Submitting entries
The competition organiser can receive image files as e-mail attachments or on CD, floppy, memory stick or CF. Alternatively, to make entering digital competitions easy, club members can download and install the PhotoCompEntry program on their home computers. PhotoCompEntry can then be used to select which images they would like to submit, give them titles and package them into a single file, which is then e-mailed or sent by disc to the competition organiser. The program also builds a useful archive of the entries the member has submitted to past competitions.
When the organiser receives an entry via e-mail or disc, he simply clicks on it and the PhotoCompBuilder program will unpack it and add it to the competition database. If he chooses, he can then send an automatic acknowledgement to the entrant by e-mail. Alternatively, he enter the entrants details directly into the PhotoCompViewer program. He can collect the entries for the competition on one computer and run the competition on another, using a CD, memory stick or other suitable medium to transfer a single folder between the two.
Organising entries
PhotoCompViewer, the program at the heart of the package, organises all the entries into classes and puts them in a random order ready for judging. During the competition it displays .jpg and .tiff files sized to fill the projection screen under the full control of the "digital projectionist". He can go forwards and back, and even let the program cycle through the images at a chosen frequency. PhotoCompViewer will even run Portfolio competitions, showing the set of images entered by each competitor on the screen at the same time.
Judging
PhotoCompViewer runs through each class of the competition one image at a time, and then lets you click through to allow the judge to comment and score. You can hold back an image for scoring later, or record a score with a single key press. Once all the images have been viewed, you can show the images that have been held back, and when judging is over you can show the top scoring images instantly. You can even print certificates on the spot!
Recording results
When the competition is over, the organiser can use PhotoCompViewer to output the results as an HTML file for inclusion on your club's web site. The organiser can also send the results automatically to the entrants via e-mail - when an entrant receives the e-mail they click on the attachment and their archive is automatically updated with their scores. You can also maintain a league table for your members using PhotoCompLeague.
Tailored to your needs
The PhotoCompEntry program for entrants contains information about your club and the way you run your competitions. After you have downloaded a licensed copy of the PhotoCompViewer package, simply send that information to us and we will publish your unique version of PhotoCompEntry on our website for your members to download.