Images Now Required
with Registration
A picture is worth a thousand words. In an effort to
cite the author, I discovered that this common idiom is
thought to date back to ancient China. A great picture, it
follows, is priceless.
The American Iris Society wants to ensure that highquality,
accurate images are available to promote the
cultivation of irises, have accurate photographic records
for historical purposes, allow local affiliates access to
promote sales and shows, and coordinate with the Iris
Encyclopedia.
At the November AIS Board meeting the Board
BY NEIL HOUGHTON, AIS IMAGE COORDINATOR, NEW YORK
received a report from the AIS Image Consultation
Group, chaired by the AIS Image Coordinator.
Referencing the fact that many major genus registration
groups already require images from registrants
(hosta, daffodils, clematis, daylily, for example), we
recommended that the AIS do the same. The Board
accepted this recommendation and charged us to refine
it regarding specific requirements and processes. We
presented the results to the Board at a teleconference
on November 29 and after amendment it passed without
objection. There was a requirement that we supply a
clearer description of the size and resolution of the
photos that would be acceptable. We also provided a
flow chart that showed how this process would mesh with
the submission of registration forms to assure it would be
as easy as possible for all involved.
It is very important to say we do not want to make
registration so cumbersome that it prevents anyone from
submitting a new cultivar for registration. The Registrar
and the Image Coordinator agree completely upon this.
If a registration is submitted without pictures, the Image
Coordinator will follow up with the registrant and make
every effort to obtain pictures to go with the registration.
If every effort is made and a registrant cannot access
email, The Registrar will continue to accept hard copy
registration forms sent via conventional mail. The
Registrar will coordinate with the image coordinator with
regard to the images. Electronic submission of data is a
future goal that we all want to work toward.
The motion passed on Nov. 29, 2017 follows:
The American Iris Society requires that:
1) Digital image(s) be submitted with the
registration form by email to the Registrar
and the Image Coordinator
(registrar@irises.org and images@irises.org).
2) The minimum image submitted be a clear,
high-resolution image of the bloom
(5”x7” and 300 dpi*)
3) The submission of additional images of the
stalk, clump, heart and other distinctive
features of the cultivar be recommended to
the registrant as well.
4) While we encourage multiple images with
each registration, images of other cultivars
must be sent separately.**
5) The Image Coordinator will maintain an
online data file of these images. Once names
are finalized and images are properly named
and marked internally (metadata) they will
be placed in a folder that could be accessed
by authorized persons and groups (e.g.,
those working on the online encyclopedia).
*The image consultation group will review and
clarify the image size requirements.
** This simply means that each registration form and
image should be in a separate email to assist in
assuring that the image and registration form are
kept together to avoid confusion.
To clarify image size in the simplest terms, each
Image should be AT LEAST 1 MB file size (one megabyte
MB is 1000 kilobytes KB). When you attach an image
to an email or look for it online the size of the file will
be shown. Anything smaller than 1000 KB will not be
suitable for publication. When an iris is awarded the
34 AIS Bulletin Winter 2018