flickr as an image repository
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Robert Morrison from the University of Stirling about using Flickr as an image repository, using PHP. (Uploaded with permission.)TRANSCRIPT
Flickr as an image repository
Build an institutional image request interface on Flickr’s API with PHP
Robert Morrison, University of Stirling
Image Storage
• Storage Requirements
• Retrieval and Organisation
• Image Request Handling
• Protecting Copyright
• Showcase of ‘brand’ images
Flickr
• Storage– Unlimited Storage– 10MB per photo– Unlimited Bandwidth
• Organisation– Tags– Sets– Meta Data, EXIF, Geo-tagging
• $24.95 per year (£16.84)
Flickr API
• Non-commercial use without arrangement
• Uses an API Key
• Access to lots of functionality– Uploads, community, sets, tags
• Implemented in PHP– phpFlickr
• Other Implementations– C, Java, .Net, Perl, Ruby…
phpFlickr
http://www.phpflickr.com/
• PHP 4
• Lesser GPL
• Supports DB caching
• Authenticates with Flickr
Lightbox2
www.huddletogether.com/projects/lightbox2/
• Provides photo browsing interface
• Built on the Prototype framework
• Thumbnails created by flickr (and other useful sizes too)
• Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License
Watermarking
• Image URL is actually a PHP script with the image’s Flickr ID
• Script uses phpFlickr to grab the image
• GD applies a PNG watermark
• PHP sets correct MIME JPEG header and sends the image data in the response
And a bit of jQuery
• AJAX parts of the interface handled by jQuery
• Behaves with Prototype– If necessary, we can use jQuery.noConflict()
Thanks to .net
• See issue #175 – May 2008
• phpFlickr Lightbox2 tutorial
Future Development
• Backup facility
• Look at dedicated Asset Management tools
• http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/
• System with better terms of use
• Flickr can be slow
• Uploadr – seems to be a bit of a weak link