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"How Do I Get Fluffy On the ICP?"

I'll be happy to add your kitty to the ICP but first check out the rules below to get a few good tips on achieving the best Infinite Cat image. Then send your pictures to me.


All submissions become property of The Infinite Cat Project, yadda-yadda-yadda. I hate to add that part but I plan on using the images to help publicize the site and litigation I don't need.

Thanks for sharing and caring!



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smirky cat


But first...


I often receive submissions to the Infinite Cat Project that I cannot use. In fact, fully one-third of all cat images sent to me are rejected for one reason or another. It's personally very difficult to reject any image of these beautiful animals but the way this web site works requires quality photographic images that, hopefully, reveal a little of the cats personality, too. I realize it's not easy to get a cat to pose for this stringent format but the benefit of success is exclusivity.

You see, the net is filled with web sites that accept just about any picture of your cat you care to upload. But the Infinite Cat Project accepts only the best pictures and, as of this writing, that more than 1400 cats. That may seem like a lot but some cat sites host ten times that many images, and more. So, while it's hard to achieve an acceptable ICP image you can console yourself by knowing that, once selected, you've been accepted to join a very select few. And I'm most grateful to have you here. =mike=

smirky cat


Tips For Optimizing The Infinite Cat Experience.

(1) First, just in case you missed it, you have to photograph your kitty viewing the most recent addition to the Project. The easiest way to go to the first cat and then clicking the "Latest Cat" link found at the upper left of the page.


(2) Make the other cats in the image, I.E. the ones in the monitor, almost as prominent as your own cat. The more kitties we can see in one picture, the better.

(3) Use the mouse pointer to get your cats attention, or smear some soft cat food (or something equally smelly) on the monitor and snap a picture as they're sniffing around. You might also try downloading and playing some bird sounds or cat sounds. I know these certainly get my cat's attention.

(4) Use lots of environmental lighting and avoid using a flash as it tends to wash out the screen image. Open some windows, light some candles, start a fire, send up a flare. If possible, adjust your digital camera to take indoor pictures.

(5) Fuzzy images are the bane of the ICP and I cannot stress that strongly enough. If the image of your cat, or the ones in the monitor, isn't at least reasonably clear and sharp there's a good chance I'll ask for a re-shoot.

(6) I will automatically reject any image where it appears the cat is being forcibly held in front of the monitor, mostly on the grounds that it's borderline inhumane. The best pictures are of those cats who seem naturally interested in the process. See tip #3, above, for alternative methods in getting Fluffy's attention.

(7) Finally, don't crop or edit the picture. Just send me the raw file and I'll take it from there. Just be sure the image is at least 640 X 480 pixels of resolution and try to imagine it cropped to the limit. Anything smaller can't be used.

The last tip is about composition. The ideal picture would have enough of your cat to give an indication of its personality plus show off the other cats in the monitor as much as possible. The picture below, #1443 in the Project, is among those that meets all these criteria although I urge you all to be as creative as possible. Good luck!



Sugarpet.net
Juno's busting
out all over.


Juno Returns


Very early in the history of the ICP Marc Donnelly submitted a picture of his lovely white cat, Juno. I'm happy to report that the little fellow is still hale and hearty and an updated photo of him, his new computer, and cat #1445, Tonic, have been added to Juno's original page. Thanks, Marc!

I would love to add updated images of existing kitties so if you'd like to take a good photo of your moggie and email it to me I'll be happy to add it to the appropriate page. Thie means any old picture of your lovely moggies, not just one that adheres to the strict doctrines of the ICP. Don't forget to remind me of the number of the cat as we have lots of duplicate names.

smirky cat


Something New.


As you might already know, I always add a pithy quote to the underside of the cat photos (the newer ones, that is. I'll get to the older ones eventually) but today, for cat #1383, I used the content of the contributor's email as the quote. It concerned the difficulty of achieving the image and I appreciated the fact it came straight from the source. I wish I'd thought of this before.

So, from here on, if you have a favored quote or simply want to remark on the picture or tell us a little something about the kitty you're submitting then by all means do. I'll add the good stuff and spare you the spam. Have fun!

smirky cat


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©Mike Stanfill, 2006