TKO
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      TKO Certification

      In order to use the TKO service you must first be certified by submitting sample images to be reviewed.

      TKO is the Candid Color Systems acronym referring to our non-chroma key knockouts. It stands for Total Knockout. The knockouts are done from a solid light color background. Preferably a white but non hi-key background, meaning an unlighted white background.  Below are the requirements for the certification process. 

      Images required for Initial Tests

      • Three Full Length Images
      • Three ¾ Length Images
      • Three Close-up Images

      Images/Photography Parameters


      • Shoot on White Non-High Key Background
        • Can be fleece (recommend Westcott), paper, muslin, vinyl
      • Light the subject and not the background
        • This allows the background to shift to a light to medium gray which is optimal
        • Do not shot off the background
      • Resolution/Image Size must be less than 23 MP Resolution (Pixel Dimensions)
      • File Size/Storage Size must be less than 8 MB
      • Email the images to steve@candid.com
      • Questions? Contact Steve Foisy at steve@candid.com or 800-336-4550 Ext 479

      Once received, images will be processed and feedback provided on the results.

      TKO vs Chroma-Key Pricing

      • Chroma-Key Cutout - $0.21 per Image
      • TKO Cutout - $0.21 per image
      • Rendering a Cutout to a Background - $0.10 per background per image
        • Includes Dynamic Online Images when customer orders from one with a selected background
          • Includes pre-rendering backgrounds to cutouts to create new images for display online


      Certification Review

      1. Background Color
        1. Correct Light to Medium Gray Color
        2. Background too dark
        3. Background too light
        4. Background incorrect color
      2. Background Smoothness
        1. No visible wrinkles
        2. Light wrinkles
        3. Severe wrinkles
      3. Background Exposure
        1. Good background exposure
        2. Background slightly overexposed
        3. Background severely overexposed
        4. Background slightly underexposed
        5. Background severely underexposed
      4. Background Subject Shadows
        1. No visible subject shadows
        2. Slight subject shadows
        3. Severe subject shadows
      5. Photo Completely On Background
        1. Photo on background
        2. Photo off top of background
        3. Photo off 1 or 2 sides of background
        4. Photo off bottom of background
      6. Subject Exposure
        1. Subject correctly exposed
        2. Subject slightly overexposed
        3. Subject severely overexposed
        4. Subject slightly underexposed
        5. Subject severely overexposed
      7. Subject Color (White Balance)
        1. Subject has correct white balance
        2. Subject white balance is off towards the _______________warm/cool side
        3. Other ________________________________________________________
      8. Subject Color Spill
        1. No background color spill
        2. Slight background spill
        3. Severe background spill
      9. Image Size
        1. Image size is 23 MP or less (pixel dimensions)
        2. Image size is over 23 MP
      10. File Size
        1. File size is 8 MB or less (storage size on device)
        2. File size is over 8MB
      11. Other Observations __________________________________________________