# VIDP Pills — Photoshop Usage Guide v1.2 **Companion to:** Verified Image Disclosure Protocol Specification v1.2 **Author:** Kennith Wheeler **Publisher:** VIDP LLC **License:** CC BY 4.0 --- ## What Changed in This Release (v1.2) - **`WINDOW BALANCED` pill definition narrowed** — now applies only to post-capture window tinting, fill, or reflection added beyond what any captured exposure recorded. Exposure blending from bracketed captures (the traditional "window pull" shooting technique) is now explicitly classified as capture technique, not alteration, and does not require a pill. See Specification §3.2 and §4.1. - **Section 4 expanded** — the list of non-disclosed (non-representational) processing has been expanded to explicitly include flambient blending, focus stacking, and bracketed exposure blending. A new Section 4.1 establishes the underlying captured-information-vs-introduced-information principle for borderline classifications. Prior release notes from v1.1 remain below. ### From v1.1 This was the final v1.1 pill release. Compared to earlier drafts: - **All pills now ship at 75% opacity** as the recommended default per VIDP §5.1. The earlier 92% pills are still included as an alternate set in `_alternate_92pct_opacity/` for use on challenging backgrounds (snow, bright sky, white roof lines). - **Spec language is fully voluntary throughout.** The pills, placements, and audit recommendations remain the same operationally — only the framing has shifted from "shall" to "is recommended" / "is best." This reflects the protocol's nature as guidance, not regulation. - **Section 3.8 (Disclosure Authority)** clarifies that pill application is determined by the producing party's intent, not external visibility. If you applied an edit, you pill it. The protocol respects your professional judgment. --- ## What's in This Package ``` pills_v1.2_75pct/ ├── tier0_info/ Informational overlays (Blue) │ ├── pill_boundary_overlay.svg │ ├── pill_focus_enhanced.svg │ ├── pill_annotated.svg │ └── pill_compass_added.svg ├── tier1_green/ Atmospheric/cosmetic edits │ ├── pill_sky_enhanced.svg │ ├── pill_virtual_twilight.svg │ ├── pill_window_balanced.svg │ ├── pill_lawn_enhanced.svg │ └── pill_lighting_enhanced.svg ├── tier2_amber/ Additive edits │ ├── pill_virtually_staged.svg │ ├── pill_virtual_landscaping.svg │ ├── pill_virtual_renovation.svg │ └── pill_decor_added.svg ├── tier3_red/ Subtractive/substitutive edits │ ├── pill_element_removed.svg │ ├── pill_defect_corrected.svg │ └── pill_feature_substituted.svg ├── _alternate_92pct_opacity/ Same 16 pills at 92% opacity │ └── (mirrored tier folders, files suffixed _92pct.svg) └── templates/ └── REFERENCE_SHEET_75pct.svg Visual reference of all pills ``` Total: 16 default pills + 16 alternates = 32 SVG files. All under 2KB each. --- ## When to Use 75% vs 92% **75% (default, in main folders):** Use for the vast majority of professional photography deliveries. The pill is clearly readable but recedes appropriately into the corner. Premium aesthetic. **92% (alternates, in `_alternate_92pct_opacity/`):** Use when the bottom-right corner of the image has high-contrast or visually challenging content that compromises readability of white pill text. Common cases: - Bright sky imagery where the pill sits against pale clouds - Snow scenes or winter shoots with white-dominant backgrounds - White roofs, white siding, or light stucco at the corner placement - Beach/coastal listings with bright sand - Twilight conversions where the pill sits over an artificially-bright sky element When in doubt, drop the 75% in first. If it's hard to read, swap in the 92% version. --- ## When to Pill (Section 3.8 — Disclosure Authority) **The producing party decides.** If you (the photographer, editor, or production team delivering the image) intentionally applied an edit covered by VIDP, the corresponding pill applies. This is true regardless of whether a third-party viewer would notice the difference. A focus enhancement that's subtle to outside eyes still gets a `FOCUS ENHANCED` pill if you applied it intentionally. Don't second-guess your professional judgment about what counts as an intentional edit. The protocol relies on producer intent, not external perceptibility tests. Whoever delivers the image to the client owns the disclosure. Internal accountability between photographer and editor is a private matter; the client and the public see one delivering party. --- ## Placement Standard (VIDP §5.2) **Default:** Lowest possible position in the bottom-right quadrant, with edge padding ≈ 2.5% of the image's shorter dimension (16px at 1:1 reference scale, scales proportionally for larger images). When multiple pills apply, stack them vertically with 4px spacing at reference scale, right-edge aligned. **Alternative placements** are appropriate when needed: - **Lower-left quadrant** — when bottom-right would obscure subject matter or conflict with image content. Keep consistent across the delivery. - **Bottom-right with QR above the pill stack** — when bottom-spanning legal disclaimer text occupies the lower-center region (common on land listings). --- ## Stacking Order (VIDP §3.6) Top-to-bottom, most serious disclosure reads first: 1. Tier 3 (Red) — top of stack if present 2. Tier 2 (Amber) 3. Tier 1 (Green) 4. Tier 0 (Blue) — bottom of stack, since it's annotation rather than alteration Example for a land listing aerial with boundary overlay, focus treatment, and sky replacement: ``` [ SKY ENHANCED ] (Green - Tier 1) [ FOCUS ENHANCED ] (Blue - Tier 0) [ BOUNDARY OVERLAY ] (Blue - Tier 0) ``` --- ## Workflow: Dropping a Pill into Photoshop ### Method 1 — Place Embedded (Recommended) 1. Open the final enhanced image in Photoshop. 2. `File → Place Embedded...` 3. Navigate to the appropriate pill SVG (default 75% opacity from main folders, or 92% from the alternate set). 4. Click `Place`. Photoshop imports as a Smart Object layer. 5. Position in the lower-right corner with 2.5% padding from edges. 6. For multiple pills, repeat for each. Right-edges aligned, 4px vertical gap (at reference scale). 7. Add QR code as a separate image layer (generated per-listing by your verification gallery infrastructure). 8. Keep everything as Smart Objects — don't rasterize until export. ### Method 2 — Photoshop Action (For Batch Work) Record an Action per pill type for routine application across batches. Most editors find this saves significant time once configured. ### Method 3 — Direct Application by Editor If your editor handles pill application as part of their delivery workflow, share this entire pill package with them along with the spec. The protocol is designed to be applied at any point in the production pipeline, as long as the producing party of record (the one delivering to the client) verifies the disclosure is correct. --- ## Sizing Guidance Pills are authored at 48px tall at 1:1 scale. Target ~2.5–3.5% of the image's longest edge: | Image longest edge | Recommended pill height | QR size | |---|---|---| | 1920 px (web / MLS) | 48–60 px | ~100–150 px square | | 3000 px (print flyer) | 75–105 px | ~155–250 px square | | 5000 px+ (large print) | 125–175 px | ~260–420 px square | | 8000 px (high-res aerial) | 200–240 px | ~500–580 px square | QR size: roughly 2.4× the pill height when placed above the stack, or matching the total pill stack vertical height when placed to the left. --- ## Color Reference | Tier | Background | Text | Use | |---|---|---|---| | Tier 0 Blue | `#1565C0` | `#FFFFFF` | Informational overlays | | Tier 1 Green | `#2E7D32` | `#FFFFFF` | Atmospheric/cosmetic | | Tier 2 Amber | `#F57C00` | `#FFFFFF` | Additive | | Tier 3 Red | `#C62828` | `#FFFFFF` | Subtractive/substitutive | Recommended default opacity: 75%. Range: 75–92% per VIDP §5.1. --- ## Special Case: Land Listings with Existing Legal Disclaimers Land and aerial shots frequently carry a pre-existing legal disclaimer along the bottom edge: > *Boundary lines are approximate and for visual reference only. Not a legal survey.* This text remains. The pill identifies what was done to the image; the disclaimer addresses the legal significance of boundary approximations. Both serve different purposes and complement each other. **Recommended layout for land listings:** 1. Place pill stack in lower-right corner 2. Place QR *above* the pill stack rather than to the left 3. Leave the bottom-center disclaimer text in its original position 4. If the disclaimer text extends far right and still conflicts, move the entire pill+QR stack to the lower-left corner The `BOUNDARY OVERLAY` pill complements the legal disclaimer; it doesn't replace it. --- ## Photoshop Smart Object Tip Keep pills as Smart Objects throughout the PSD lifecycle — don't rasterize. If the spec updates or you need to swap 75% for 92% pills, right-click the layer → `Replace Contents` → select the new SVG. Every placement updates automatically. For delivery, export to JPEG/PNG from the flattened copy. Archive the layered PSD with pill layers intact. --- ## Contact Kennith Wheeler VIDP LLC Chickasha, Oklahoma [contact email to be assigned] VIDP canonical: [URL to be assigned] --- *Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Adoption and redistribution permitted with attribution.*