Registration and Account Set-Up

Why register?

Registration takes just a few minutes, no more taxing than entering your ship-to information for your latest winning bid on Ebay. You also get some cool stuff. Only after registering can you do things such as view streaming videos and place clip selections in a personalized clip bin, which you can save for future use or share with co-workers. If you’re registered and don’t find the exact clip you need, we’ll also search our huge selection of off-line clips for you. Just zap us an email with as much detail as you can provide on what you need and we’ll head into the vault. If we’re going down into the basement vault to search off-line clips for you, the least you can do is register.

Registration information required:

To begin, enter your email address as a username, then, create a password. Next, enter the rest of your details, including your billing addresses. If you wish, you can enter a shipping address that’s different than your billing address. We don’t store any credit card information at the WTTW Digital Archives, so you don’t have to worry about credit card security. Once you’re finished completing all the required fields, click Submit and you’ll find out pretty fast if someone has already signed up with your favorite username. If so, try another one a bit more distinctive.

Once you’re signed up, you can change any of your information at any time by going to My Account and updating the affected fields.

When you register, our web site will set a cookie (a small, safe, text file used by your web browser to remember details of web sites) so that the next time you log on to our site it will display using your saved preferences.

Once you have registered, you will be sent an email, which will include your username and password.

How do I log in or out?

When you want to log into the WTTW Digital Archives, click on the Log On link on the home page.

On the log on page, enter your username (email address) and password. If you have forgotten your password, click the “What’s my password?” link and we’ll send your password to the email address. Note: The WTTW Digital Archives cannot be held liable for misuse or theft when you chose the 'remember my password' option on the log on page. By choosing this option any user of your computer will have access to some of your WTTW Digital Archives account information.

Passwords are saved on a specific computer. If you use a different computer, and have not chosen this option when you log on, your password will not be saved on that computer.

When you’re finished and want to log out, click the log out link at the top of the page. You will have to log on again to access your account pages and perform the following tasks:
•viewing your account
•editing your profile
•creating and editing clip bins
•adding items to clip bins and your shopping basket
•purchasing clips or compilation DVDs
•requesting off-line archive image searches
•viewing previously saved clip bins

My Account

To view your account, click the My Account link on the top of the page. You must be logged on to access this page. To edit any of your profile details (the details you submitted at registration), click the edit my profile link on your account page.

This is where you can change your username and password. You can also change or update your other profile details. You must be logged on to access this page.

Searching

Boolean text search capability supports the following operators:

+ A leading plus sign indicates that this word must be present in every row returned.

- A leading minus sign indicates that this word must not be present in any row returned.

(no operator) By default (when neither + nor - is specified) the word is optional, but the rows that contain it are rated higher.

> < These two operators are used to change a word's contribution to the relevance value that is assigned to a row. The > operator increases the contribution and the < operator decreases it. See the example below.

( ) Parentheses are used to group words into subexpressions. Parenthesized groups can be nested.

~ A leading tilde acts as a negation operator, causing the word's contribution to the row relevance to be negative. It's useful for marking noise words. A row that contains such a word is rated lower than others, but is not excluded altogether, as it would be with the - operator.

* An asterisk is the truncation operator. Unlike the other operators, it should be appended to the word.

" A phrase that is enclosed within double quote ('"') characters matches only rows that contain the phrase literally, as it was typed.

The following examples demonstrate some search strings that use boolean text operators:

apple banana
Find rows that contain at least one of the two words.

+apple +juice
Find rows that contain both words.

+apple macintosh
Find rows that contain the word ``apple'', but rank rows higher if they also contain ``macintosh''.

+apple -macintosh
Find rows that contain the word ``apple'' but not ``macintosh''.

+apple +(>turnover <strudel)
Find rows that contain the words ``apple'' and ``turnover'', or ``apple'' and ``strudel'' (in any order), but rank ``apple
turnover'' higher than ``apple strudel''.

apple*
Find rows that contain words such as ``apple'', ``apples'', ``applesauce'', or ``applet''.

"some words"
Find rows that contain the exact phrase ``some words'' (for example, rows that contain ``some words of wisdom''
but not ``some noise words''). Note that the '"' characters that surround the phrase are operator characters that
delimit the phrase. They are not the quotes that surround the search string itself.

This is the core of any stock footage site. Even if we have the clip you want, it’s worthless unless you can find it. Problems can occur in two main areas: 1. The search words and phrases we’ve attached to the clip don’t accurately describe the content, or 2. You need to adjust your search strategy to zero in on just the right clips. Here are some tips for creating the perfect search.

•If you receive too many results, use the advanced search filters to refine your search. You may select a category, or you may add more keywords. Try more specific keywords. Add complete phrases within quotes (“). Click on an individual clip to view it and look at all the keywords to the right. Those keywords might give you ideas to narrow your search.

•If you do not receive enough results, widen your search parameters by using broader keywords. Also, try breaking up phrases. Instead of entering “man in cowboy hat riding black horse”, which will only return results with that exact phrase inside the quotation marks attached to a clip, try entering “man on horse” or “man riding horse”. Again, using quotation marks around compound phrases returns only clips with the entire phrase attached as one entry.

•When entering dates do not use apostrophies! Example: 1940s vs. 1940’s.

•Always check for mispelings end/oar tiepos. A single letter mistake such as searching for doggs instead of dogs can mean the difference between hundreds of clips returned and zero.

•If you’ve narrowed your search by media type or format, make certain you’ve selected the correct formats.
•When searching by proper names, use both their first and last names, or just their last name. If you’re searching for Madonna, you can stick with one name.

•Avoid using brand names for products. Try to use generic terms instead.

•Browse the category search to see the range of subjects we have.

•If you have no time to search for yourself, use our search request feature. You need to be logged on to do this.

•If you click on a thumbnail image you will see an enlarged version with related keywords displayed on the page. Click a keyword to search all the clips with that keyword attached.

Search Results

The search results page displays thumbnails that match your search criteria. To change the number of items displayed on each page, click the dropdown menu and choose the number you want to view.

If your search yields multiple pages, you can scroll through these pages by clicking the arrows pointing left or right, or by typing the number of the page you want to view in the box provided.

Without leaving the search results page, you can view clips contents and add items to your clip bins either singularly or in batches. You must be logged on to add items to your shopping basket or clip bins.

To view clips full size and see their attached data, click the link under each thumbnail. You don’t need to download any players to view our clips, as the entire site is built and plays in Flash. This allows you to view clips right from the search page, without going to yet another pop up window generated by a media player. It’s one of the things that makes our site so cool and easy to use.

Search Request

If you don't have time to search for what you want, let us do it for you. To request a clip search, click the request search link. On the request page, include a description of the clips you are looking for and use the search filters to further narrow the parameters. You can also include things to avoid. You must be logged on to access this page.

Working with and managing Clip Bins:

Creating a Clip Bin

Clip bins are a convenient place to store and organize clips while searching the WTTW Digital Archives. Think of clip bins as your creative thinking page. You may not be certain you wish to purchase a particular clip, but you’d like to save it someplace convenient so you don’t have to go searching for it again. You’d also like to compare clips side by side that don’t necessarily appear as results in the same search. You can place multiple clips in a single bin, view them side-by-side, add and delete at will. From your clip bin summary, you can create, email and delete bins. You can also move items between your bins.

To create a new clip bin, click the create option from the dropdown menu and enter a name in the field provided.

You can create new clip bins or assign your active clip bin from the results page. Once you are logged on, you’ll have the option to manage and move between multiple clip bins.

Adding items to a Clip Bin

You can add clips to a clip bin from any search results page by clicking the clip bin link that appears below each item. The item will be added to your active bin. To add an item to a different bin, check the box below it and select the appropriate clip bin from the dropdown menu. You can add multiple items this way.

Deleting Clip Bins

As with all delete functions, make certain you really want to delete. To replicate a clip bin you’ve deleted, you’ll have to start over searching the entire archive for clips. Be certain you review all clips in a bin before deleting the entire bin. Did we say be sure you want to delete?

If you’re really sure, click the clip bin link on the top of the page. Select the delete option from the dropdown menu and choose the clip bin you want to delete.

To delete single items from a clip bin, choose the item by checking the box below it and select the delete option from the dropdown menu. This can also be done by clicking the remove link under each item. To delete the entire contents of a clip bin, select the delete all link from the dropdown menu.

How to Email a Clip Bin

To email a clip bin to someone, click the clip bin link on the top of the page. Select the email option from the dropdown menu and choose the project folder you want to email. Enter the email address(es) of the recipient(s) (use semi-colons to separate multiple email addresses), your email address, a subject heading and any message you would like to include. Understand, depending on the clip bin you’re emailing, your email could be quite large.

Moving Clips Between Bins

You can move items from your active clip bin to other bins by dragging and dropping the clip into another bin in your tree.

Clips:

Adding Items to Your Shopping Basket

Add a clip to your shopping cart by clicking on the “cart” symbol under the thumbnail or the “add to cart” button in “Clip Detail”.

Downloading Clips for Free

You can download any clip as a QuickTime Movie for free. The free, low resolution downloads are watermarked and for reference purposes only and do not contain time code.

Downloading Full Frame, Time coded Clips

Low cost, full frame, time coded, clips can be purchased and downloaded for editorial purposes. These clips are low resolution and can be used in any non-linear editing system. Once you have completed your editing process, you will be able to order the exact length clips you need for finishing in high resolution. This way you only pay for what you use.

Ordering High Resolution Clips

When you have finished editing you can request exact length clips, (from time code IN to time code OUT) for each clip used. You pay a per-second fee for the exact length of the finished, edited clips! High resolution clips will be provided with “handles”, a few seconds before and after, for dissolves and fades. High-resolution clips can be ordered by returning to your bin, entering the “in and out” time code number for each clip used in your edit and emailing the request to WTTW Digital Archives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Royalty Free'?
Royalty Free indicates that aside from the license purchase price, no further fees or compensation is due regardless of how many times the Content is used by you or how many projects it is used for, subject to the terms of our Royalty Free License Agreement.

Can I Still Use the Archives Without Registering?

Yes, but the increased functionality is worth the few minutes it takes to register, so why not register? You must be registered and logged on to:

•view your account
•edit your profile
•create and edit clip bins
•add items to clip bins and your shopping basket
•purchase a product
•request off-line archive searches
•view previous image searches

What Do You Do With My Registration Information?

WTTW Digital Archives will never knowingly pass on any personal details submitted by web site users to a third party. We don’t ask for anything terribly interesting or valuable anyway, so don’t sweat it. If you want all the privacy specifics our lawyers spent hours generating, please review our privacy policy.

What If I Forget My Password?

How many times did we tell you to record your password? If you’ve forgotten your password, we will send you an email reminder to the email address. Simply click the “What’s My Password?” link and enter the required information. Alternatively, you can find password in the email you receive when you first register, if you’re the type who never deletes incoming email.

What Are Cookies?

A cookie is a small, safe, text file used by your web browser to remember details of web sites. Cookies are used to track visitors to a web site so that users don't have to enter their details each time they revisit the site. Cookies reveal no personal information about you to us or anyone else.

Which Browsers Work With This Site?

We recommend using one of the following:

Macintosh
•Netscape 6
•Internet Explorer 5
•Internet Explorer 5.5
•Safari (Mac OSX only)
Windows
•Netscape 6
•Netscape 7 (not Win 98)
•Internet Explorer 5 (not Win XP)
•Internet Explorer 5.5 (not Win XP)
•Internet Explorer 6
•Firefox 1

Glossary of Terms

CD
Compact disc. A CD is a small disk on which information is stored.

Clip
An individual film sequence from start to finish. A clip on our site generally lasts from a few seconds up to 30 seconds.

Compression
The process of reducing the size of digital information in a JPEG file.

Compression ratio
The ratio of the amount of data in the original video to the amount of data in the compressed video. The higher the ratio the greater the compression.

Cookie
A cookie is a small, safe, text file used by your web browser to remember details of web sites. Cookies are used to track visitors to a web site so that users don't have to enter their details each time they revisit the site.

Download
The transfer of data or programs from a server or host computer to your computer.

DVD
Digital Video Disk. A high-density compact disk for storing large amounts of data, especially high-resolution audio-visual material. Many compilation DVDs are available from the WTTW Digital Archives.

Editing
The process of arranging picture and sound into a finished film or product.

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions. To view FAQs about the WTTW Digital Archives, click the FAQ link.

fps
Frames per second. The unit of measurement of the frame rate of a moving image.

JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. This group established a standard method for compressing and decompressing digitized photos or images.

Keywords
All items in the WTTW Digital Archives are searchable by keywords, words attached to each clip that describe the content.

Media/Dub Fee
The Media/Dub Fee is a one-time, per-order charge for media material and lab time.  The Media/Dub Fee is currently $99.00 and subject to change.

MPEG
Moving Picture Experts Group. A standard for compressing moving pictures.

NTSC
National Television System Committee. The industry body defining the television video signal format used in the USA. All of our clips are available for download as NTSC (720x486) at 30 fps or as PAL (720x576) at 25 fps (see below).

PAL
Phase Alternating Line. The television and video standard recognized in most of Europe. All of our clips are available for download as PAL (720x576) at 25 fps or as NTSC (720x486) at 30 fps (see above).

Pixel
Short for "picture element". The smallest discrete component of an image or picture on a CRT screen. Essentially, a dot with a given color and brightness value.

Preview file clip
A digital clip intended for use for editorial and preview. Not to be used in any a finished program.

Royalty Free
Royalty Free indicates that aside from the license purchase price, no further fees or compensation is due regardless of how many times the Content is used by you or how many projects it is used for, subject to the terms of our Royalty Free License Agreement.

Rights Managed
Rights Managed content must be licensed for each individual use.  License terms for Rights Managed Content are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

T1
A circuit providing a full dedicated 1.54 Mbps in both the upload and download directions that allows computers to communicate at high speed.

Thumbnails
A number of reduced images displayed on a page. Used in order to view multiple images on a screen simultaneously.

Watermark
Logo or mark that is superimposed on an image or film clip