Formats and sizes of photo submissions, and naming conventions
CLICK HERE FOR PSSA PDF CONTAINING CATEGORY DEFINITIONS AND EXPLAINING TERMS
Image attachments
Please attach your images as sRGB Jpegs, at 72 dpi. Do not ZIP your images, as this creates an unnecessary step for the conveners.
Image size
Images must not exceed 1920 px wide and/or 1080 px high, whether you include a border or not. File size may not exceed 2 megabytes.
Borders
If parts of your image are dark enough to disappear into the dark background surrounding the image when projected, it is advisable to include a lighter border. At its most basic, this border serves to separate the image from the background. It can also be used to bring out colours or exaggerate elements within the photo. The recommended width is 2px: often a thinner border may disappear when projected, while broader borders risk becoming distracting.
Resolution
Typically an image, when saved for screen viewing (e.g. using Photoshop’s “Save for Web & Devices”), is saved at 72dpi (dots per inch). It is possible to save at higher resolutions (for example for print or for later editing), but this increases your file size without significantly improving resolution.
Naming your image
Follow the following convention when naming your images: Image Name-Category-Your Name-Your Rating.jpg
The above should not include special characters. Other than those seen above, there should be no hyphens at all, as they interfere with the processes used to catalogue the submissions. Note the following:
- Image name: The title may be no more than 24 characters long, including the spaces between words. (Please note, your theme title would be submitted in the next part, not here.)
- Category: this would be according to the guidelines provided by PSSA and FHPS. If it is a theme submission, e.g. for “Portrait”, either insert the category description (“Portrait”) or the word “Theme”.
- Your name: For the sake of consistency, first your name then your surname. Remember, no hyphens!
- Your rating: just the number as a digit, without the word “star”, i.e. “3” not “three” or “3 star”.
A typical result would be something like:
Morning view-Landscape-Joe Bloggs-1.jpg
or if it is them picture then:
Morning view-Theme-Joe Bloggs-1.jpg
Submissions
- Digital images should be emailed to the club’s e-mail address. Members may submit three entries per medium, print, slide or digital. One digital submission needs to be a theme submission; if there is no theme submission then there may only be two digital submissions. Attach all three (or two) in one email.
- Digital copies of prints must be sent through a week before the meeting, as with normal submissions (if there are no digital versions in our records, the print will not be accepted for that month). Thereafter prints must be handed in at least five minutes before start of club night. No late entries will be accepted.
Print submissions
- All processing must be done by yourself, i.e. the photo lab is not allowed to make adjustments on your behalf.
- Prints must be mounted on stiff mount board and the overall dimensions, including the mount, must not exceed 50 x 50 cm.
- The minimum size for the actual print is A4.
- Unmounted prints are not acceptable.
PSSA Categories as Conditions for Entry into Salons and Competitions
You can find the official PSSA PDF document here – please note the definitions and breakdowns.