GPS-Photo Link allows you to create many types of output. Different output styles are indicated in the check-boxes on the lower left and include:
After selecting the types of output you want using the check-boxes in the lower left, use the Tabs to determine the format of your output. Tabs include:
| Google Maps | Street maps and Aerial Photos |
| MapQuest | Street maps and Aerial Photos |
| Topo Zone | Topographical Maps |
| Microsoft Maps | Street maps and Aerial Photos |
| TerraServer Maps | Street Maps and Satellite Photos |
NOTE: If you process the photos the background maps are blank, it means that no maps are available for your coordinates at this site. Choose a different map source and reprocess the photos.
Web Page Options
File Renaming Options
You may change the format to rename the watermarked photo, associated web pages and original photo using different time/date patterns, comments, or memos associated with your photos. This may make specific photos easier to find.
The options on this screen allow you to manipulate what will be displayed on the processed photos as a watermark on the photo itself or “outside the photo” as a label underneath.
You may adjust the color of the labels, create a halo or other highlight, or adjust the size of the text. You may also indicate what information to display on the photos. For each item you include, you may select the placement of that item on the photo. Two lines at the top and two at the bottom of each photo are available.
If you choose to include your logo (up to two), you must indicate the location of that file on your computer. GPS-Photo Link will import the logo “as is”. You may then adjust the logo to be more transparent if desired.
Finally, you may choose to resize the photo and determine the quality for the watermarked photo.
GPS-Photo Link automatically imports your photos and track logs into Google Earth. This screen allows you to select how your data will be displayed in Google Earth.
Icon Options - Select the icon that will represent your photo in Google Earth. You may use a thumbnail of the photo itself or choose an icon from the drop down menu. If you choose an arrow or an airplane, GPS-Photo Link will automatically rotate the symbol to face the heading indicated for each photo on the Data Entry screen. You may also determine the size of the icons.
Google Earth includes a label associated with the icon. Use the Label drop down list to determine how you icons will be labeled.
When you click on an icon in Google Earth a description box appears. You can determine what information to include by checking boxes in the View in Description Box section of GPS-Photo Link.
Output Options allows you to include track logs in Google Earth along with the photos.
Google Earth can display information in 3d. Because GPS coordinates are less reliable for elevation, you may wish to select Lock Points to Ground if your photos were taken from the ground (not Aerial photography).
Show Field of View - Allows you to display the area included in the photo. A default width will be assigned. The area can be shown in 2d (pie piece shape) or 3d (cone shape). The heading and distance used for this option must be adjusted using the Heading/Distance tab. That will determine the length and direction of the shape.
NOTE: To use the Google Earth output you must first download Google Earth to your computer. Go to http://earth.google.com/downloads.html. Google Earth is free, however upgrades are available for purchase.
Google Earth is only showing some of the photos
In Google Earth, only some icons are showing, a max of 10 show up, sometimes only 3 out of 50 points? All files/locations are however listed down the side of the screen allowing you to click on these and then zoom to the photo location. This is a “feature” in Google Earth, to only show a time slice (slider at the top of the screen).
It really should be turned off, then you can see all of the icons. To turn it off, go to the menu “View”, then “Show Time”, select “Never”
The links to pictures aren't working (The links on thumbnails displayed in Google Earth won't link to original or watermarked photo).
In the Output Options screen, under the Google tab, make sure “Link to Watermarked” and “Link to Original” picture are selected. Also, the original picture (*.JPG), and watermarked photo (*_tag.JPG), need to be in the same directory as the picture.kml file. This is also true if you send the file to someone else. The .kml file will show the points. .
How can I share Google Earth files with others?
If you want another person to see the photos you will need to send these as well. Make sure the other person stores the photos and .kml file in the same directory. Once you process your photos using GPS-Photo Link you will have three different versions of each photo. The original photo (*.jpg), the watermarked photo (*_tag.jpg) and thumbnail photos ( *_small.jpg). If you want the viewer to see the icon with thumbnails send the thumbnail photos. If you want them to view the complete description when they click on the icon you will need to send an additional photo. Which photo you send will be determined by what you selected under " View in Description Box". If you included the watermarked photo then send the *_tag.jpg photos. If you linked to the original photo send those instead.
This page allows you to format fields that are used in many forms of output including Lat/Lon, time, and date. It also allows you to determine the size of the thumbnails created.
Heading shows the direction that the camera was facing when the photo was taken. The heading may be determined in 1 of 3 ways:
GPS or Compass - If you collected heading information at the time the photo was taken, that information was included in the photo and should have appeared on the Data Entry screen automatically. Selecting this option will use that information display heading in the output. (The Ricoh 500SE camera with attached Compass/GPS is able to capture both GPS and Heading information automatically each time a photo is taken.)
Memo - You may have noted your heading as a memo field when the data was collected. Selecting this option will retrieve that data from the memo field and use it to position the icon. Use the drop down box to indicate which memo field contains heading information.
Use for all - Allows you to indicate a particular direction that will apply to all photos. Use this option only if all photos were taken facing the same direction. Indicate that heading as degrees in the box.
Distance to object - Indicates the distance between the camera and the object of the photo:
The first two options (Laser & Memo) are only available to Ricoh camera users.
Manual - All other camera users may estimate your distance to objects (same for all photos) with this option. The distance you select will determine the length of the pie piece or cone used in the html, shape file, or Google Earth.
Calculate new position - Allows you to place the icon at the location of the object based on the heading and distance information entered above (normally the icon is placed where the photo was taken).
Heading Options - Allows you to shift all headings right or left by the degrees you indicate. This option should only be used in cases where all photos are taken facing a different direction than you are traveling.
Example - If you are taking photos out of the right window of a car or airplane, then use this option to point all photos to the right.
NOTE: See Taking Photos in the set-up section for details on how to record heading and distance.