and monetization. By converting your images to a SmartFrame, you can allow people to zoom into them; have them display in full screen; add captions and links; and include interactive elements such as sharing icons and newsletter sign-up prompts. Read more: 10 great ways to get more out of your photography right now You can choose whether to have small JPEG thumbnails of your SmartFrames appear in search engine results and on social media platforms, and you can watermark these and set the size to the level of your choosing (and these link through to original SmartFrames). You also benefit from right-click and download protection, as well as screenshot-prevention technology and copyright warnings that appear whenever someone tries to steal your image. All interaction with your SmartFrame will be fed back to you through the SmartFrame Admin Panel. Every click, share, embed, theft attempt and more is detailed in a report that can be accessed whenever you need. call_to_action_1593625901546 Finally, you can profit from your images in a number of ways. You can add a ‘Buy Now’ button that directs people to your online store, or allow SmartFrame to serve ads within them. If you license your image, you also have full control and visibility over where that image is shared and embedded, and rescind this access if you ever need to. What to think about when converting JPG/TIFF to SmartFrame SmartFrame supports images measuring up to 50MB in size, with a maximum resolution of 100MP. This should be fine for most images, although particularly high-resolution TIFF files may exceed 50MB, so consider saving with LZW compression first. The post Image file formats: Which is best for images and graphics? appeared first on SmartFrame.