Cloud List App Image Match Workflow Overview v.020526

OPS’s Cloud List App for Image Matching Workflow is our quickest and most sophisticated solution for handling high-volume photo projects that need data integration. With the Cloud List software, studios can easily download their client's data onto a smartphone or tablet, identify the subject being photographed with a simple tap on their device’s screen, take as many shots as needed of each person, and seamlessly move to the next subject until the entire shoot is completed. Afterward, back at the studio, the photographer or staff member simply inserts the Camera’s SD card(s) used during the session into the Subject’s Action Image Add Image Files module for the project. The system will then automatically link each image to the matching subject data photographed and organize them into individual galleries.

Getting Started

A special note to studios that are using OPS's PrePay service: The setup sequence for Cloud List Image Matching on PrePay projects is slightly different. You must Convert your PrePay project first before completing your Cloud List App setup. After you have finalized the Project's PrePay Conversion, you can then follow along with the instructions below.

If you are new to OPS and your project is going to be a Proof/Batch or Individual Order Mode Project, we recommend you CLICK HERE to follow the Setup Instructions or contact ACI Customer Service or your Studio Consultant for setup assistance*. (*Feel free to call if you just need a refresher as well. We're here to help!)

When setting up your OPS Project for the type of Image Matching you will be using, please be sure to click on the OPS Cloud List App radio button.

Now go to the Subjects tab to setup your Cloud List App............

Next on the Subjects screen, navigate down to the QR Code at the bottom of the list. The QR Code is a link to your Mobile Device Cloud List. To open your Cloud List App Window, you can either click on the "Mobile Cloud List App" Link located above the QR Code, or using your mobile device (Phone or Tablet) open your camera and scan the QR code to open the "Mobile Cloud List App" Link to open the App. (See image blow)

Using the camera on your mobile phone or tablet, you can scan the QR Code at the bottom of your project's data list to open the project's Mobile Cloud List App. 

When scanning your project's QR code, a Yellow button containing a URL line will appear, touch the button with your finger to activate your device to open your project's Cloud App.

(Note: If you have not previously logged into your OPS account with the mobile device you are using, you will need to enter your OPS Account Number and Password the first time you login to your App. (You will only need to do this once per device.)

Cloud App Image Matching Icon Functions

Red Camera Icon - Click to SYNC your App & Camera for Image Matching

Green Camera Icon - Confirming Camera #1 is SYNC to your APP

Blue Magnifying Glass for locating Individual Names

Blue Add an Individual (or Group) Icon

Blue Group Icon for Auto Matching Individuals to Groups

Syncing Cloud App and your Camera 

After your Mobile Device opens your project's cloud app, you will see the first subject's name displayed on your screen, along with a Red Camera icon long with your other app icons. The Red Camera Icon indicated that your project's Mobile App is not Synced to your camera. Touch the Red Camera Icon with your finger to Sync your Device. 

A list of available Cameras will now open up on your screen, please select a Camera Number for Linking by touching the camera number with your finger. (We recommend selecting each Link Camera Number in sequential order 1-9.)

If you are working with multiple photographers, we recommend you assign each camera the same number you select for Syncing. (A simple post it-note will do.) You must not have more than one camera assigned to a Camera Sync Number. 

Now after you have selected a Camera number to link to, press your finger onto the Circle of Green Arrows. 

Next take a photo of the Blue Sync button while simultaneously Tapping the Blue Sync button.

It is critical you Save this Sync Image File for Uploading with files taken at the shoot, as it will be used to Sync the camera's time with the photo from the shoot. 

Important Note: This is a Time Stamp Process, any changes to the camera's internal Date or Time throughout the process will result in additional hours of manual image matching. 

Now after you photographed your Sync Image, a message window will open asking if you have taken your Sync photo. Please Click on the OK button in the message box so our server can flag the image as your Sync scan. 

Now Click on the Red Close Button to return to your Subject Screen.

Your Subject screen will be displayed on your mobile device, please note your Camera Icon is now Green with a #5 next to the camera. This means your device is now Sync as camera #5 or whatever camera ID number you decided to use.

Now note the name displayed on your screen, if this is the name of your first subject you are going to photograph, you need to click on the White Activate This Subject button. Your mobile device will give you an audible beep to confirm the subject listed is activated and the White Button will change to a Green button and display Active. 

You may shoot as many exposures as you wish of any subject, when you are ready to shoot your next subject, simply click on the Blue Magnifying Glass Icon to open a list of all the names you have listed in your data file for the shoot. (See additional information below on navigating your App's Icons.

(Note: You can tap or swipe the left and white arrows highlighted below to quickly select the next or previous subject to be photographed.)

As soon as the Green ACTIVE button is displayed, you are all set to photograph the subject being displayed on your mobile device. Take as many photos as you need, all of them will be flagged automatically to your Subject's data when you upload your images into your computer. 

How to search for a subject

To Open another subject's name to photograph, simply click on the Blue Magnifying Glass icon, a new subject box will open on your screen where you can either select a new subject listed, or type in the search box the first few letters of the new subject's last or first name. When the name you are searching for appears, tap on the name and your screen will automatically switch to your new subject. Click on the Active button of the new subject, your mobile device will beep, and your Green Active button will be displayed. After you're finished shooting your subject, repeat the steps until you have completed your shoot.

Sample Searching for a subject's name by typing the first few letters of the subject's name for activation. 

The Yellow Refresh Subject Button is used when a newly added subject (usually at your shoot) can't be found. The refresh button will reload your Subject list, and your new subject will appear. 

Adding an Individual to your Subjects Shoot List.

To Add a new subject to your shoot list, click on the Blue Plus Person Icon, the Add Subject window will open. Type in the needed subject information to the appropriate fields and click on the Add Subject button. 

(Please note, it's not critical to enter all the information listed in the box. The first and last name along with teacher or homeroom, team, etc. is necessary so you can ID their photographs and deliver them. Error and omissions can be corrected in your OPS Admin's Subjects screen by clicking on their Edit button. 

Adding Groups to your Subjects Shoot List

*Important Note! Please review the Photographing Groups with the Cloud App before working with this option. Failure to follow our Shooting Group Photos procedures correctly could result in your Group Photos not being Tagged for delivery with your Subjects packages.  

Shooting and matching your client's photos to their group photos has never been easier! We three methods of adding Group data to your project's .CSV file. (Don't worry, it's much easier than it sounds!)

The first is by appending (adding) data to your project's subject's data. The 2nd option is adding your group names when shooting your project. Both methods are handled the same way when shooting your subjects, you will simply assign (Tag) the group name on your mobile device when they are being photographed.   

Method #1 For projects that have not been uploaded to an OPS project. (The Project has not been Photographed)

Simply add the Group Names to your .csv file and then upload the revised .csv file (with the group names) to your project. If your .csv data has already been uploaded, do not reupload everything again, use Method #2!

Please review the .csv file columns below carefully and copy the format for your project.

Group Columns 

First Name: > Enter the word Group, must always be entered in Frist Name column only.

Last Name & Teamname > Enter the Team Name in BOTH Columns

Method #2

Projects already uploaded with your individual's data, but without group names. (The Project has not been Photographed)

New Data File: Create a new .csv file containing the First Name (Group) Last Name (Group Name) and Teamname (Group Name)

The Group Info for this data file will look exactly like the data you entered for Method #1 except the only data in this file will be the group info, no individual data. Name and save your new .csv file, then upload the file via your project's the Subject list using the Add/Merge Data only line. Once again, do not reupload everything again, just your new group data only should be uploaded. (Nothing else should be in the data except the group info.)

Below is a sample of Group Data included in your Subject Data screen. Note the group images will only appear once after you shoot your project. Each subject will be tagged to the correct group at the shoot.

Method #3

Adding Groups at your Shoot, before shooting your individual photos. The steps for adding Groups (or Teams) to your projects shoot data on a mobile device is very similar to Adding a Subject to your shoot data. The Critical difference is the First and Last Name along with the Team Name is handled differently.

Click on the Blue Plus Person Icon, the Add Subject window will open. Type in the word Group in the First Name field, Type in the Team Name in both the Last Name and TeamName fields. Now Click on the Add Subject button to add the team's name to your data.

(Please note, in the sample below we are using a Teacher's name as the group name because that's how the groups are organized. You can use any group or team name needed to identify the project's groups/teams. 

Only Add the word Group in the Frist Name line and Group Names in the Last Name & Teamname Fields

Sample Subject Data without Group Names

Subject Data with Group Images Added

Activating Groups for your Shoot 

After you have added your project's Group Names to your Subject Data in OPS, you will be able to Tag the appropriate Group Photo to all the individuals you will be photographing. 

Before you begin shooting your project with groups, you must setup your Group Names in your Mobile Device App so you can add a group tag to the individuals you are photographing. 

Photographing your Groups 

Mobile App setup for Tagging Groups with an Individual

Please Note: The Top and Bottom lines both contain the name of the group you are about to photograph. It's essential that you have both Group Names on the Top and Bottom Line of your mobile device.

(Note: You must have Group Names included in your Subject Data in order for you to be able to setup this preference.)

Now, after you have added the name of the group you are going to photograph on both the top and bottom line on your mobile device screen, you must Tap both White Activate Buttons, so they display a Green Active color.  You are now ready to shoot your Group Photo(s).

Repeat these steps for each Group you need for your shoot. Also note, you can shoot groups for any camera that is setup with a Camera App. Lastly you can shoot as many group photos as you need, but only one Group Shot will be tagged per Group. We recommend you edit down to a single group photo before Uploading your images to OPS. If more than one group image is uploaded, the last photo uploaded will automatically be used as the tagged group image.

Turning Off Auto-Match Groups while shooting.

Click on the blue Group Icon The Group Option window will open listing two options. The top line is named Hide Groups, tap this line if you do not want to allow Group Tags. The 2nd Line is Teamname, Tap this line if you want to Tag a Group Photos to an individual. 

Tagging Groups to your Subjects at the Shoot

Tagging Group Photos with your Individual images is very straight forward, simply make sure your App has Group Photos set to Auto Match - Teamname. (Click on the Group Photo Icon and then click on Auto Match.)

Next Click on the word Group on your Mobile Device Screen, the App will open your Group Names list when you can select the Group Name you want the Individual you are photographing to be tagged to.

Then do the same on the bottom row by clicking on the last Name on the screen and then selecting the individual's name you are photographing. 

(You can also click on the magnifying glass icon or swipe the Subject field from side to side to locate your next subject as well.)

Once you have the group and subject's name displayed on your screen, Click on both of the Activate White buttons. (One for the Group and the Other for the subject's name.

When both your Group and Subject Names are displaying an Active Green Button, you are all set to photograph your subject and have their image tagged to their group photo automatically.

1. Repeat until all subjects have been photographed.

2. Download images from Camera 1 to folder including the Camera 1 Sync Image file

    

Uploading and Image Matching your Project's photos in OPS

1. Once images have been culled, you’re ready to upload images … here are those steps
2. Subjects > Subject Actions > Add Camera Sync Images

Once images have been culled, you’re ready to upload images … here are those steps

Go to: Subjects > Subject Actions > Add Camera Sync Images

Choose the Camera Sync Image for Camera 1 > Choose File > Browse to Camera 1 Folder of images and select only the Sync Image file > Open > Select the blue Upload Camera Sync Images button

1. Confirm the image showing is the Sync Camera file

1. Confirm Image Processing Settings >
2. Do you want ACI to perform the extractions (if Green Screen project)? 
3. Do you want ACI to color correct your files / if so, Global or Individual?
4. If you’ve created tags (we recommend this!), select the proper Tags for the images you are uploading (example: Camera 1, Camera 2, Absentee Day)

Select the Image Files to Upload button > Browse for and select the images to be uploaded (Do not include the Camera Sync image) > Select Start Upload Images which will upload all images to the appropriate subject record.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’re having ACI perform extractions, it’s best to NOT request Extractions and Color correction when uploading these initial files. We recommend requesting extractions and Color correction when you upload / merge cropped images.

Once all original images have been uploaded and assigned to the correct subject record), now feel free to crop and edit them then save as same file name. 

Upload these ‘edited images by going to Subjects > Subject Actions > Add/Merge Image files only. 

If ACI will be doing the Extractions and / or Color Correction, now is the time to request those services when you’re uploading the ‘finished’ / cropped images which will be replacing the original / uncropped images that were uploaded initially.

If the studio is doing their own extractions or having another vendor do them, the studio should still upload the original uncropped images, choosing No for ACI to do the extractions. Once the studio has the png files with the same file names as the original file that was uploaded, the png files may now be uploaded by going to Subjects > Subject Actions > Add/Merge Image files only.  The png files will replace the original files as long as they have the same file name.

Now the project is ready to share with shoppers.