Events - RACE
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      3. Events - RACE

      Auto ID Race Images by Time

      If you can get the timing data from when a runner/biker/swimmer crossed a timing mat, you can use the time-of-day data to auto ID images. This only works for locations where you are photographing at the exact moment they cross a timing mat.

      Requirements

      Participants need to be photographed at the exact moment they cross a timing mat.  For many races, participants may only cross a timing mat at the finish line.  If that is the case the auto ID will only work for the finish line photos.

      You will need to get the following participant information and timing data from the race timing company.  

      • Participants First Name
      • Participants Last Name
      • Participants Email
      • The time of day the participant crossed the timing mat (not their finish time, but the actual time of day)
      • You will take this information and create 3 separate CSV files
        • File 1:  Column 1 = Bib# |  Column 2 = Participant Name (First & Last in same column)
        • File 2:  Column 1 = Bib#  |  Column 2 = Time of Day (This needs to be down to the second, example if they crossed at 2:04 pm and 12 seconds the data needs to be 14:04:12 PM)
        • File 3:  Column 1 = Bib#  |  Column 2 = FirstName  |  Column 3 = LastName  |   Column 4 = PEmail  |  Column 5 = PCellPhone  |   (if you get additional contact data that data can go in other columns)

      If you don't already, you'll need a user and password to log into the Auto ID website.  Contact support with your account number and names of people you need to have access to the Auto ID site.

      https://webservices.candid.com/autospot/login.aspx

      Camera Setup

      When photographing races the average number of images per runner is 10-20 images depending on the distance of the race and the number of photographers photographing along the course.  Race events typically have a high number of images being taken, so being able to auto ID will speed up the process of getting your images online. 

      • All cameras used need to be set to the proper year, date, time and time zone.  
      • You want to set your image size to small with high compression, so your image file size is between 1.0 mb - 1.8 mb per image
        • Keeping your images small will allow you to upload and ID images much faster
        • With image files of 1.0 mb - 1.8 mb we can product quality prints up to 16x20
        • Also, keeping your average files size under 1.8 mb you get the discounted ecommerce rate of 6%

      CCS Uploader Settings for Uploading a Race

      You will need to use a Windows Computer and the CCS Uploader program to upload your images.  When uploading you'll want to upload your images into folders with only 100 images per folder.  The reason for this, is to make it easy for multiple people to checkout and ID images.  This is automatically done when you upload your images via CCS Uploader.

      To setup the CCS Uploader program to upload race images follow these settings.

      • Open CCS Uploader and go to File > Application Settings
      • Go to the Image Upload Tab and enter these settings 
      • Go to the Advanced Tab enter these settings 
      • Go to the Market Settings tab and enter these settings
        • Under Market location RACE
        • Next to RACE under Images per folder enter 100
        • Next to RACE under Use Pre-Loader check it
        • At the bottom next to Simultaneous Image Uploads enter 9
        • Click OK to save your settings
      • The above steps only need to be done once, CCS Uploader will remember these settings

      Uploading Your Race Images

      Make sure you have CCS Uploader setup properly for uploading a race before you begin adding images.  Follow these steps to upload your race images.

      • Get your memory cards sorted by location and photographer
      • We recommend uploading images in the order of position on the course.  Example if you had photographers at the start, mile 5, mile 10, mile 15, mile 20 and at the finish, we would recommend you upload the start images first, then upload the images taken at mile 5, then the images taken at mile 10, then mile 15, then mile 20, then the finish.  If you did candids or banner photos, we recommend uploading those at the end.  This way images are somewhat in order they were actually taken and makes the gallery look nicer to the customer when they view their images.
      • Open the CCS Uploader program by going into the event in CORE, then go to "images" on the left menu, then select Start Uploading and it will launch the CCS Uploader program
      • Once opened, select Advance Mode
      • On the left menu select "Create new folder after 100 images"
      • You can optionally enter/select a photographers name.  This will be helpful if you'd like to view sales by photographer later.
      • Under Add images to folder, we suggest entering the LocationName_1.  As images load, it will automatically start a new folder after 100 with the next sequence number.  Example: after LocationName_1, it will load the next 100 images into LocationName_2 and so on.
        • Naming the folders by location will help you and your customer locate images later than may not get IDd because of a missing or obstructed bib
        • It also helps you determine what location has the best sales 
      • Once you have made the proper selections and entered your first folder name, in this example: Start_1, you can grab all the images (if images are in multiple folders on the memory card, you can grad all the folders) from that photographer's memory card and drag and drop them where it says "Drag Folders or Images Here"
        • When you drag the images or folder, make sure you see the green highlight around the entire area before dropping 
        • You will see images begin to load.  Once the first folder fills with 100 images, it will automatically create the next folder and fill with 100 images, then create the next folder and so on until all images you just dragged in have been imported into a folder
        • You will also see those folders begin to upload the previews and thumbnails.  This means the images we use to ID are already being uploaded.  So by the time you finish adding all images for all photographers you'll be able to start IDing images.
        • If a photographer has multiple memory cards, or you are ready to move to the next photographer's memory card, you'll need to wait until all the previous images have been imported before removing the card from your card reader. 
        • Once the images have been copied into the uploader program you can insert the next card
        • If the images are for the same location and you are naming the folders by location as suggested, look to see the last folder name and enter the next folder name on the left menu.  Example:  if the last set of images ended in folder Start_3, you would enter Start_4.  Make sure to select the photographer name, then you can drag and drop your next set of images
        • Repeat the above steps until all images have been added to the uploader program
        • When finished adding all images, wait until the program finishes uploading the previews and thumbnails before proceeding to the next step.
          • You can go into CORE and start IDing images and/or start the auto ID by time
        • When all the previews and thumbnails have finished uploading, click next 
          • On the next page click next
          • On the next page select to upload fullsize images now
          • Select all images
          • Start the upload
          • Keep your computer on and awake while the program finishes uploading the images

      Auto IDing Images by Time of Day

      Go to https://webservices.candid.com/autospot/login.aspx and log into your account.  If you have not already been given a username and password, please contact support at CCSsupport@candid.com with your account # and names of people you'd like to have access to the Auto ID site.

      1. Enter your CCS account number and the Event Number, then click "Add Event"
      2. You will see a message that the event has been added.  Find the event in the list and click the "select" button.
      3. Next you will click "Import Race Participants".  Your race participant list must be saved as  comma delimited CSV file.  It must contain bib# in column 1 and participants first and last name in column 2.  No other data should be in this list.
      4. On the import screen, click "choose file" to locate your CSV participant list, then click import
      5. You will then see you list displayed
      6. Click the link at the top of the page "Return to Main Menu"
      7. Click on "Manage Shot Locations"
      8. Enter a location name.  We suggest location-photographer name. Then click "Add Location"
      9. Then click the "choose file" button and locate your timing file.  The timing data must be a comma delimited CSV file that contains bib# in column 1 and time of day (hour:minute:seconds) in column 2.  No other data should be included in this file.  After locating the file, click the "Import Timing Data" button.
      10. It will then confirm the records that have been imported
      11. Repeat steps 8-10 for each location and photographer photographing at a timing mat
      12. Click on the "Return to Event Main Menu"
      13. Click on "Manage Cameras"
      14. Enter a camera name such as, Finish1 and the photographer's name
      15. After clicking add, click "edit rolls" and enter the first folder of images this photographer took under "Beg Roll" and the last folder of images this photographer took under "End Roll" and save.
      16. Repeat steps 14-15 for each photographer that photographed at a timing mat
      17. After all photographers and their folders have been entered, click the "Sync" button for the first photographer
        1. From the dropdown select the location that matches your camera and click "Assign Camera"
        2. On the left it will select the first image in the roll and frame, use the zoom tool to zoom in on the bib# and enter the bib #, then click accept
        3. It will show you the name assigned to that bib along with their click time and the clock differential from the camera time.
        4. After accepting, click "add to offset"
          1. Repeat for at least 5 images in this folder
            1. If your folders have 100 images we suggest selecting one of the first images, then when finished select an image around 25, then around 50 and around 75, then one of the last images.  That's 5 different images in this folder that will give you a good selection of figuring out the clock differential average that will be used to sync the time and ID images.
          2. After entering the bib and accepting at least 5 images in this folder, you will see the results on the right side of the page, under Set Camera Offset, select to use the average by clicking "use" then click "Set Offset"
        5. If this photographer has more than one folder of images on the left menu select another folder from the Roll dropdown.  You don't need to set offsets for each folder but you should for a couple at the beginning of the race a couple in the middle and a couple of the last folders for this photographer so you have a good sampling.
        6. After you finish syncing multiple folders for this photographer and location you can leave this page and go select the next location and photographer by clicking the "Return to Manage Cameras" at the top of the page
      18. Select Sync next to the next camera/photographer repeat step 17 for all camera/photographer locations
      19. When finished syncing all camera/photographer locations return to the main event menu
      20. Click Capture and Spot  
      21. Select a camera from the Camera dropdown.  Under offset it will tell you the average offset of this photographer.  In the example below the offset for this photographer was 58.1 seconds, so to make sure we capture fast and slow participants, we would enter next to Auto Set Capture Range: of -2.0 to 2.0, that means it's going to match images that were at the timing mat 2 seconds before and 2 seconds after.  You can click on "find matches" to see if it's matching images.  If it is matching no images or too many images, you can change your seconds to be broader or narrower.
      22. When satisfied with the results, click Auto-spot this camera
      23. Repeat 20-22 for all cameras
      24. When finished syncing and auto-spotting all cameras you are ready to import the ID info into CORE.  Go into the event in CORE.
        1. Go to Names & Contact Data
        2. Click on Import Names and Orders
        3. Import your full participant list that includes a minimum of Bib# | FirstName  | LastName  | Pemail
      25. Click back on Names & Contact Data on the left
        1. Click Import BulkID data
        2. Select a camera/photographer, then click "Import Event Auto IDs"
      26. Click on Images on the left menu
        1. Click ID Images
        2. You can checkout folders of images to review IDing and make edits as needed
        3. Keep in mind you are always going to get false IDs because participants cross the timing mats at different paces