Thank you for trying PhotoFolio. PhotoFolio is a complete solution for photographers and artists seeking to distribute samples of their work electronically without the worry of others using the samples without permission.
PhotoFolio consists of two applications: the PhotoFolio Converter and the PhotoFolio Browser. The PhotoFolio converter transforms your images into a form readable only by the PhotoFolio Browser (and the Converter itself). These images are then distributed along with the Browser for your client to see.
The PhotoFolio Converter
The PhotoFolio Converter has four main functions:
• Converting your images into a format readable only by the browser.
• Compressing the images using QuickTime™ compression.
• Adding a short description to the images.
• Customizing the browser with your own logo and copyright information.
Here is the main interface of the PhotoFolio Converter:
You can add PICT and TIFF images by dragging-and-dropping them onto the PhotoFolio Converter application, or by selecting "Open…" from the File menu.
Compression Method
Choose the compression method you want for each individual image. If an image has already been compressed with QuickTime™ compression, it is recommended that you do not recompress the image; doing so leads to loss of image quality. The Image Format menu has three options:
• Same as Source
• No Compression
• QuickTime Compressed
Same as Source will leave PICT files compressed in the same way as the original, and TIFF files will be saved in an uncompressed format. This is the default selection for all images.
No Compression will convert all files to an uncompressed format.
QuickTime Compression will use any one of the QuickTime compression algorithms to make the file smaller. If you select this option, you will be able to select the compression options by clicking the Compression Options button. This dialog is shown below:
You can select the quality of the final image with the slider bar. The lower the quality you choose, the smaller the resulting file. Recommended settings are Photo - JPEG compression with quality set to between 50 and 75. Experiment with the settings for best results.
Adding an Image Description
The Enter Description button produces the following window:
Type in any description you want shown under the image while the client is viewing it. Keep in mind the amount of space that will be left over on the monitor underneath the image. Most users will have 640x480 monitors, which means that an image that is 400 pixels tall will not leave much space for text.
Customizing the Browser
The Choose Browser Caption button allows you to choose two images that will be shown in the title screen of the browser. The first image is the top caption, designed to introduce you and give the clients an idea of what the portfolio is about. The second image allows you to put a copyright notice in the title screen.
When creating your images for the browser, it is very important to make them the right size. The caption should be 350x68 pixels, and the copyright notice should be 190x48 pixels. If you do not use images that are the correct size, they will appear very distorted in the browser. When you click the Customize button, you will be asked to locate a copy of the PhotoFolio Browser. After you have done so, the PhotoFolio Converter will modify the Browser application and add the new pictures. It is highly recommended that you modify a copy of the Browser and leave the original intact for future use. A Browser can be customized any number of times.
Converting the Files
When you have finished changing the settings for your files, click on the Convert button. All of your files will be saved out with .CPct extensions. Put these images in the same folder as the PhotoFolio Browser, and you're all set to go! If you need to modify the CPct images, they can also be imported back into the PhotoFolio Converter.
The PhotoFolio Browser
The PhotoFolio Browser should be distributed with your images. It will display files in a slideshow format on a black screen. You can launch the browser in one of two ways: by dropping CPct files onto it, or by double-clicking it. If you drop files onto it, the browser will display only those images (it will also traverse any folders you drop onto it). If you double-click it, the browser will display all CPct files inside the same folder.
In addition to showing a slideshow, the browser can display a thumbnail of all the images that it found. This feature is seen by clicking the Arrange Slideshow button from the main screen. The slideshow arrangement window is shown below:
The user may then drag the images around in the order he or she wants to view them. If the user double-clicked on the browser, it will remember the order the images are saved in. This means that before you send out your portfolio, you can launch the browser and decide the default order in which your images will be shown. When your client launches the browser, the ordering will be preserved. This eliminates the messy problem of having to change the file names to decide the ordering.
From the arrangement window, click on the Options button to bring up this dialog:
From here, you can change the delay between images and whether or not to show the title of each image at the bottom of the screen.
Other Information
• Both applications are native to PowerPC, but also run under 68k.
• The PhotoFolio Converter requires that QuickTime™ is installed. The PhotoFolio Browser requires QuickTime if any of the CPct images are QuickTime™ compressed.
• If some images in this document are not drawn correctly, you probably do not have QuickTime™ installed in your system.
Important Note About Security
Sadly, no matter what precautions a software developer might take, no security scheme is completely safe. PhotoFolio's security will prevent almost all users from using the images in other applications, but if the person is quite knowledgeable about hacking into programs, and persistant enough, it can be compromised. Therefore, I there is no way I can guarantee that nobody will find a way around the measures I have put in place.
Shareware Information
PhotoFolio is shareware. The demo version downloadable from online services has all the features of the full version, except that each CPct file will have the words "Demonstration Copy" written across the middle.
The registered version of PhotoFolio costs $49.95. The registration fee entitles you to free minor and bugfix upgrades (e.g. purchasing version 1.0 would entitle you to any versions numbered 1.0.1, 1.1, 1.2, etc.).
The registered version can be sent to you either via e-mail, or via conventional mail. The handling for e-mailed copies is free, but for mail shipments, there is a $5.00 shipping and handling charge in the United States and Canada, and a $10.00 charge for anywhere else. This handling charge also includes mail-delivered minor upgrades (i.e. if you order your copy via mail, any free upgrades and bugfixes will be delivered to you free of charge. EMail customers will receive them electronically).
At this time, I cannot accept credit card registrations. If there is enough demand for it in the future, I'll try to work something out. Until then, mail your check or money order to:
Kevin Tieskoetter
7 Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Please make checks payable to Kevin Tieskoetter.
If you have any feature requests, I am always open to suggestions. In fact, this entire product grew up from requests from its users. You can reach me at albtrssp@javanet.com, or at AlbtrssPrd@aol.com.
Credits
First of all, I want to thank everyone at Specular (where I work) and MicroFrontier for giving me suggestions and encouragement to expand ImageBrowser into something bigger and better. You can visit them at www.specular.com and www.microfrontier.com, respectively.
Ian Sullivan and Alec Miller for helping me out with PowerPlant and some C++ subtleties.
Nico Pavan for giving me the idea for this particular product in the first place.
My beta testers - Sara Krohn, Alec Syme, and Sean Pirtle for their assistance
...and finally, Apple Computer, for the Macintosh.
