Presentation by Robert Morrison from the University of Stirling about using Flickr as an image repository, using PHP. (Uploaded with permission.)

1. Flickr as an image repository
Build an institutional image
request interface on Flickr’ API
s
w PHP
ith
Robert Morrison, University of Stirling

2. Image Storage
• Storage Requirements
• Retrieval and Organisation
• Image Request Handling
• Protecting Copyright
• Showcase of ‘brand’ images

3. Flickr
• Storage
– Unlimited Storage
– 10MB per photo
– Unlimited Bandwidth
• Organisation
– Tags
– Sets
– Meta Data, EXIF, Geo-tagging
• $24.95 per year (£16.84)

4. 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…

5. phpFlickr
http://www.phpflickr.com/
• PHP 4
• Lesser GPL
• Supports DB caching
• Authenticates with Flickr

6. 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

7. 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

8. And a bit of jQuery
• AJAX parts of the interface handled by
jQuery
• Behaves with Prototype
– If necessary, we can use
jQuery.noConflict()

9. Thanks to .net
• See issue #175 – May 2008
• phpFlickr Lightbox2 tutorial

10. 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