GEORGE POST PHOTOGRAPHY - ABOUT JAS & ZAPP^® FORMATTING:

JURIED ART SERVICES' requirements for JPEGs are somewhat flexible: the absolute minimum image dimension, whether width or height, is 1,400 pixels, but the allowable maximum of 2,000 pixels is recommended for better image quality. Thus, images shot with standard cameras having a 1:1.5 aspect ratio would typically be sized or cropped to 2000x1333 pixels for a horizontal image, 1333x2000 pixels for a vertical image, or in some cases (square-proportioned or round subjects) cropped to 2000x2000 pixels for a square image. The maximum file size is a generous 2mb, which allows image files to be saved for JAS with minimal compression and maximum JPEG quality. JPEGs for JAS should also be sized for 300 pixels-per-inch rather than the Web-standard 72ppi, because some JAS-affiliated shows also use the jury images for print publicity.

This set of 6 JAS-formatted images was made for Louise Fischer Cozzi:

ZAPP^® requires your digital jury images to be JPEGs with a minimum of 1400 pixels and a maximum of 1920 pixels on the long dimension, compressed to a maximum file size of 2mb. Strictly speaking, ZAPP^® no longer requires black "letterbox" borders to fill out rectangular images to square proportions. That is entirely appropriate for the majority of ZAPP^®-affiliated shows that jury on computer monitors. But the ZAPP^® system still sends square 1920x1920-pixel image files to those affiliated shows that jury by projection. Since projection-jury shows tend to be the desirable high-end shows with the greatest level of competition, we still recommend submitting 1920x1920 square images, with black borders added to rectangular images, as seen in these two views of a coat by Itsuko Takeda. Some subjects, with more squarish proportions such as the handmade paper piece by Joan Rhine, can be formatted with narrower borders for greater overall image size:

Occasionally a round or square-proportioned subject can be cropped so as to completely fill the 1920x1920 pixel area without black borders, but this is not recommended if the resulting image looks disproportionately large compared to other images in your portfolio. For example, in this group of ZAPP^® images made for Julie Seymour, the ring looks huge in the square version (center of the second row), especially compared to the pieces in the group shots at the upper left and right. The same ring looks much more proportional with the rest of the images when letterboxed as at the bottom right.

If all of your work tends to be round or squarely proportioned, your entire ZAPP^® portfolio can be sized to 1920x1920 pixels without black borders, as in this group of five ceramic animal sculptures by Pat Simons:

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See our other websites at:
- http://www.craftphoto.com (a homepage with info about our general photo services for artists and craftspeople)
- http://www.gpostphoto.com (George's personal work and stock photography)

All information and photographs on this site are © 2006 by George Post; all fine art & craft designs are © 2006 by the participating artists.