Image Orientation Help
My Images Are The Wrong Orientation!
Are your images showing in the incorrect orientation or sideways within your participant’s galleries? No worries, it’s an easy fix and we’ll guide you through everything you need to know!The Cause
This issue is caused by incorrectly performing Step #6 of our “Setting Up A Test Job” guide. For example, when uploading images to Headshot Tools, our guides have you upload exported images, typically saved into the folder:/ <Your Session or Job Folder> / Output / Headshot Tools /
However, accidentally choosing the Capture folder will cause this issue. You do not want to choose the Capture folder! You might be tempted to choose the Capture folder, however there are many reasons you don’t want to do this. See below for more info on why.
How To Fix
To get your images orientated correctly:- Close any open Auto Upload Utility browser tabs.
- Open the Auto Upload Utility for the specific job you’re working on.
- Click the green “Select Images Folder…” button within the Auto Upload Utility.
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Select the folder where you have been exporting your images to and allow uploading. This is typically:
/ <Your Session or Job Folder> / Output / Headshot Tools /
NOTE: If you haven’t been exporting images as Step #5 of the “Setting Up A Test Job” guide shows, you’ll need to do that now. After exporting, your images will be automatically uploaded via the running Auto Upload Utility from item 4 above.
Your exported and correctly oriented images will now be uploaded. With our setup steps followed, these new images will have the exact same file names as the incorrectly orientated images. Uploading these new files will replace and overwrite the existing incorrect versions. Not seeing that happen? You may want to delete all your uploaded files and upload only the new exported images.
Why Do The Images Display Wrong?
When you incorrectly choose the Capture folder, you’re uploading all the images you take, straight from the camera.These images are saved in the orientation your camera manufacturer designates, which is typically a horizontal image. Rotating the camera and taking a photo vertically changes the way the photo looks but doesn't change how your camera saves the file.
Cameras do often save a “rotation bit” of data into your file that tells some software to auto-rotate the image to match the orientation on capture, but this “rotation bit” is not universally read or used across all software. The core image data is still written in the same horizontal way (camera manufacturer dependent).
To guarantee your clients receive their images in the correct orientation, you must export your images. Exporting will save the file with the correct orientation of core pixel data making sure that when your participants receive their images, they are orientated correctly no matter how or where they use them.
You might still be tempted to choose the Capture folder anyway, however there are still many other reasons you don’t want to do this. See below for more info on why.
Why You Never Upload The Capture Folder
Besides the orientation and compatibility issues already discussed above, here are a few additional reasons why you never want to upload from the Capture folder. This list was compiled from actual in field issues experienced by photographers who incorrectly chose the Capture Folder and our team testing.Unprofessional Images – When you upload from the Capture folder, you’re uploading every image you take! This means that test shots, blinks, flash misfires, unflattering poses are all ending up in your participant’s gallery. This can hurt the perception of your work and often lead to participants undervaluing even the dialed in shots. Exporting images allows you to cull on the fly and make sure only the best images make it to your participant.
Excessive Resolution – Images straight from your camera via the Capture folder are typically full resolution images. This means that you don’t get to tailor the resolution of your delivered images. While this might not sound like an issue, it can turn into one when your participants can’t utilize their images on social media due to resolution limits. We recommend an export output resolution of 2048 pixels on the long edge to stay within most social media and company portal resolution limits.
Excessive File Size – Images straight from your camera via the Capture folder are typically 20x - 40x larger in file size than our recommended export settings. Files this large have the potential of not being allowed on social media platforms. For example, Microsoft Teams has a 4 MB (4,000,000 bytes) limit on profile photo uploads. When you export images, you gain control over your file size via compression and resolution.
Slow Upload & Download Time – Due to the large straight out of camera file size of Capture folder images, uploading and delivering photos to your participants can take a much longer time. Especially on slow conference or guest Wi-Fi connections. The same goes for your participant’s downloading of their images. Exporting allows you to control the file size and optimize upload and download times, especially on slow conference connections or limited indoor cell service.
Bandwidth Limits & Caps – Uploading large Capture folder images can eat up your upload bandwidth 20x - 40x faster than the recommended export resolution. In guest Wi-Fi connection or mobile hotspot situations, you may find that you run into bandwidth caps or throttling after utilizing a certain amount of upload data. Exporting allows you to control the file size and optimize for your available bandwidth.
Missing Styles & Crops – Uploading from the Capture folder will bypass any styles, adjustments or crops you’ve applied to your images within your tethering software. While your adjusted images may look beautiful on your screen, what your participants are getting is a totally different file. Exporting will unify what you’re seeing and what your participants are getting.
Connection Failures – Capture folder images tend to be very large and take a longer time to upload. Many conference or guest Wi-Fi connections are not as stable and can experience short intermittent dropouts. A larger Capture folder image can fail repeatedly if the connection drops mid-upload. A smaller exported image typically has a better chance of navigating these dropouts because they’re transmitted much quicker during the times of connectivity.