METASOFT - Phase 1 - Image Databank Implementation

1. METASOFT- Phase 1 - Image Databank Implementation Project Meeting 22 June 2006 Ramsey (NJ) - US

2. Document Summary • Basic Assumptions; • Image Format Distribution; • Download Images On-Demand; • How to get started; • Image certification process; • Image certification Excel sheets; • Image categorization; • Who is in charge to “Certify” images;

3. 1. Basic Assumptions: • In METASOFT only “certified” images can be loaded; • An image can be considered “certified” only after being processed as follow: • Selection: an image must be selected; • Approval: a selected image must be approved; • Processing: an approved image must be processed in order to be in one of the following standard “Master” formats: • File format: eps, jpeg, tiff, psd, pdf, ai, gif; • File resolution: 600 or 300 or 72 dpi; • File color format: CMYK or RGB; • File extensions: eps, jpg, tif, psd, pdf, ai, gif; • Minimum image size: 13 x 18 - (5” x 7”) doesn’t apply for web use only • On loading images in METASOFT, the system will generate only images for its own management purposes (like for instance low resolution thumbnails and previews);

4. 2. Image Format Distribution: • Web/Portal Purposes: on images selected for Web publishing, METASOFT will automatically generate only one jpeg or gif (72dpi) file into Jahia WebDAV file system without keeping any copy of the file in METASOFT, animated gif cannot be down-scaled and cannot be converted; • On demand download: Depending on users rights and privileges all images approved for distribution can be downloaded from METASOFT. Images can be downloaded in “Master” format or any other format available (supported by METASOFT embedded image conversion tool). Images can only be down-scaled (for example from 600 to 300/72dpi but no vice-versa). PDF, AI, Vect EPS files will be available for download only in “Master” format, all other cross references are permitted

5. 3. Download Images On-Demand: All images managed by METASOFT, depending on users rights and privileges, can be available through a JSP Portlet tool to be browsed via a standard Internet Browser. Images available through this browsed-based user interface can be selected, converted and downloaded by users. Without going in details these are the main steps of the process that should be followed by authorized web users to download images: • Web user select one o several images an virtually put them into a basket; • Select the file format and resolution the users want to apply to all images in the basket; • METASOFT applies the requested conversion to all files in the basket and automatically creates a ZIP file containing all converted files; • METASOFT writes the ZIP file into a FTP/HTTP server for download; • METASOFT send an email notification to the user with all the parameters needed to start the ZIP file download.

6. 4. How to Get Started : METASOFT system implementation is going to be performed during August 2006. The agreed dead-line with the supplier for releasing up and running the system is 31° August 2006. METASOFT implementation requires a certain amount of pre-loading work in order to “certify” all images that should be loaded into the system. This image certification process does not need to have physically available METASOFT system. To perform this image certification task each Brand Manager (or somebody else on behalf of the Brand Manager) needs to go through all the images of interest they may have either on their PC or in a shared directory in the company LAN and select the ones that must be loaded into Metasoft.

7. 5. Image “Certification” process: In order to perform the image certification process, Brand Managers (or somebody else on behalf of the Brand Manager) should do as follow: Identify and select the image files of interest; For each image file of interest: • Identify the primary (original) master image file; • Transform (if necessary) the master image file in one of the standard formats set as master format in METASOFT; • Save the master image file in a local ../METASOFT/Approved/ folder; • Categorize the image in the specifically supplied Excel files entering as many requested attributes as possible;

8. 6. Image “Certification” Excel sheets Analysing METASOFT implementation we have already identified the following four main type of images to manage within the system. Each of these types has specific categorization and attributes that must be considered. Here below the links to the Excel files we have set up to cover as much as possible the first massive image loading in METASOFT: • Product images; • Concepts images; • Advertising images; • Artistic images; • Corporate & Sales Network images;

9. How to use the Excel Files • Choose the file/sheet that matches the main categorization • Products, Concept, Artistic, Corporate • Products/ Neutral is where you will categorize most of the images for the product pages • Fill in the required fields: (requirements vary with categorization type) • Image file name • The actual file name does not have to have the SKU • To make it easy to track before uploading, Bogen US will use the last 2 letters of the product group, followed by _SKU (of the main item) followed by _tmb or _number (if more than 1 detail) examples • Product images must specify • shoot type – Single, mix or Kit • have at least one SKU in the fields ‘product(s) in image’ & Reference product • Specifiy categorization: main, detail, feature, technical drawing,… • Do not enter data in gray fields such as image size, brands , this will be picked up by MetaSoft as the images are loaded • Columns on the sample that have yellow boxes require that you enter 1 (and only 1) value from that list. • Columns with green list boxes, can take values from the list. New values can be added.

10. How to use the Excel Files • The columns on the right indicate allowable usage for the image • You must put ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in each • Usage can be made narrower by the portal login later • Examples • some images may be downloadable only by dealers • Some images may be available only to press • This will be managed via the portal • Images that say no to download cannot be downloaded (except by administrators) • Images must be in a single directory for upload • Images available for download will still follow conversion constraints already discussed.

11. 7. Image Categorization: Image Definition: • no texts:i.e. everything that is not possible to bring back to rich text format • no divisible entities:not from a technical point of view, but from a meaning/communication point of view

12. 7. Image Categorization: • PRODUCT:there is a direct connection to a (or some) products • neutral (see sample)only product(s), background is not existing (or it has no communication relevance) • {photo} • main (see sample)the product as a whole • detaila detail (zooming) of a main, no different communication compared to a main one, only a magnified glass • featureshows a feature, it communicates something special to be noted • call-outphoto with call-outs, direct text/numbers or references to descriptions • utilizationshows how a product (or a part of it) can be used, with/without humans

13. 7. Image Categorization: • {drawings / views} • technical: shows how it is built • functional: shows how it works (usually the special features) • exploded view: • spare parts view: • {diagrams} • selection:how to select a product • cross-selling:what other products can fit with a product • comparing:compares different product • use direction:the field use of the product • working diagram:the graph of the relation between the main variables connected to a product/feature (see counterweight diagram)

14. 7. Image Categorization: • {system guide} • in use (see sample)product with a communicative background (landscapes and so) • testimonials (see sample)product with famous persons • special events (see sample)product in special events (events that are important by themselves) in which I can exclude the product without loosing significance • special effects (see sample)photo/images that are post-processed to gain a different communication perspective

15. 7. Image Categorization: • CONCEPT:a graphical representation of a concept as a communication idea • icons • logos • banners • advertising / communication • awards • certification

16. 7. Image Categorization: • ADVERTISING:a production of a professional like an advertising agency • photo • illustrations • artworks • ARTISTIC:a production of a professional as an artist • photo • illustrations • artworks • CORPORATE & SALES NETWORK: • corporate; • sales network;

17. 8. Who is in charge to “Certify” images: The image certification process needs to be performed by several people at the same time and the process must cover all Gruppo Manfrotto brands and Bogen Imaging distributed brands. At the moment we have identified the following people as responsible for certifing images, most probably this list needs to be reviewed and additionally split on more people: • Who is in charge for what: • Manfrotto: Luca Zampierin – Stefano Mocellin • Gitzo: Luca Zampierin – Stefano Mocellin • NG: Elena Marchetto • Avenger: Luca Zampierin – Stefano Mocellin • IFF: Enrico Nobile • KATA: Ohad Cohen • Bogen Imaging (all brands): Larry White