Backdrop is a photography routing and approval application for online collaboration. It automates manual and disjointed tasks that can occur during the photography review process. Configurable Photoscript triggers various workflow notifications and actions based on specific events that take place during the review process from re-shoot to approval.
Uploading Photos
Photos are uploaded by dragging and dropping files or whole folders into an Applet with the appropriate Photo Upload Profile selected. Once all the files are uploaded, no other action is needed by the user. All workflow and routing is setup in the Photo Upload Profile. Backdrop supports the following file formats:
- EPS
- TIFF
- JPEG
- PSD
- PNG
- DNG
- Most Camera RAW files (specific site setup is needed before these file types will work properly.)
MassTransit is available for high-speed file transfers of photos and allows users to securely transfer large files directly to Widen without any manual intervention. Includes built in encryption and propriety protocol
Photo Upload Profiles
Photo Upload Profiles allow photos to be easily grouped into specific workflows assigned by the profile. Each upload profile can be customized with a unique set of routed users and review workflow specific to any project. Upload Profiles can be adjusted by an administrator at any time.
The Photoscript used inside the Photo Upload Profile determines the workflow based on user events. Such events determine what actions occur, such as what happens when photos are uploaded, require a reshoot, approval, denial, or even saving a photo for later. An upload profile can have multiple events, such as two approval processes. Actions that could occur for these events are as listed:
- Email notification to users
- Allow users to enter user input
- Add photo history item
- Send order of the photo to recipient
- Release photo into Widen’s Digital Asset Management application
Here are some examples of workflows that can be setup:
Figure 1: Backdrop User Interface
Workflow 1
- Upon photo upload, the Art Director is sent an email notification to review the photo.
- Upon photo approval, the Art Manager is sent an email notification to review the photo.
- Upon the second photo approval, the photographer who uploaded the photo is sent an email notification to let them know it was approved. The photo is also automatically released into the Digital Asset Management application.
Workflow 2
- Upon photo upload, the Art Director is sent an email notification to review the photo.
- The Art Director clicks “Reshoot” with comments for the photographer. The photographer receives an email notification to reshoot the photo.
- Upon photo upload, the Art Director is sent an email notification.
- The Art Director approves the photo. The Photographer is sent an email notification and the photo is directly released into the Digital Asset Management application.
During or after a shoot, photographers upload the images and they are transmitted to a secure web server hosted by Widen. Automatic email notifications prompt pre-defined users to review the shoot, make comments directly on images, approve or request a reshoot. Approved shots are automatically routed in hi-res format to wherever they are to be used next.
Reviewing Photos
If a user is added to a route for a photo, the photo will appear under their Pending Stack. All photos needing the user’s attention are listed in the Pending Stack. There are also stacks for Approved, Reshoot, Saved, and Denied photos.
Figure 2: Adding / Viewing User Notes
Photos are automatically grouped together in the collapsible navigation in the following lists:
- By Profile
- By Pending Photos
- By Uploader
- By Update Needed
- By Label
In addition to Quick Search, users can also filter results by status of Pending, Saved, Reshoot, Approved, or Denied. Once the user chooses an Photo Upload Profile or enters a term into the Quick Search, they can set the filter to “Pending” in order to easily see all photos that need action taken on them.
Users can zoom in on any photo to see the photos in finer detail. In any view, a user can review and add notes directly on the photo. Multiple notes can be added to a photo. The user who added the note is displayed with the note (See Figure 2).
The photo can then be Approved, sent for Reshoot, Denied, or Saved for Later. When any of these events occur, it is documented in the Photo History and the actions specified in the Photo Upload Profile are automatically performed.
Downloading Photos
If enabled in the profile setup, a low resolution JPEG of a photo can be downloaded from Backdrop.
Photo Security
Only users who have uploaded the photo or who are on the route can find and view a photo. No other users of Backdrop will be able to access the photo.
Deleting Photos
Photos can be Denied by reviewers but only deleted by uploaders or administrators.
Metadata Fields
Photos can have metadata fields associated to them. These metadata fields can be filled out and then transferred into the Digital Asset Management application. Each Photo Upload Profile can have a different set of metadata fields.
If a photo has XMP data on it, it can be used to automatically populate the metadata fields, such as the Description, Keywords, or Author.
EXIF data is also stored in Backdrop and displayed with each photo on the Metadata screen. This camera data cannot be modified.