posted on October 18, 2004 10:43:48 AM new
Paper ephemera sellers – ways to speed up picture taking/editing
I just thought I’d share with the rest of you paper ephemera sellers (neglus, lindajean, + others) on my method of taking and editing pictures. I know that a lot of you use scanners in an effort to obtain high-quality images. While it does give good results… I think it takes a little too much time. I think I’ve found a good alternative that is much faster, and still provides great results. My whole image taking/editing setup probably cost less than $400 (no… I’m not trying to sell you anything…) and saves me TONS of time. Here’s the equipment I use:
a. – a decent low-end digital camera (I use a Fuji FinePix 1400 Zoom) - $100-$150
b. – Copy Stand w/ lights (I use a Testrite CS-1) $75-100
c. – Flourescent 100 Watt daylight lightbulbs (bought at SAM’s for $10-15 a pack)
d. – Adobe PhotoShop Elements - $100
Taking pictures:
To set up the system… I just plugged in the Testrite Copy stand… put in the light bulbs (I used the fluorescent 100 Watt bulbs to give myself the maximum amount of light. The Testrite CS-1 can only handle up to 60 watts… but… since the actual wattage used for the fluorescents is only about 23Watts (yet they display 100Watts)… they work great!) Then, you need to set up your camera. First… turn on the Macro function. Second, you may want to set your cameras exposure compensation (I’ve got mine set at –0.9). Third, turn your cameras flash off. Finally (and this is crucial!) you need to set your cameras white balance setting to compensate for incandescent lighting (otherwise your pictures will look yellow!). Then, just put your camera on your copy stand… and you’re ready to take pictures! My process is to first, get all my items together that I want to shoot. I sell magazine ads that can be different sizes… so I usually group them by size (8.5x11, 6x10, etc…). Then I can set the height of the copy stand once… and take all those sized pictures in a row before adjusting the copy stand height again. All in all, It will probably only take about 10-15 seconds per picture.
Editing Pictures:
After you’ve transferred your pictures to your computer… you can use Adobe PhotoShop Elements to QUICKLY edit your pictures!
Rotate: First… I open up the File Browser (from the menu bar choose File - > Browse). You can select all the pictures that need rotating… and then press the rotate button on the file browser. It will quickly rotate all those pictures in one click!
Crop: Still in the file browser… I click on the ones I want to crop (in most cases there aren’t many… since that’s part of the reason why you use the copy stand!) and then open all of them. I grab my crop tool from the toolbar… and start cropping. Rather than go up to the menu bar… I use the shortcut keys command+s (mac) or ctrl+s (win) to save and command+w (mac) or ctrl+w (win) to close each document.
Renaming: I use a naming convention to help keep my items straight (I put each ad in a plastic bag with the same name as the photo in the auction). I can quickly rename all the files by choosing File -> Batch Processing in Photoshop Elements. This brings up a window. Set your source to be the folder with your images. Then, click on the rename Files box. I put in a letter in the left field + a 3 digit serial number in the right field. (That way it will rename my images like A001, A002, A003, etc…) Choose a separate folder for your finished images (I usually create a new folder called renamed and dump them in there). Press the OK button and it will automatically rename your files.
Watermarking / Resizing / Stripping EXIF data: I found a quick way to Watermark, Resize and Strip EXIF data in one step. (If you’re not familiar with EXIF data… it’s extra info stored in the JPEG format… it can cause viewing problems with some combos of Windows / I.E. versions… and is best if removed). In Photoshop Elements… choose File -> Create Web Photo Gallery. Choose your Renamed folder for the source… and create a new folder (I usually call it upload) for your destination. In the options section… from the drop down menu, choose Security. For content, select “custom text”. Then, you can enter your text for your watermark… set the font style, size, color, opacity, position and rotation. I usually use 36 point for size, a red color and 35% opacity. Next to resize the photos, select Large Images from the drop down menu. Click on the Resize Images box. I usually set my JPEG quality to Medium – 5, constrain: both, and set the resize to a custom of 800 pixels. Then… just press the OK button. It will automatically add the watermark to each of your photos and resize them. It also strips the EXIF data (but you won’t see that happen… you just have to take my word for it!). There will be a bunch of stuff in your Upload folder now. All you’re interested in though, are the files inside the folder “images” inside the Upload folder. This is where all your images are now saved.
Finally… you can go to Vendio and upload your images that are inside the Upload->Images folder on your computer. I find that the whole process (taking pictures, editing AND uploading) takes me just about 45-60 seconds per picture. Try beating that with a scanner! Anyhow… I just thought I’d share this with other people. It’s not necessarily for the technologically timid… but if you follow the steps… it will save you tons of time! And… time is money! I really hope this helps some of you! If you’ve got other suggestions on how you speed up your processes… please post them… I’d love to hear about them. We can all learn from each other.
[ edited by eauctionmgnt on Oct 18, 2004 10:44 AM ]
posted on October 18, 2004 11:01:34 AM new
here's a watermarking explanation for AdobeElements. Also, you can usually find Elements on sale for half price.
Time Required: 2 minutes
Here's How:
1. Open an image.
2. Select the type tool.
3. In the options bar, click the color swatch and set the text color to 50% gray. (Use HSB values 0-0-50 or RGB values 128-128-128; both will produce the same result).
4. Choose a fairly heavy typeface like Arial Black.
5. Type the copyright symbol or any other text you want to use for a watermark.
6. Click the commit button to add your text.
7. Use the move tool to resize and position your text as desired. Double click to commit the changes.
8. In the layer styles palette choose Bevels from the pull down menu.
9. Click on Simple Inner to apply this effect.
10. Double click on the circled f symbol of the type layer in the layer palette to bring up the style settings dialog.
11. Adjust the bevel size and lighting angle until it's to your liking.
12. Click OK to apply the settings.
13. In the layers palette, change the blend mode for the type layer to Hard Light.
Tips:
If you'd like the watermark a little more visible, try a color value of 60% gray for the type (HSB value 0-0-60).
Resize the type at any time by pressing Ctrl-T (Windows) or Command-T (Mac). Hold the shift key and drag a corner handle. When you apply the transformation, the type will resize with no loss in quality.
You are not restricted to using only text for this effect. Try importing a logo or symbol to use as a watermark.
posted on October 18, 2004 01:35:07 PM new
Thanks! I am pretty much doing as you outlined but I was still going in and manually renaming each and every photo which can be a lengthy process if you take hundreds at a time.
Luckily my postcards are all the same size so I just set the camera close enough to where I don't need to crop or rotate except those annoying ones that have the picture turned sideways. I always save those for last.
The hardest part of my whole process was naming my photo's because I do exactly what you do. I already have photoshop elements. It came with my computer but I was spoiled to using Irfanview so just never checked it out.
I'll be taking another 500 photo's tomorrow night and I can't wait to try out the renaming function.
When I start selling the record albums I might try the copy stand approach. That would probably be the easiest with those but I have just put off spending the $$.
posted on October 18, 2004 01:36:30 PM new
I love the picture! That is the clearest image I have seen. I might have to consider one of the copy stands sooner than I planned
posted on October 18, 2004 02:01:39 PM new
Lindajean,
Glad you like the picture! I'm not surprised to hear that you're using a smiliar method. (in fact... I think I got the idea of naming the photos and labeling the ads from one of your posts...) Photoshop Elements really does speed up a lot of the processes! The renaming feature is worth its weight in gold.
I think you'd really like having a copy stand. One of the best things... is it keeps your hands free. I usually have a stack of ads on the left and my finished stack on the right. I just move them onto the stand... press the shutter... and move it to the finished pile. No picking up and putting down the camera. No repositioning it to the right height. It's just constant quick clicking! With the volume you do... it would save a lot of time and effort!
p.s. If you REALLY like the picture... The ad's still for sale in my eBay store!
If you have one of a 1970s Volkswagon Thing I'll take it. My youngest daughter just bought one (she wanted one when she was a teenager and we wouldn't buy it for her so her new husband found her one)
posted on October 19, 2004 05:26:44 AM new
Thanks eauction - I am bookmarking this thread for future reference. Your image is great! Where do you get the stand? I didn't know about the EPIX file - I see that I can remove that when I save using Irfanview.
I still think that scans give a clearer image and I am pretty sure that's why people will buy my item when the same item is presented with a smaller image or image of inferior quality.
It took me 1 hour last night to scan 48 images, crop, name and upload (while on the phone with Mom) ... not bad.
I scan three postcards at once at 1.50 scale. While I scan I have irfanview open and crop, and save, name & condense the images as I finish each batch of three. I create a new "My Image" folder for each day's scans. I save the batch scans and the final condensed scan to this folder. When I am done, I delete the initial three card scans, rotate images as necessary and bulk upload the whole folder to Vendio.
Now that Vendio has such a great image search function I don't even worry about alpha-numeric naming. I just name it by city or whatever and end with the date. (ie:sanantonioaudi1018 = san antonio auditorium october 18). I can then search later for sanantonio or 1018 if i "lose" the image.
Thanks for the info - I might just try it out one of these days!
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on October 19, 2004 07:12:19 AM new
Lindajean,
I wish I did have ads for the "Thing".... I've gotten several requests for them... I must not be buying the right magazines!
Neglus,
Glad to share the info! If irfanview has the option to remove EXIF data when you save.... definately do it! I spent a couple weeks w/ Vendio Technicians last year troubleshooting problems with people viewing my auctions, not seeing any pictures... and then not being able to load ANY pictures in their browser until their computer was restarted. We found that it was all related to the EXIF data and incompatibilities with certain Windows/IE combinations. It's hard to sell people items when your pictures crash their computers!!!
I'm impressed with how quickly you're averaging on scanning. It looks like my method would only be about a 20-30% savings in time for you. Still... might be worth looking into. If you want higher quality and more sharpness... you can certainly get it with my method. I'm using a low-resolution on my camera and a medium JPEG compression. If you were to set the camera to a high resolution and set the JPEG at a High Quality... the text would be crystal clear. I just don't do that for several reasons (w/ Venido's new image plan... smaller files are good!... + while I want my bidders to be able to read the text... I don't want it so good that they think they can just print it out!)
As for the big question.... where did I get my copy stand?? Well... I have the fortune of having a father who owns a photography store. In addition to receiving excellent photography tips.... I also get good discounts on merchandise! However... I can tell you a good source to buy one from. Try B&H Photo Video:
I've dealt with them many times and they are a good company to work with and have low prices.
Well... I'm off to get starting on listing some of these latest ads... let me know if I can answer any more questions about my picture taking/editing method! I hope its been helpful!
posted on October 20, 2004 12:45:52 AM new
Do you know if there is a way to mass edit photo's to compress the images?
That's another thing I did with Irfanview. I take 500 photo's at a time then spend a couple of hours running them through Irfanview to reduce the size (not actual size just compress them) and rename them.
If I can rename them through a batch edit can I compress them all the same way? I usually set the quality setting in Irfanview to 70% which reduces the overall image from 270,000 KB to around 50,000 KB while keeping the image the same actual size.
posted on October 20, 2004 06:11:50 AM new
Lindajean,
There's actually a couple of ways to do that... The first option is only available in Elements 2.0 (not in 1.0). When you go to do the Batch Processing for the renaming of your files.... you have a drop down menu for Conversion Options. With the JPEG file format... you have four choices... JPEG Max Quality, JPEG High Quality, JPEG Medium Quality and JPEG Low Quality. If you select the JPEG Low quality, it will give you the highest compression rate. I would guess that either the High Quality or Medium quality setting would probably be about the equivalent to your 70% compression in irfanview.
Another thing you can do (both in v.2.0 and v.1.0) is to batch change the Resolution of your pictures (without affecting your image size). In the same Batch Processing area... there is an image size section. Checkmark the "Convert Image Size" box. Then... don't enter anything in the width and height fields... but you can use the Resolution drop-down box to choose between 72, 96, 150, 300, and 600 dpi. Since 72dpi is the maximum viewable on a computer screen... that would be your best bet.
posted on October 20, 2004 12:03:38 PM new
Thank you!!!!!!
When I think of how many hours I have sat here patiently renaming file after file after file after file, I could just kick myself!
I can convert the size the same time I rename it! I just didn't know what that meant and thought it was wanting me to resize them instead.
I do have one more question. How do you tell it what number you want it to start with for a new batch? I want to continue the sequence. For the test run it took a folder of pics I had saved and named them pc001 to pc101.
But, I am now on pc3900 and need that to be the starting number for my first conversion and each one will change after that increasing as I go along.
Can I set that? Mine just asked me if I wanted a 3 digit number so it may not go as high as I needed? It didn't ask me what I wanted to start with. I guess I can use the first portion where I put the pc in to make it pc3 and then let it be a 3 digit number after that, but how can I tell it which number to start with?
posted on October 20, 2004 01:34:47 PM new
lindajean,
I don't think you can tell it what number to start with. What I do... is a use an alphanumeric system. Each new batch gets a new letter... + a three digit number. So... in the batch processing section... I'll put (for example) a "K" in the left hand side... and "+ 3-digit serial number" in the right-hand drop down box. Then... it names them K001, K002, K003... etc... Since I never do more than 999 in one batch... (I usually do 100-200)... I always have plenty of numbers to asign. It is also useful, because I can keep track of what ads were in which batch (so when I sell something a month from now in my store... I'll know how long I had it in the store!) Once you get to Z... you can start double-up the alpha part... and have AA001, AA002, etc.. Hope that helps (and I hope it makes sense!)
posted on October 20, 2004 03:21:23 PM new
eauction -- How are you doing selling the ads? I used to do that but since the "barrier to entry" for such auctions is so low, the prices dropped to the point it wasn't worth it for me.
posted on October 20, 2004 04:33:15 PM new
Thanks again.
I will try that for numbering future ones. I am just so excited about not having to do all that one by one anymore.
sthoemke: With the "new" way of doing it through elements I can edit them all in just a minute or two.
But, in answer to your question, I had to edit them to give them a number I could identify and find to clear my web space. Also, it was just handy to have one number for my inventory number and the same one for the photo...also, digital images wind up 240kb even at the lowest resolution, and that ate up all my image space as well as slowing down viewing for those potential bidders still using dialup.
posted on October 21, 2004 06:18:18 AM new
Pelorus,
I actually do pretty well selling the ads. But, I attribute that in part to the fact that I do not play pricing games with other sellers. I do a lot of research to determine which ads are the best ones to list... then, I price all my ads at $9.99 apiece. If they don't sell the first time on auction.... they get relisted once (using Vendio's auto-relist). If they don't sell the 2nd time... I dump them into my eBay store (keeping the price at $9.99). Eventually, someone comes along and buys them. It may take a month a year, or maybe two... but at $0.02 a month for the store listing.... who cares!
Bottom line is.... the sell-through rate on ads is not good whether you sell the ads at $2.99 apiece or at $9.99 apiece. I've studied other sellers rates... and my rate isn't any worse than theirs. And yet, I'm making much more money. With ads... its just a matter of finding the right bidder at the right time. If they're willing to spend $3 for a piece of sentimental paper.. they'll probably spend $10.
That's just my take on things... With how much labor is involved in ad selling... I just don't see how I could sell them for any less. I spend hours ripping the magazines... and then hours more filing the ads (I have 5 - four drawer filing cabinets filled to the brim with categorized ads). Listing is the quick part... but that still takes an average of about 3-4 minutes per ad. It all adds up. (that's why I'm thrilled when I find faster ways to do things!) Anyhow... back to more listing!
posted on October 21, 2004 08:37:53 AM new
eauction man -- That's my philosophy too. It's way too much work to sell for 2.99. You might be interested in my approach, which I started 5 years ago. The link: http://pelorus.scriptmania.com/
posted on October 21, 2004 02:15:48 PM new
Pelorus,
Nice website! How do you do with sales/traffic? I've thought about going that route before... but my gut says I would probably get better results listing on eBay. Especially now that the search will pull up items from the eBay stores if there aren't lots listed. Still... I'd be curious to know how well your sales are. It might be something for me to consider.
What I do... is a use an alphanumeric system. Each new batch gets a new letter... + a three digit number. So... in the batch processing section... I'll put (for example) a "K" in the left hand side... and "+ 3-digit serial number" in the right-hand drop down box. Then... it names them K001, K002, K003... etc... Since I never do more than 999 in one batch... (I usually do 100-200)... I always have plenty of numbers to asign. It is also useful, because I can keep track of what ads were in which batch (so when I sell something a month from now in my store... I'll know how long I had it in the store!) Once you get to Z... you can start double-up the alpha part... and have AA001, AA002, etc.. Hope that helps (and I hope it makes sense!)