Digital Workflow - Remote View

[gdstaples]

Hello:

I posted this on another forum and have not had any replies. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated:

I have a digital workflow question:

I currently have a D60 but will probably sell it in the next week or so to purchase a 1DS or 1D.

I need to setup a solution that will allow clients to remotely preview an image (real-time) for approval or changes prior to the final. Essentially what I am looking for is to allow an AD to remotely approve images like they were there in my studio.

Technical:

I have both wired (100Mbit) and wireless (802.11b) setup in my studio. I have a workstation at the camera (wireless) connected to the Internet via a 1.5Mbit DSL connection with static IP. The client also has static IP and fast Internet. I have profiled the client's workstation and my workstation (CRT) so we are working in the same color space. I also have a dedicated Internet server that I can push images to.

I was thinking of either purchasing Capture One for a 1D/1DS and creating a batch script that would create a PHP page containing the processed photograph/s or better yet, I was thinking about using a combination of programs like Capture One for the workflow but sharing my desktop with the client/AD using Netmeeting or something similar.

Are any of you doing something similar with your client's and what would your recommendations be?

Thanks in advance,
Duncan Staples

[Dans_D60]

I have done exactly what you requested with a few simple tools. First, I use Breeze Systems’ D30 Remote (same program for the D60) http://www.breezesys.com. Next I have an open shared window in WebEx. http://www.webex.com. The images appear as I’m shooting with Remote and displayed using WebEx at the client site. WebEx has all kinds of interactive sharing and security features including everything NetMeeting has and much more. Fast internet connect is good, but fixed IP is not necessary. If you are using Windows XP Professional, another method is to use the built-in Remote Desktop Connect. You need to trust your clients as they get full control of your desktop or visa versa. Cost is nil as it is part of the O.S. If this is just one primary client and both of you have fixed IP’s, another solution is a VPN connect. Here you (and they) will appear as a virtual drive and folder on your desktop. So any images placed in a common folder can be viewed by both parties. If you want to push content to a web server for viewing is fine. I think it’s an extra unnecessary step if you are just looking for real-time file sharing. My thoughts….Dan

http://www.pettusphoto.com

[gdstaples]

Dan:

Excellent information - I appreciate the reply. Do you think Netmeeting would work as Webex is extremely expensive? I could setup a Netmeeting server in my studio if needed. You can share a desktop in Netmeeting so I am thinking it might work. I could also issue a VPN client as I am running a Sonicwall SOHO3. Thanks again.

Duncan Staples
www.staplesphoto.com

[henkbos]

Might want to try Microsoft Terminal Server. This has also the ability to control what the other user can do on your laptop.

[Dans_D60]

I haven’t used NetMeeting is several years. But I believe it will do what you want. No server is needed as it is a peer-to-peer protocol. And, yes I do believe it’s designed to share desktops. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/NetMeeting/Features/default.ASP henkbos: by-the-by “Remote Desktop” is the new name for Terminal Server in XP and it comes as part of the standard install for XP Pro….Dan
http://www.pettusphoto.com