DESIGN DARUMA

The “phoneography” phenomenon continues to take the world by storm. Smartphones and other mobile devices have become more and more capable of taking pictures, forcing digital cameras to take a backseat. Our increasing desire to instantly share our snapshots with friends and fans have allowed third party applications, like Instagram, to dominate the photo sharing market. With the app in hand, users can take pictures confined to a square shape a la Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it on a variety of social networks.

What is a brilliant concept is also every photo editor’s worst nightmare — no offense, Instagram and apps alike.

These photo sharing apps have lowered the bar for what is an acceptable image resolution required for creative projects. Even though Instagram developers were smart enough to program it to save the highest image resolution possible, the average user doesn’t know that. Instead, they submit what they think is acceptable (usually the finished product — square, filtered and all) to the graphic designers and photo editors who have to then solve a low-resolution dilemma.

Before you, your employer, or your business jumps on the photo sharing bandwagon, be aware that the pictures it takes will not seamlessly translate to the creative design process.

• Use a digital camera for all pictures taken intended for web or print communications.
• Establish a clear understanding for where, when, and why the images will be used.
• Always, ALWAYS save original images in the highest resolution possible, devoid of cropping, filters, and other modifications. Leave that up to the graphic designer.