Workflow optimization
When introducing qCrop in an existing environment, there typically exists a large stock of imagery that has to be marked up with cropping hints before the images can be used by the qCrop Cropping Service.
It is therefore essential to be as efficient in this task as possible. Applying qCrop cropping hints should ideally take only a couple of seconds per image. To reach this goal, we recommend the following procedure:
- Apply the Force Crop Frame – if at all required – first, as any modification to it voids the other cropping hints.
- Next, apply the Preservation Frame to the focal area of the image in a rather “mechanical” sense, without taking care of subtle details regarding the image composition at this point.
- Use the Vector Pointer to finetune the result. If no satisfying result can be acquired, start to play with the Preservation Frame and the Vector Pointer until the best result is reached.
Because many images can be perfectly solved with only the Vector Pointer, there is a second established workflow, which gives the Vector Pointer an early shot with the expectation to avoid the application of the Preservation Frame. If you generally experience good results with the “Vector Pointer only” approach in your stock, this workflow might save significant time:
- Apply the Force Crop Frame – if at all required – first, as any modification to it voids the other cropping hints.
- Try the Vector Pointer and if a good result can be obtained, stop right here.
- Otherwise apply the Preservation Frame to the focal area of the image in a rather “mechanical” sense, without taking care of subtle details regarding the image composition at this point.
- Use the Vector Pointer to finetune the result. If no satisfying result can be acquired, start to play with the Preservation Frame and the Vector Pointer until the best result is reached.