Frequently Asked Questions

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Have questions about our Custom Labels? Check out our Custom Label FAQs.

Gallery FAQs

Updated: July 2011
Righteoo, you're ready with your awesome photo(s) but have some questions before you post them to the Jones Soda Gallery. No worries, you'll find many answers here:

1. What are the terms of agreement to use the Jones Soda Gallery?
2. How do I post a photo to the gallery?
3. What should I NOT post to the gallery?
4. What is a model release? When, why do I need one?
5. What format/resolution should the image be in?
6. How do I resize my photo?
7. How do I upload the photo?
8. How long will the image stay on the gallery?
9. How do I delete a photo?
10. How do you pick a photo for the labels?
11. Should I send photos in color or black and white?
12. How will I know if my photo is selected?
13. If my photo gets chosen for a label... do you send me a bottle? Can I purchase a case? Where will I be able to find it???
14. How long does it take for a photo to be chosen for labels?
15. Are there winning tips from winning photographers?
16. I lost my password...
17. EEEEk! I just spotted some porn!
18. How many times can I vote for my photo?
19. It says I have already voted for the photo, but I haven't. What's wrong?..
20. I can't upload my photo, I keep getting the logon screen..
21. What is the new myJones link and how can I change the photo permissions?
22. I'm Stuck!

1. What are the terms of agreement to use the Jones Soda Gallery?

Please read our Terms of Use to Use Jones Soda Gallery.  We reserve the right to remove photo and memberships of those who past banned material, copyright infringement, or do not follow the rules of conduct as posted.

2. How do I post a photo to the gallery?

To post a photo to the gallery you must first register for a free account. This account will let you come back at any time to change and update all your photos.

Make sure your photo is either in JPG or TIFF format (for you graphics weenies, please have it in RGB and not CMYK format). Your photo/graphics editing program will have these settings for you.Click on the "Add Your Photo" button to follow the instructions to post your photos.

3. What should I NOT post to the gallery?

(a) Copyrighted material. Real simple: if you did not take the photo, or get the photographers permission, or if you did not create the artwork yourself, or get the original artist's permission, please do not post it to the gallery.

 (b) Porn. Did you find some spicy porn that you thought would look nice on your end table, and on the gallery? Don't bother. We'll put you and your porn in the dog house and leave you there. For good.

(c) Social Racism. Jones Soda is for everyone and should be shared by all.  We don’t discriminate, and don’t want to see it either.

4. What is a model release form? When and why do I need one?

For Jones Soda to use your photos containing pictures of people, we need to know that you've received permission to take their photo, and that we have received the rights to publish their likeness on our labels, website, and any other promotional items.

So any photo that has a "recognizable individual(s)" in the photo will need a model release form for each person. You do not need releases for large crowds however the danger of a claim against you and us grows as the size of the crowd diminishes.

Download the Jones Soda Model Release form here. (70Kb PDF document)

OR view Jones Soda Model Release form in HTML printable version

Have all individuals sign it and include a description of the photo. Include Jones Soda Gallery photo number if you have already submitted your photo. Remember, for individuals under 18 years of age, their parent/guardian has to sign for them. When you have completed the model release form, please fax it back to Jones Soda Co. at (206) 624-6857

5. What format/resolution should the photo be in?

Good quality photos make all the difference. We have supplied you with three templates to choose from to get the size and resolution just right:

(a) JPG label template;
(b) TIF label template;
(c) Photoshop (Win/PC) PSD template

To use the template, open any of these templates in your favorite photo editing program. Simply erase or cover up the picture of the flower with your own photo. Save as a .TIF or .JPG in RGB image mode (not CMYK). For JPG files, use the lowest compression (or highest quality) setting possible. High compression will make a smaller file size, but will blur your photo and we won't be able to use it.

In the end make sure your photos have at least 300 dpi and are at least 2.25" X 1.875" (or 450 X 375 pixels at 200 dpi). Your file size should be over 150K. See examples below.

6. How do I resize my photo?

This can easily be solved in Adobe Photoshop, Paintshop Pro, Adobe Fireworks, or a similar photo editing problem without having to rescan all your photos.

Let's take the example that you have an 8X10 at 150 dpi. Open this file in Adobe Photoshop and then click on the menu

Image... Image Size...

This will give you several options with "pixel dimensions", "document size" and two boxes at the bottom: "constrain proportions" and "resample image". The trick here is to make sure "resample image" is OFF (no check). That means if you change the settings of the document size, or of the resolution, then the document file size (shown at the top beside "pixel dimensions") stays the same. The object of the game is to either keep the same, or reduce the file size. Do not make it bigger because that will ruin the image quality.



With the resample image clicked off, you will only be able to change either the document height and width or the resolution. Increasing the resolution decreases the height and width. And vica versa. For a Jones Soda label we need a MINIMUM of 300 dpi (roughly the same as pixels/inch) and a document size of 2.25" X 1.875".

7. How do I upload the photo?

Log in, or create a new account by clicking on the "Add your Photo" button. You will see a "The Photo is..." line and a grey "browse" button. Click on the button to locate your photo on your computer.

8. How long will the image stay on the gallery?

We will be hosting photos for approximately 6 months. Any photos older than that will be archived to give the new photos a chance to shine.

9. How do I delete a photo?

First you will need to log in to with your account (email address and special password). Then choose "click to return to gallery". Use the search feature to find your photo by either using the photo number, or search by your name to find all your photos. Click on the photo you wish to delete. This will give you the details page with the larger photo. Right under the larger photo you will now see the link "Make changes to this photo...". Click that link to see the photo details, including a new button at the bottom of the page to delete your photo.

Note that deleting the photo will also delete all the votes you've received for that photo. That's not a panic though as we the number of votes you get for your photo is only one the many indicators we use to choose photos for the Jones Soda labels.

10. How do you pick a photo for the labels?

Get your friends and family to vote on your photo.  Those photos with the most votes get pooled monthly.  We then take those photos, and vote on them internally here at Jones HQ.

11. Should I send photos in color or black and white?

Have a close look at previous label sheets. You can learn a lot from the previously selected photos. For example, you may notice that most photos are black and white, but from time to time Jones may use a colored photo for flavors like vanilla cola or root beer. You don't have to change your photo to black and white, but sometimes it helps.

12. How will I know if my photo is selected?

We will email the contact address for each photo. Please make sure your contact email address is up to date and correct.

Please do not contact us to ask if your photo was chosen, if we’ve received your photo, or what your chances of winning are.  As you can imagine, we receive thousands of photos and emails and unfortunately we cannot respond to all of these inquiries

13. If my photo gets chosen for a label... do you send me a bottle? Can I purchase a case? Where will I be able to find it???

Unfortunately we really can't send you a bottle with your label on it. Flavors, per label run, may have up to 3 different photos on them... aside from the fact the placement of the labels is very very random. Thats where the term 'rare Jones Soda bottle' came from. Instead, we send the lucky submitee a handful of sample labels so they can see their specific label and maybe, with some luck.. they can find it randomly out in the streets. For those of you who may be in dire straights of getting a label with your photo on it, we strongly suggest checking out MyJones. For as little as $16.99 (+ Shipping) you can customize the bottle in every way, from the flavor, to the photo, to the words on the back. It's all you all the time! This is a perfect idea for weddings, birthdays and whatever else you fancy! Check it out at www.jonessoda.com/custom-labels.

14. How long does it take for a photo to be chosen for the labels?

We pick photos for the labels a few select times a year. That means you should start seeing photos first being picked for the Staff Picks within a few weeks, and then the label picks come out about two months later. It is a great honor to be chosen for the real labels and we take this selection process very seriously. So it takes some time.

15. Are there winning tips from winning photographers?

Yes, and the best is to ask the photographers directly.

Here's a big technical hint to start. Two things: format and resolution. Look at the label, it is in "landscape" mode (wider than it is tall) so try to reformat your photos if your originals are in "portrait" mode (taller than they are wide). Second thing, we can not print files with less than 200 or 288 dpi. Feel free to submit them to the website, but do not be surprised if we can not print them.

16. I, ah, lost my password...

Login using your email, or the contact email and the next window where you have to answer with your password will also let you email the password to the contact email we have on file. So I, for example, can't have the gallery send your password to me, but the gallery will send your password to your email address. No hacking now please.

17. Eeeeek! I just saw some porn!

The Jones Soda community of visitors is huge and it is no surprise when someone finds it hilarious to post some porn to the gallery. We monitor the gallery regularly, however, if you do spot porn, please email the PHOTO NUMBER to info@jonessoda.com or labels@jonessoda.com and we'll zap it outta there. As well as the poster for good!