Configuring image processing profiles
What are processing profiles?
Processing profiles are used by FotoWeb to apply image processing or third-party processing to files when a user requests a download or sends images to a workflow (action). They can also be used in the FotoWeb Desktop Extension for Adobe InDesign to process a file directly before placing it in the layout.
FotoWeb has built-in mechanisms for changing image file formats, image resizing, color conversion with ICC profiles, watermarking and sharpening. In addition, processing profiles can be used to deliver files to a third-party system which can process the files in any way before delivering them back to FotoWeb.
Note
- Most of the functionality in processing profiles that is described in the below paragraphs only applies to processing of image file formats. FotoWeb processing profiles can store images in these output formats: TIF, TIF with JPEG compression, JPEG, EPS JPEG (with TIF preview) and PNG 8 bit.
- For non-image files, users can only apply processing profiles that have been configured for external processing. If a profile that involves external processing and image operations (color space, resizing etc) has been assigned to an archive and configured to be applied to all download operations, image processing will be skipped for the non-image files.
- When a processing profile set (a collection of processing profiles from which the user can choose) has been assigned to an archive, a user can only choose from those profiles that involve download of the original asset or external processing when processing non-image formats.
Learn how to assign a processing profile that you have made to an archive.
Creating a Processing Profile
- From the Tools menu (cogwheel icon) go to Site Configuration > Workflows > Processing Profiles.
- Select Add processing profile.
See a video of how to configure and use them, or find written instructions below.
General settings
Start by naming the processing profile and entering a description of what it does.
File format and color space
Here you can choose the output format of the processed file. If you would like to change the color space also, you can choose the output color space, the type of rendering intent, and the ICC profile to be used for the conversion. You can also embed the ICC profile in the output file. If the file has an embedded ICC profile before the processing, this profile will be used as the input profile.
Image size
Here you can set resizing options for the image. You can choose not to change the output size, to resample the image, or to simply stamp the file with a resolution or size without altering image data.
Watermarking
You can add a watermark to all files before they are delivered to the client. To add custom watermarks to the list, copy them to the Watermarks folder in the Server Settings folder. When creating a watermark you can achieve transparency by making sure those areas have a color value of 128 in R, G,and B channels.
Sharpening
Turn on the Add Unsharp Mask toggle to add unsharp mask to the pictures. Adjust the Amount, Radius, and Threshold settings as required. If you are uncertain about the optimum values, try with the default settings first.
External processing
If you would like to process the files in an external application before delivering them to the client you can enable external processing. The Input folder is where FotoWeb will deliver the files and the Output folder is where the files will be picked up after processing. FotoWeb will use the file name to recognize the output file, so make sure that the external processing engine does not rename the file. (Changing the file's extension due to a change of file type is not problematic, however.)
Finally you can choose whether the external processing should be applied before or after FotoWeb applies its processing as set up on the above tabs.
Assigning the processing profile or profile set to an archive
After completing the configuration of processing profiles and optionally adding them to a set, you can assign them to an archive.