Create Your Profile on the SDA site
HELP ME to HELP YOU – if you find that these instructions do not work at any step along the way please email me – reachme@JamieBolane.com – and let me know where you are having problems. I have made every effort to give you correct directions, but I may have missed something.
BEFORE YOU LOGIN to the SDA site – YOU WILL NEED:
A HEAD SHOT: Size a good quality photo of yourself to be :
190 x 190 pixels, 72 resolution, RGB color.
ARTWORK: Size two separate artwork images (no detail images unless you want to devote one of your two allowed artworks to be a detail of the first image).
1280 pixels wide x 1024 pixels high for a horizontal.
OR
1024 pixels wide x 1280 pixels high for a vertical or square.
Place your head shot and your two artwork images on your Desktop (MAC) or in a file location of your choice on Windows.
FILE DIMENSIONS: You may want to write down the title, size and description of each artwork before you login.
PERSONAL INFO: Write a brief description of what you do. 250 character maximum including spaces and punctuation.
Basic information for preparing your artwork and head shot images appear below for those who are familiar with this process and just need to know the parameters.
For Step-by-Step instructions to prepare and resize your images, please CLICK HERE.
THINGS TO KNOW as you create your SDA Profile:
Your email address will now serve as the Username
As a protection against fraud and misuse, SDA will review and approve all text/images before publication. Approval usually takes place in less than 24-hours.
A yellow message bar will appear above your profile telling you that your information has been placed in a cue for approval
When you press save, the field you just entered may go blank. This doesn’t mean that it has been lost but rather that it has been placed in the approval cue.
Basic Instructions for Preparing Your Images
For Step-by-Step instructions to prepare and resize your images, please CLICK HERE.
Remember: NEVER make changes to the original file of photos of your artwork. Always make a copy first and then re-size, reformat etc.
PHOTO SIZE AND FORMAT:
File size does not refer to the dimensions, but rather its digital volume. For SDA use, your file may be up to 8mg. That’s large. It doesn’t have to be that large, but it does need to represent your artwork in a professional manner.
To know how big a file is on a MAC. Save and Close the file (see below) onto your desktop. Then, highlight the file without opening it and go to FILE on the top tool bar and drop down to GET INFO. You can find the accurate file size listed here. This is generally different form the size you see on the lower left of your open art file.
To know how big a file is in WINDOWS: Right click on the file and go to PROPERTIES.
If your file is way too small or way too large seek help to do what is necessary to obtain a better size.
CREATE HELPFUL FILE NAMES:
It is helpful to put your first and last name at the beginning of each file name. If files get confused then your name will help others to find it. Example: JANE.SMITH-Headshot.jpg or JANE.SMITH-Artwork Name.jpg.
FORMAT: .png .gif . jpg .jpeg Note the “dot” before the type of file format. This “dot” is important because it will make the file read on both MAC and PC. You can save correctly in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements by going to FILE > drop down to SAVE AS and selecting jpg or jpeg or gif or png and then hitting Save. Use this method rather than using Save or duplicating the file and then saving it as one of the file types. It is important to see the .file type at the end of the file name when you are finished.
FILE RESOLUTION: 72
FILE DIMENSIONS:
YOUR HEAD SHOT: 190 x 190 pixels.
YOUR ART:
1280 wide x 1024 high pixels for horizontal art.
1024 wide x 1280 high for vertical or square art.
They can be a little larger but maintain the proportions if you do not want to your art to be cropped.
PROTECTING YOUR ARTWORK IMAGES FROM MISUSE.
The images you post on the SDA site are not locked onto the site. Consider these options to identify your art.
1. Be sure to have your name as part of the file name.
2. Consider adding a type layer to your artwork with your name and copyright overlaying a portion of your art. You can make this in a color that blends but is still visible. To learn how to create a copyright symbol in Photoshop or a MAC or Windows system go to this helpful tutorial site: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/copyright/.
3. Embed a digital watermark in your artwork photo. This is an advanced technique and may require separate software. Here is a link to one company which specializes in digital watermarking.
https://www.digimarc.com/DigimarcForImages/
CREATING YOUR PROFILE on the SDA WEB SITE
Your email address will now serve as your Username.
Once you have created your profile you can find it again under Gallery> Members Directory.
TO BEGIN: Go to http://www.SurfaceDesign.org
LOGIN in at the TOP RIGHT of the HOMEPAGE:
STEP 1. ADDING INITIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION
A. Login to your account with your email address as your username, then enter your password. If you are using the one time login from SDA you will need to create a password as you begin this process.
When you login this will take you to your ACCOUNT page.
B. Above your NAME click EDIT
C. If needed create a password, if you already have one just leave the boxes blank and proceed to next step. NOTE: Passwords updates become effective immediately and don’t require the approval of SDA.
D. Check or uncheck the box according to your choice to receive SDA eNews
E. Select the time zone where you live: for Colorado select: America/Denver
F. Click SAVE at the bottom.
STEP 2. ADDING INFO & YOUR HEAD SHOT TO YOUR PROFILE
NOTE: There are three tabs at the top Profile - Account - Profile History
A. Click the PROFILE TAB at the top left.
B. TO ADD YOUR 190 x 190 pixel HEAD SHOT: scroll down to: PROFILE IMAGE
C. Click BROWSE and locate your photo on your computer. Click on it and the file name should appear in the box to the left of the Browse button.
D. If the file name appears there : Click UPLOAD If the file name is not there try Browse again.
E. ABOUT ME (250 character maximum including spaces and punctuation).
Add a brief statement about yourself here.
F. LINKS. This is the place where you will add your web site address. You might title it simply My web site: and put your URL next to it. Be certain to start with http://www. in order for it to become a live link.
On the next line you can add your email address if you like. Title it something like Email me or My email. IMPORTANT: use the following format when you enter your email address in the URL box to the right: mailto:(your email address) example: mailto:Susan.Q.artist@msn.com. The “mailto:” transforms your email address into a link that opens the user’s mail program and puts your email address in the “to” field.
Then, if you like, add the names and URL’s of any other sites which you find helpful or interesting to artists. Again, be sure to start with http://www. NOTE: that some sites start with https://www. The “s” designates a type of secure site.
G. Keep scrolling down the page and add or edit all your contact information in the appropriate boxes.
H. IMPORTANT: at the very bottom of the page click SAVE
STEP 3. ADDING YOUR ARTWORK IMAGES
TIP: Prepare both of your artwork images before you initiate uploading them to your profile. When you are ready to upload you can control which image appears on the left or right by the order in which you upload them. Assuming you are adding two images, the first image you load will ultimately be displayed on the right of your profile and the second one on the left. This may matter to you only if you are displaying one artwork and a detail of that artwork rather than two separate artworks.
A. Click on the word VIEW near the top left – above the Profile tab.
B. Click ADD IMAGE below the word View at the top left.
C. A CREATE IMAGE box will appear.
D. Add the TITLE of your artwork.
E. Click on BROWSE and locate your first art image on your computer.
F. Fill in the DATE MADE using this order: full year – month – day
Example: 2010- 01-01
G. Fill in the SIZE: - It might be nice to add a bracket with the dimensions in centimeters as well as SDA is an international organization. Go to this site to make the conversions: http://www.metric-conversions.org/conversion-calculators.htm
H. GO to the right side of the page under VOCABULARIES: and highlight /select the Materials Techniques and Categories which fit you artwork.
I. CLICK SAVE on the upper right above VOCABULARIES. You may add more than one technique or material. To select more than one use the Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key
J. To ADD A SECOND IMAGE of your artwork go to the very top right of the web page and click on your name.
K. When your profile page appears Click on ADD IMAGE. Since you have already added all your personal information you do not need to go through Steps 1 and 2 again.
L. Go through A-I above to add your second artwork image. Click SAVE.
REVIEW YOUR PROFILE ON THE SDA SITE
Your personal information and artwork images will be reviewed by SDA within 24 hours.
Please check back in a day or so to see your published profile.
Go to SurfaceDesign.org
You may find your photo in the SDA Community on the Home page. If you do, click on your photo or your name.
If you do not see your photo on the home page: click on the GALLERY tab at the top bar and drop down to Members Directory.
Enter your name and click Apply.
NOTE: Your artwork images will appear as Thumbnails which are automatically generated by the SDA site.
Click on the image or the title below it to open the full image of your art.
If you wish to make corrections or additions to your SDA Profile
Go to: Review & Edit your SDA Profile
Return to: HOW TO
