Instructions for Appraisals & Catalogues with Images

in The Jewellery Shopkeeper

Introduction

By providing attractive valuation certificates, complete with images of the jewellery that helps to positively identify the item, can give the jeweller a competitive advantage or an additional revenue source. The Jewellery Shopkeeper offers a viable solution for both inventory items and the clients own jewellery. In order to be of real benefit to the jeweller, however, the cost of the service must not exceed its value. Detailed catalogues, complete with pictures, viewed on-screen, can provide sales staff with a safe and effective way to find the right items for the client.

Capturing images

The valuation certificate is not intended to be a promotional brochure. The purpose of the image is to provide an additional, simple, way to identify the article. Successful photography of jewellery for promotional purposes is an art that requires exceptional skill. However, for the purpose of identification, it is acceptable even if a lot of the detail, sparkle and colour is lost, provided that the image is clear and neat. Black & white images are also all right if the description includes the colour where important. Size, if important, should be described in the text.

Artistic background, whether it is a human model or just a texture, is not only unnecessary but actually detracts from the usefulness of the image. The only exception to this is when the background provides a reference as to the size of the subject. An extra benefit resulting from a simplified the image is that the recorded size of the image will also be smaller.

To be cost-effective, all three aspects that effect cost must be addressed. These are:

1. Equipment (cameras, lighting, computer, consumables)
2. Skills (must not require a specialist skilled operator)
3. Time (capturing and processing must be quick)

Equipment

Five types of photographic systems can be used.

1. Normal film camera. Requires that the film be developed then scanned. Does a good job but takes much too long and the camera and film cost is high.
2. Digital camera. Almost immediate transfer of image to the computer. Does a good job. High resolution of image is a disadvantage because the image size must be reduced in order to make the file size practical. Special close-up adapter may be required.
3. Web camera. Image recorded directly on computer. Does a good job but requires careful composition and focussing. Optimum resolution. Most web cameras have adjustable focus that allows extreme close-ups. Some web cams give better focus, colour and tonal depth than others but the camera software and lighting also makes a big difference.
4. Flat-bed scanner. Image recorded directly to computer. Extreme ease of use. Does a good job for smaller items or items that can be laid out flat.

With all of the above, a good light box with variable-intensity is required.

Recommendation:

Light box, flat-bed scanner and web cam. The combination of these three items will cope with all imaging requirements for valuations. In fact, if you already have a more expensive camera, keep it for other jobs and spend the bit extra on the scanner and web cam.

Filing the images:

NEW: Processing and filing of images has been automated for the Linux version with the use of PutPic, and the filing function has been automated with a 'Find new image' button in the Windows version.

• Important note: Images may be captured and filed before, during or after taking on the text description of the item. The essential requirement is that the file name of the item matches its inventory code.

  Image directory

  To allow quick viewing (with Alt-F10), and automatic generation of valuations and catalogues with the correct images, the image files must be stored in the correct directory.

  • The first place that the image will be sought is the default data directory being used by The Jewellery Shopkeeper - this is usually C:\JEWEL, but it may be E:\JEWEL or even C:\MYSTUFF\DATA. It is vital that you know what this directory name is. It is easy to identify because it contains hundreds of data files - some dated with very recent dates. The smartest way to discover the default directory is to examine the 'Working' folder in The Jewellery Shopkeeper short-cut properties. Even though it may work, do not store your images in this folder.
  • The second place the the program will search is in a subdirectory (sub-folder) called '\IMAGES' ('/images' in Linux). So you can save all your images in, for example, C:\JEWEL\IMAGES. This will work for up to about 2000 images - after that som operating systems may report "directory full', or just crash.
  • The third place is in a subdirectory (sub-folder) of .\IMAGES named equal to the 2-character group code, (or the 1-character raw material group, in the case of raw material) of the inventory code file name. For example: C:\JEWEL\IMAGES\21\2100045.JPG, or C:\JEWEL\IMAGES\F\F0023.JPG.
  • Non-inventory items (client's own jewellery) must be stored in subdirectory .\IMAGES\CUST
  • Note: The above sub-directories must be created if they do not already exist.

  Image file formats

  Three image file formats are supported by The Jewellery Shopkeeper. Bitmap (BMP) images are simply written to storage without compression. Almost all programs can display them, but the file size is about 10 times larger that the equivalent compressed file type JPG or GIF.

  JPG format is best for colour or monochrome images that have much tonal detail like a photograph. This is the recommended format.

  GIF format is best for colour or monochrome images that have little tonal detail - such as line drawings and images with mostly solid colour areas. (GIF files cannot be displayed by using the Alt-F10 hot-key.)

  Resolution and capture

  The resolution is always a trade-off between image quality and file size. Modern cameras and scanners are all capable of a much higher resolution that necessary. In the case of a camera, a 320x240 or even 160x120 pixel image is quite suitable.

  With a scanner the choice is simpler. With small items set the scanner to 150 to 300 d.p.i. And scan larger items at 75 d.p.i.

  Background

  For most jewellery, a white background will be best. Do this as follows:

  1) With the scanner positioned with it's cover open, inside the light box, lay several items of jewellery to be scanned on the scanner glass, set the light box dimmer to a mid position.

  2) Do a "Preview scan"

  3) If the images are being washed away, dim the light and try again.

  4) If the background is not white, set the light a little brighter and try again.

  5) Select the area of the preview image to be scanned

  6) Set the resolution (Very small item 300 dpi, small 150 dpi, medium and larger 75 dpi.)

  7) Scan the selected item

  8) Retouch the image if required, or repeat from step 3 above. (Another preview scan is only required if you reposition the item on the scanner bed.)

  9) Save the image to disk. (See image directory, above). Name the file the exact same 7-character name as the item's inventory code. (In the case of Linux or Unix operating system, use only lower case letters.). For example, the image name for merchandise code 2100045 must be 2100045.jpg - you may NOT abbreviate the code like you can in The Jewellery Shopkeeper code entry screens.

  10) Delete the temporary image from the scanner program

  11) Go back to step 5) above to do the next item

  If you have got it right, the image size will be between 4000 and 40000 bytes.

  Cropping

  The more you crop - the bigger the image. That's because what is left is enlarged to fill the allowed height.

  Repeating patterns, as in a beaded necklace or gold chain, need have only a few beads or links, and perhaps the clasp, in the picture. Fitting a whole necklace or chain into the picture means that the real image has to be smaller and detail is lost.

  Tip

  In the catalogue and valuation certificate, the height of the image is always constant. Therefor, if you want a large image, orient it in landscape (i.e. Horizontal) format, and to make the image smaller, orient it in portrait (vertical) format. The more eccentric the shape is, the more the size will be exaggerated.

  See sample images here.

Backups

Just like your other data, images must be copied to backup media at regular intervals. JPG files are already compressed, and a 1000 images will require 20 to 50 3 ½ inch disks to store one copy. Therefore a larger capacity storage media, such as CD-R or tape is essential. As a temporary backup measure, or in addition to the off-site backup, copy the files accross your LAN to another computer's hard disk. Provided that old backups are kept safely and not overwritten, you only need to back up the new images.