Pic4press is an initiative launched and run by the PPA Pass4press committee to allow editorial and production staff within UK magazine publishing companies to help with the transition from conventional photographic material to digital photography. Increasingly materials are submitted digitally rather than in an analogue format, and pic4press describes the appropriate handling of this digital material in order to maintain its integrity.
Pic4press Version 3 Guidelines
The Pic4press Version 3 Guidelines are geared towards magazines produced on Lightweight Coated (LWC) and Mediumweight Coated (MWC) stocks. The first part of this brochure aims to put the commissioning, supply and receipt phases into a logical order, and to suggest best practices for each area of the workflow. Refer to the diagram on pages 6-7 that graphically demonstrates a typical image workflow. The second section, starting on page 14, explains some of the more complex areas to do with managing colour using ICC profiles and how to optimise RGB to CMYK conversions.
Metadata
The British Association of Picture Libraries and Associations (BAPLA) has worked with PPA to agree a number of key metadata fields. Use of these fields, which hold key information for image suppliers and publishers will lead to more accurate and cost-effective transactions between supplier and user. The metadata standards panel has been created in consultation with the International Press Telecommunications Panel (IPTC) to ensure compliance with IPTC Core 1.0 standards.
Metadata is information that describes digital files. It is currently carried in the image file as XML data, which can be read by Photoshop and other XMP compliant software. Metadata can be found under File/File Info in Photoshop. In PS 8 and 9 (CS1 and CS2) metadata can be viewed on ‘Origin’ and ‘Description’ panels. From CS2 onwards, the IPTC Core 1.0 panels are visible in the default version.
Pic4Press/BAPLA metadata panel
Pic4Press and BAPLA have identified key fields which will help protect copyright and licensing information and enable publishers to use metadata more effectively. The panel (for use in Photoshop CS versions) displays the recommended fields in one place. The fields map directly from ‘Origin’ and ‘Description’ panels, and from IPTC fields. IPTC Core 1.0 field definitions have been used where possible. We have assigned plain English names for ease of use. Data entered will appear on other Photoshop panels; conversely our panel will display data entered in IPTC or Adobe XML fields. Other fields may be used; this panel simply groups common key fields for ease of use.
The panel is in JavaScript for Photoshop. It can be downloaded from the BAPLA website, and easily loaded into Photoshop (CS versions). People using other versions of Photoshop should consult the table, and add data to the appropriate fields. The metadata is backwards compatible and can be read in versions of Photoshop prior to the introduction of XMP (PS6 or earlier). However, some fields may truncate or alter information entered from newer versions of Photoshop.
Key metadata fields
Image Reference: A shorthand reference for the image. Use picture number or unique image reference
Description: Caption or descriptive information about the image
Credit: Credit line as it should appear in use
Publishing information metadata
Headline: A short text reference for image contents, or story name
Job Reference: Supply number or publisher’s job reference
Licensing information metadata
Licensing Contact url: URL for licensor of the image
Creator: Creator of the original image
Copyright Status: Pop-up box with preset copyrighted/unknown/public domain options. A © symbol appears in the filename of the image’s title bar when ‘copyrighted’ is selected.
Date Created: The date the image was created (not the scanning date).
Copyright Notice: Description of ownership of copyright.
Instructions: Usage rights and restrictions; model release terms, permissions required etc.
Check for the latest version and the metadata mapping chart at www.bapla.org.uk or www.electriclane.co.uk (resources).
Pic4press/BAPLA metadata panel installer
There are many different metadata schemes in use, each numbering dozens of fields which can have subtly different descriptive labels despite overlapping usages. This can be an obstacle to taking advantage of the usefulness and power of metadata. PPA has therefore, in association with the British Association of Picture Libraries and Associations (BAPLA), put together a Photoshop CS-compatible metadata panel that contains a subset of common fields to use as an entry point. Each field maps to its logical IPTC/XMP equivalent, therefore data entered will also display in IPTC or Adobe XML fields. If you are using older versions of Photoshop or alternative programmes, add data to the appropriate fields in the existing metadata panels. Metadata can be viewed under File>File Info in Photoshop. These fields are the minimum that should be filled in - additional fields should be filled in as necessary.
The panel is supplied either as JavaScript for Photoshop or as a standalone text file. It can be downloaded from the BAPLA website and loaded into Photoshop (CS versions). The Pic4press/BAPLA installer script (loaded via File>Scripts>Browse) places the XMP panel into the common folder, which requires administration rights. If you do not have administration rights, or you only want the current user to have the XMP Panel, then copy the BAPLA.txt file to the following folder.
Method 1
If you have administration rights use the javascript to install the panel (see notes below).
Unzip the javascript (Always send the zipped version by email)
In Photoshop:
- Go to File/Scripts/Browse
- Select the Javascript
- Click ‘Load’
- Click ‘Start’ to install Panel
It will install the panel over any previous version you have. The installer script places the XMP Panel into the common folder, which requires administration rights:
-
Mac OSX
//Library/Application Support/Adobe/XMP/Custom File Info Panels
-
Windows XP
C:Program FilesCommon FilesAdobeXMPCustom File Info Panels
Method 2
If you do not have administration rights, or you only want the current user to have the XMP Panel, then copy the BAPLA.txt file to the following folder:
-
Mac OSX
//Users/<user>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/XMP/Custom File Info Panels
-
Windows XP
C:Documents and Settings<user>Application DataAdobeXMPCustom File Info Panels
NB: <user> is the current user name.
We will be updating the script to make it easier for people without administration rights. Sign up to www.electriclane.co.uk for updates.
For more information on production issues and Pic4pressmail rose.benjamin@ppa.co.uk.