Playing by the Numbers
Understanding the image sizes used by the application systems

ZAPP Image Sizes
100×100 pixels – the old ZAPP thumbnail size which showed all images the same size. It was based on uploading 1920 pixel square images with black borders. It also made it easy to preview your presentation because all images displayed at the same size.

100×160 pixels – the new ZAPP thumbnail size which makes non square horizontal images look larger. Misleading because the jury images are not different sizes within your application when the jury sees them.

700×700 pixels – the old ZAPP generated monitor enlargement size which displayed all images equally in size.

750 pixels long dimension – The new ZAPP generated monitor size which can cut off tops and bottoms of verticals and squares depending on jurors screen resolution size.

750×1000 pixels – the new ZAPP monitor enlargement size which favors horizontals. Images are proportionally reduced when displayed on jurors monitors to smaller than 700 pixels to prevent being cut off top and bottom because 750 pixels is too large.

1400 pixels long dimension – The minimum size ZAPP says can be uploaded into your profile. But images uploaded smaller than 1920 pixels display proportionally smaller when the top art shows project the images for the jurors. Smaller than 1400 pixel images can still be uploaded but you are unable to attach them to your application, frustrating many artists who use older cell phone cameras to photograph their artwork.

1920×1920 pixels – formatted with black borders to square rectangular images. This is the optimum size for jury images within the ZAPP system. If you upload any other size or format, ZAPP will modify your images squaring them at 1920 with black borders when you apply to any show that projects the images. Smaller images get wider black borders and put you at a disadvantage. This is the only size that the jurors will see the exact images you’ve uploaded for projection jurying.

JAS Image Sizes
80 pixels long dimension – the thumbnail size in your JAS portfolio. Small but never seen by jurors. Only large enough that you can identify the images when adding required information or choosing images for an application.

300 pixels long dimension – the small image size in an application. The 300 pixel images are displayed three over two with the artist statement under the top center image for shows that ask for five images. Large enough that the jurors can judge your body of work without having to enlarge the images.

700 pixels long dimension – the enlarged size in your application when jurors click on the 300 pixel images.

1400 pixels long dimension – the smallest size you can upload to JAS though it says 1900 pixels is the smallest. Most artists have 1400 pixel images in their JAS profiles. Remember the jurors only see the images at 700 pixels long dimension.

1900 pixels long dimension – the smallest size JAS tells you can be uploaded

3600 pixels long dimension – the maximum size you can use for a Lark Book application. For artists who let me know they are applying to Lark Books, I create a portfolio for them at the maximum size Lark asks for.

4000 pixels long dimension – the largest size you can upload to JAS. Serves no purpose.

ZAPP 1920 pixel square images (with black borders) can be uploaded to JAS. But depending on your composition or subject matter, the black borders may or may not be a distraction.

Recommended upload sizes
For ZAPP, it’s always been 1920 pixels square with black borders masking rectangular images. That’s the only way your original uploaded images will be shown to the jurors using projectors. And for shows using monitors they see the images on black so the black borders have never been an issue. For Juried art services, it used to be 1400 pixels long dimension but now I upload images that are 2000 pixels long dimension. Though that 2000 pixel image will be reduced to 700 pixels for jurying, it satisfies the shows asking for larger images for publicity and gives you a better shot at being accepted by Lark Books.

Using large images to advertise the show
As always, we hope the art shows using those large images do the right thing and not jeopardize the artist’s copyright. Each time an image is used for publicity, it needs to be accompanied by the copyright symbol followed by the artist’s name. And those large images should never by uploaded to the internet by any art show. I’ve always recommended images used by art shows for their web sites (or for any other upload use) be no larger than 500 pixels long dimension.

Shows not using ZAPP or JAS
For art shows not using ZAPP or JAS there is no standard. Since viewing devices are widescreen horizontal, large horizontal images without black borders will always display bigger than verticals or squares.

Image Resolution
72PPI or 300PPI is irrelevant as long as the number of pixels in height and width doesn’t change. Resolution does absolutely nothing to improve the image viewing quality for jurying. 300DPI is the recommended resolution for printing. But for viewing on a monitor or for projection, it means nothing. Shows that specify resolution should hire a graphic designer that understands how to resize images, not depend on artists who don’t understand or even have a program that can do it for them.

Please contact me if you have any questions. 412-401-8100