Secure, Organize and Share Digital Images

Challenging Tech: Artist Approaches to Creating, Communicating and Influencing
Notes From ArtPrize Artist Week September 18, 2018 speaker Matthew Patulski
SECURE DIGITAL IMAGES

• Keep your digital image files secure in 3 different locations ensuring at least one is at a different physical address.
• Examples of suitable back up locations include phone, laptop, cloud storage, mirror drive or RAID. Cloud services and external drives are examples of backups that can be stored off site. Cloud storage brand name examples: iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon Web Services, Backblaze. External drive brand name examples: Hitachi, SeaGate, Western Digital.
• Search online and read reviews for the most reliable back up devices and secure cloud storage.
• Be sure to replace back up drives once the warranty has passed and pay for those warranties.
• Avoid reliance on memory cards. Memory cards and USB sticks are easily corrupted. Be sure to remove images from cards ASAP.
• Try to automate backup by using Time Machine or Windows File History.

ORGANIZE DIGITAL IMAGES

• Save only the best version of your image as a master (highest resolution).
• File types from most information to least: RAW > TIF > JPEG and SRGB > RGB > CMYK
• Avoid duplicates. There are apps to help find and remove duplicates, use them. Examples: Gemini, Better File Rename, Photo Mechanic, Adobe Bridge.
• Useful Meta Data: Creator, Contributor, Title, Creation Year, Description, Materials, Dimensions
• Basic organization for folders suggestion: YEAR - MONTH - PROJECT - FILES RELATED TO PROJECT
• Naming files. Do not use # ? / \ ) ( ‘ ; “ : @ * & > < % $ or spaces because these special characters can ruin searches and cause corruptions. Use _ and - in file names.

SHARE DIGITAL IMAGES

• Look your best online. Upload a good quality .jpg.
• 920 x 1080 dpi is a standard image size though some platforms may compress smaller.
• Name your files so they can be found in searches, don't upload IMG_7899.TIF. Instead name the file: ARTIST_ARTWORK_DATE.jpg
• If you post it online it may be stolen. It is a chance we take to gain recognition of our work online.
• The more you share your work the more interest there can be in your work.
• Use social platforms to share your images. Examples: Instagram, FaceBook, Etsy, Websites.