Request for help: card images

[Ralph Slate]

I would like to add a new feature to hockeydb.com's card checklists -- a picture of each set (front & back). I'm curious if people would be willing to help me out on this.

I envision creating a file upload dialog that would let someone upload a file from their hard drive. I'd have to insist that the images not be from eBay, they would have to be created by whoever uploaded them. I would then review the images and attach them to the card checklists.

I've always wanted to do this, but it's somewhat time-consuming to scan a hockey card, and to scan an image for every minor league set would probably take me a couple of months. But if there are a few dozen people doing this, it would get done a lot faster.

Before I go down that path and creating the software to handle this, what do people think? Is this worth doing? Will people participate?

Thanks,

Ralph

[Eskimos]

It is definitely worth it. I would love to see that feature. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are willing to help out.

[richardlawrance]

I agree, very interesting !!

[DR DEATH]

I would be willing too help out.


Vince Ramp

[harveg]

I have over 13,000 hockey cards scanned but the fronts only. I can pick one from each set and send them to you if that helps.

harve@cityprinters.com

[Mika]

I will help you with this project

[Edgars]

have the same problems I have only fronts

here are pics of german cards
http://www.playercards.com/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=53&catid=1

Can help also with latvian cards

[Baz]

Hi Ralph

I'll do what I can (with some help from my colleagues on here!) to help with UK sets.

Baz

[Dale Sprenger]

Hi Ralph, I can help out.
Dale
Madison, WI

[sds]

Ralph,

I think it would be a very useful feature and I'd be glad to help.

Stan

[royal86]

This is a great idea!

I would be happy to help fill in any gaps with pics from sets (or singles) that I may have (after all of the advanced collectors provide input).

In addition, I have some sets (and singles from sets) that are not noted in Beckett or on your site. It would be interesting for us to have a place for everyone to post these photos for others to see (and to maybe add any info).

[Edgars]

This is a great idea!

I would be happy to help fill in any gaps with pics from sets (or singles) that I may have (after all of the advanced collectors provide input).

In addition, I have some sets (and singles from sets) that are not noted in Beckett or on your site. It would be interesting for us to have a place for everyone to post these photos for others to see (and to maybe add any info).

Maybe we can make an official thread for checklists that are not in database of hockeydb.com and beckett.com

[Ralph Slate]

Yes, it would be an interesting thread to see what checklists are missing. I try and keep on top of things, but sometimes I just can't get ahold of a set, or sometimes I just miss them. I'll start this thread and make it sticky.

I'm glad to see that people are interested in this. Does someone want to kick this off by sending me a few images? Once I have them I'll work on the best way to display them with the card sets.

Thanks!

Ralph

[joesteeler1981]

More than happy to help with lots of the UK sets, I'll see if I have the time to start doing some scanning this weekend
joe

[Edgars]

I started to scan my collection maybe you can use these pictures

http://foto.inbox.lv/hokejakartinas

[Mika]

Hi Ralph!

I did send BC Icemen 98-99 pictures to you, please check your mail box.

[Ralph Slate]

OK, I have the front images up, let me know what you all think:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/cards/setdetail.php?set_id=1330


Ralph

[Wendy02]

I think that u should be able to click on the card and the photo shows up you should put them for every card if you can

[Ralph Slate]

Boy, I'd love to do that, but I don't think there's enough time in the world. Even with scans provided, it takes me a minute or so to put the scan up. I have over 200,000 cards listed in the database, so 200,000 minutes translates to over 400 8-hour days!

[JocelynThibault]

Hey Ralph, I think this idea is great, would it help if some of us sent you a scan of 1 card from different sets? That way you dont have to take the time to scan by yourself. If we did send scans, we could have thread dedicated to posting sets that we have sent you a scan of. Checklist sort of. Anyway, I think this would be great. See some cards from sets I know Ill never get my hands on.

[Ralph Slate]

I'm open to suggestions as to how to coordinate this so that people aren't scanning the same stuff as others. Any thoughts? I can maybe turn on image posting for people willing to scan and attach the pictures in this forum, maybe one thread per league or something? Or I can maybe even start a separate forum for this purpose, that may work the best.

I would need images that are 400 pixels in height, if people can do that. It makes for a sharper image on the screen.

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

OK, I have set up a new forum, open only by invite, for people who would like to scan and upload card images. I have invited those expressing interest in helping.

The new forum is broken up by leagues, one thread for each league; I only created the basic leagues for now, if someone wants a different category let me know and I will create it.

You can upload images to each thread.

I'm not a VBulletin expert, so there may be some hiccups, but we'll work through it.

If anyone else would like to participate, post here and I'll get you invited.

Thanks to everyone!

Ralph

P.S. Just go to the main screen to view the forum. It's at the top.

[JocelynThibault]

Hey Ralph, did you want images of junior cards? another question, did you want to create a thread for other leagues(WPHL, WCHL, SPHL) or should we just through the WCHL into ECHL and WPHL into CHL due to the mergers.Thanks for your help and I like the set up you have, Ill definitely be trying to get as many cards up as I can!

[LAM7825]

it ain't much- but I'd be glad to send scans of WHL Tacoma Rockets, '91-'94.
LMK.

Lauri from Tacoma

[Ralph Slate]

Every little bit helps. I have the cards that were posted linked up. So far I have 25 images linked up -- but there are almost 2,000 team sets in my database, so there's a long way to go!

I have created categories for WCHL/WPHL, and will create OHL/WHL/QMJHL categories shortly.

Thanks!

Ralph

[Eskimos]

I can help.

[Ralph Slate]

OK, I added you to the group -- you should see the new forum right at the top of the list of forums now. Thanks!

[DaClyde]

I've been working with tradingcarddb.com and baseballcarddatabase.com on large scanning projects, so I'm used to the grind. I can help out with the last few seasons of the Huntsville Havoc in the SPHL.

[Wendy02]

i can help also

[Ralph Slate]

OK, you two are added.

I just want to again thank everyone for participating in this. I have been a little busy the past few days, and haven't yet added all the images posted, but little by little they are going up. I have 65 scans posted and probably another 40 that are in the pipeline.

I'm looking for ideas as to how to display these images better. You can see what I've done here:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/cards/setdetail.php?set_id=4213

However, I feel like the pictures could be displayed elsewhere too.

What about a thumbnail for each here?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/cards/setnamedetail.php?set_name=Alaska^Aces&league_name=ECHL

That will require changing the way the list is displayed in some way -- I'm not quite sure how yet, if it means having two side-by-side columns with each picture above the link, or one column with the picture to the left or right.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Ralph

[Wendy02]

Like i said before it would be great if we can put a scan for each card up and when u click on it the card would show up i think that would be great becausse when a team comes to town here i check the list and see if i have it to get it signed and sometimes i do but i dont find it cause im not sure what it looks like but if i see the card then i would know for sure

[DaClyde]

If you want to pursue the individual scan thing, you might seriously consider some kind of partnership with tradingcarddb.com since they've already got an infrastructure built for that kind of thing, both for displaying and for uploading, they'd just need help with the checklists.

[Ralph Slate]

I think there are significant copyright issues with displaying every card from a set; that seems to go beyond fair use of displaying a sample for factual documentation. It also wouldn't make much sense for me to trade the checklists I've compiled for the infrastructure to upload images -- that isn't rocket science to create.

[Wendy02]

what size do u want the cards to be

[Ralph Slate]

I'd like some feedback on the way sets will be displayed.

Here is the old way:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/cards/setnamedetail.php?set_name=Kansas-City^Blades&league_name=IHL

Here is the new way:

http://www.hockeydbdev.com/ihdb/cards/setnamedetail.php?set_name=Kansas-City^Blades&league_name=IHL

Does anyone like the old way better?

Thanks,

Ralph

[GregC]

NEW way.

Thanks for everything you do for the hobby.

[JocelynThibault]

Love the new way! I say definitely go with the new one.

[bryndog]

The new way is great. I think you should definitely go with the new way.

[Ralph Slate]

Thanks for the feedback -- I have changed the display to the "new way" -- but not yet for NHL card sets, since I have to figure out the best way to display the inserts.

Just a progress report: we have 213 different sets scanned in now. I've been going through my duplicate box and scanning in some older and more obscure sets. Thanks to everyone for the help -- we still have a *lot* to go, the 213 is out of 1,634 minor/junior/ncaa sets that I have cataloged, so that's just 13% of the total. It's a great start though!

[bean7]

Ralph

I have scanned images for all the Owen Sound Platers and Owen Sound Attack sets. If you can offer me a little direction I would be happy to try and post them to the site for you.

[Ralph Slate]

I have added you to the group; go to the front forum page:

http://www.hockeydb.com/vb/index.php

You will see the new forum for scanned images. There is a thread for OHL images, and you can upload the attachments there.

Thanks!

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

Just a status update: we have 241 set images scanned. That is out of 1634 sets, so that is just under 15% of the total. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.

The AHL leads the way of significant leagues with 29% of sets having images. We actually have 100% of the PHL sets (just 1 set, the Alaska Aces), and 33% of the ACHL sets (just 3 sets, 1 scanned).

We have 22% of IHL sets scanned, 17% of ECHL sets, 12% of CHL sets, 11% of WHL sets, 10% of OHL sets, and 5% of QMJHL sets scanned.

Any more help will be appreciated. I am trying to think of new ways to display these scans, and I may add an alphabetical listing of sets so that people don't have to recall the league that a team played in to find the set -- for example, who can remember when the Colonial League turned into the UHL?

Anyone have any requests for sets they've been dying to see for a while?

Thanks!

Ralph

[hossa.collector]

I'd be willing to help as well. I already have some scans of NHL teams issues and junior sets.

[Ralph Slate]

Super -- I have given you access to the forum where you can post the scans. Thanks!

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

I have been slowly adding more images, but if anyone else can help, it would be great. Mika from Finland has helped out tremendously, JocelynThibault, bean7m Edgars, and hossa.collector have also added a number of images (and I apologize if I missed anyone else).

If anyone has images that they would like to contribute, I need scans that are 400 pixels in height. If you can do anything, let me know and I'll give you the access to upload the images.

I have also added a "gallery" link to the "Sets by Season" page, so that it is possible to see thumbnails of all the photos for all sets for a league for a particular season. However, there are still far more "image needed" thumbnails than actual pictures, so it's definitely a work-in-progress.

Thanks!

Ralph

[mngopher]

i can help with some college sets and ushl sets. just need help with where to send them.
mngopher

[Ralph Slate]

Great -- just go to the front page of this forum:

http://www.hockeydb.com/vb/index.php

You will see a new forum for scanned images. Just reply to the appropriate thread and attach the image there. Thanks!

Ralph

[GregC]

I can help too.

[Ralph Slate]

I've added you both.

We have 291 set images scanned, I've been trying to do 9 per night (that's what fits on my scanner) when I get time, I've been using my "dupes" box as a source. Most of my sets are stored in boxes, so the rarer ones will take a while to surface.

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

Thanks to Stan (sds), we added quite a few more images this weekend, and are now up to 355 set images. I think that's close to 20% of the total number of team sets I have in my database.

I'm also starting to go through some binders of sets I have, from back in the days when there were just a few dozen card sets released each year, so that means some older and more rare sets. I scanned an image of my Pinebridge Bucks ACHL set -- anyone else have one of those?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/cards/setdetail.php?set_id=146

I may get to my Lakeland Warriers Sunshine Hockey League set soon. That one was produced as-ordered, can't be many of them around either.

Ralph

[jerseyman1992]

I have two Windsor Spitfires sets (OHL) That I could add. and some 7th inning sketch cards

[joesteeler1981]

Ralph,
Can you add a new thread for UK sets into the images folder and I can start uploading images for the UK sets you have listed?

Thanks,
Joe

[Ralph Slate]

Wow, thanks to Stan and GregC, expect to see a TON of new images coming on line soon -- they posted so many over the past few days that I'm woefully behind. I hope to catch up this weekend.

I will also start another thread for European sets.

[sds]

Ralph, I have a suggestion and a question.

First, let me suggest that when you create the European group, that you also add an "all others" group to catch those leagues with only a few sets e.g., CoHL, BCJHL, etc. as I could add a few of those.

Second, I'm not a set collector. I only collect certain players and in some cases coaches. I have probably 10 cards of coaches (and those are the only cards I have) from sets that haven't been addressed yet. Would you want those scans, or do you want to limit it strictly to players? Thanks! ....Stan

[Ralph Slate]

Hi Stan --

Great suggestion, I have created the European and "Other" threads.

As for your question, I think that I'd prefer pictures of players, so you can hold off on the coach cards. At some point in time we will get close to having images for all sets, so if there are any super-rare sets that I can only get a scan of a coach, we'll address it at that point.

Thanks again for all your help!

Ralph

[joesteeler1981]

Thanks for adding the European section Ralph.
I've started uploading the British cards although there are a lot of sets that exist that you don't have listed. Over time I'll try and email you the lists.
I've already emailed you lists for the 08-09 British sets a couple of days ago,

Joe

[sds]

Hi Ralph,
Thanks for the new group and the clarification.
Glad to be of help.
Stan

[Ralph Slate]

Wow, thanks again for everyone's help, I spent a bunch of time this weekend putting up the images that have been posted, we are now up to 506 images, which is about 31% of all the team sets listed at hockeydb.com. It's also great that I'm learning about a few sets out there that slipped through the cracks, that I don't yet have. Keep them coming!

Thanks!

Ralph

[GregC]

Ralph,

I see there are quite a few scanned images that you have not posted. When do you think you will have them all up? I have others to post but want to give you some time to catch up.

[Ralph Slate]

Yes, I'm about 100 images behind, but I hope to catch up tonight. Keep them coming, this is great!

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

Well, I didn't get to all 100 last night, but I did do 71, so we're up to 577 images.

I primarily need to catch up with ECHL, WCHL, European, OHL, USHL, and AHL set images.

Thanks!

Ralph

[joesteeler1981]

I have scanned a lot of images for the G.B sets. However a lot of the images are just over 100kb, the limit for file sizes for uploading. They are all in the 100-120 size range, in jpg.
Is there a way of easily reducing the file size so i can upload them?

[Ralph Slate]

I'll see what I can do about upping that limit tonight. Thanks!

Ralph

[Ralph Slate]

OK, try it now -- it is 200k.

Ralph

[joesteeler1981]

Thanks for that Ralph, worked perfectly and some more UK images have been uploaded

[Ralph Slate]

I did a lot of scanning from my own collection over the weekend, so we are now up to 789 set images, and that doesn't include the many European set images that have been posted. We now have about 44% of the minor league team sets listed on hockeydb.com scanned in and posted.

A lot of what I just put up is early 90's ECHL stuff, and some late 90's from all leagues. A big part of what is missing are junior sets, but I will hopefully start getting to those soon.

Thanks again to everyone who is helping out! The top 3 image posters are GregC with 185, sds with 112, and Mika with 106. Amazing!

Ralph

[spudislander]

Hello Ralph I was just wondering if you are still collecting scans of cards for your sight, if so; and you need and of the PEI Rocket of the QMJHL just let me know and I will be glad to help.