Downloading the MerlinOne Plugin

To download this plug-in, go to Best of Photojournalism section of the MerlinOne Web site: http://www.merlinone.com/nppa.html. Please follow Web instructions for downloading and installation. If your system does not meet the requirements of Merlin One, please contact NPPA at contests@nppa.org.

The MerlinOne Plug-in will allow you to provide all necessary name, category and caption information required for Best of Photojournalism. The plug-in works through Adobe Photoshop.

Object Field

Entering the correct information into the object field is critical to your entry. This information is used in your email confirmation as well as in sequencing your images in picture story and portfolio entries. In order to complete the object field, you must have completed an online, interactive registration form at www.nppa.org/competitions/best_of_still_photojournalism/2004/how_to_enter/still_entry_form.shtml and have received an email containing your unique Contest Identification Code.

Entries in Single Image Categories

Fill in your unique Contest Identification Code in the object field. If you have more than one entry in the same single-image category, enter a hyphen and number after your Unique ID Code.

Example, one entry per single image category: ########

Example, more than one image per single image category: ######## -1, ######## -2, etc.

Entries in Picture Story Categories

Fill in your contest Identification Code, the subject of the story, and the order of the picture in the story (001-012).

Example: ######## -Wedding-001

IMPORTANT!

• You must use hyphens between each portion: CONTEST ID CODE- SUBJECT-NUMBER
• Do not use the same subject for different picture stories within the same category
• You must use three digits in the sequence numbering, beginning with zero (0): 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012
• Any typos in the object field may cause the images to be incorrectly sequenced or dropped from the picture story.

Entries in Portfolio Categories

Use your Unique Identification Code, the portfolio category abbreviation for the subject, and the position of the picture in the portfolio sequence.

Example: ######## -NPY-001, or ######## -MPY-001, or ######## -SPY-001.
(001-040 for newspaper and magazine photographer of the year and 001-020 for sports photographer of the year).

IMPORTANT!

• You must use hyphens between each portion: CATEGORY ABBREVIATION-CONTEST ID CODE-number
• You must use three digits in the sequence number, beginning with zero (0): 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, etc.
• Any typos in the object field may cause images to be incorrectly sequenced or dropped from the portfolio.

Naming Your File

File names are not important for cataloguing your images when using the MerlinOne system. However, the file name must be unique within your collection of entries. We recommend that your final saved file be named exactly the same as your "file name" in the Object Name under File Info. (Tip: Copy and paste from Object Name.)

Folders/Single Entries

Use a separate folder for each category. Put all single entries from the same category in the same folder. Name the folder using the category codes listed earlier.

(Example: If you have five entries in the Domestic News category, all five should go in a folder named "don.")

Picture Story and Portfolio Entries

Use a separate folder for each picture story. Put all individual pictures from a picture story in one folder. Name the folder using the category codes listed earlier, followed by an underscore, followed by the slug. (Example: For twelve pictures in News Picture Story slugged "rally," all 12 pictures should go in a folder named "nps_rally.")

Submitting Via FTP

FTP has become an important part of the Best of Photojournalism contest, and has greatly improved the ease of entering a photo contest. To submit your images via FTP, you must complete the online, interactive entry form. Once you complete the form, the FTP address, user name and password will be emailed to you automatically. Please allow 15 minutes for the information to be sent. Please save the information in case you choose to submit additional images or your connection fails.

Submit your entries only once. Please check you entries on the website between March 3^rd and 7^th. If you're unfamiliar with using FTP, you can visit www.merlinone.com/nppa.html for instructions.

Submitting Via Zip or CD

Both Mac and PC disks are acceptable. All entries submitted via ZIP or CD must either be postmarked February 14, 2003. This postmark requirement includes the label ship date for all entries shipped using private shipping services such as FedEx.

All disks must be labeled correctly:

• Label each zip disk or CD with your name and organization. It must be legible.
• If submitting more than one zip disk for your entries, please number zips. (i.e., "1 of 2," "2 of 2.")
• Label whether zip disk or CD is Mac or PC.

Mailing Address:

Please mail disks and entry forms to:

National Press Photographers Association
3200 Croasdaile Drive, Suite 306
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-383-7246

Confirmation Of Images Received

NPPA recommends that photographers review the website of contest entries to ensure your images have been received and processed. The entry site will launch March 3, 2003 and will be accessible through the NPPA Website, www.nppa.org.

You will be sent a confirmation email listing the images received. (Images will be listed by the information provided in the object field). Confirmation emails will be sent out March 1-3, 2003.

IMPORTANT! YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE CONFIRMATION EMAILS FOR THOSE IMAGES THAT INCLUDE A CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE TRANSMISSION FIELD!

If you do not get confirmation emails for you images by March 4th, please check the contest site featuring all entries for your images. If you do not find your images there, then contact NPPA via email (contests@nppa.org) or phone (919-383-7246, ext. 16)

Final Checklist

Image Specifications

• Are all of your files properly formatted, and do they fit within the size requirements?
• Did you include your email address in the Transmission field?
• Picture Stories and Portfolios will not be taken apart for individual image categories. Have you submitted single out of your portfolio or picture stories for the single categories?
• Did you create a folder for each story and portfolio
• Is all of your caption information correct?
• Did you re-save your files to update the information?

Shipping your entries

• Are you shipping it to the correct address?

3200 Croasdaile Dr, Suite 306,
Durham, NC 27705.

REMEMBER: All entries must be postmarked by February 14, 2003.