Film
It is possible that one of the rolls in your order did not contain any scannable frames. This often occurs due to over-exposure, under-exposure, or camera advance malfunctions. When you come to pick up your negatives; we recommend using the light table in our lobby to look for such indications. Very dark film has been overexposed, very pale/transparent film is underexposed.
Very often, film rolls contain frames that were improperly exposed or too blurry to produce a scannable/printable image. This can be caused by incorrect setting for the film’s ISO, a malfunction of the camera, opening the camera back before the film has been re-wound, accidentally taking a photo when the camera lens cap is on, and several other similar scenarios. These frames are neither scanned nor printed.
Standard 35mm film negative scans are currently $1.20 per individual frame, $5 per cut strip or $9.99 per uncut roll. High resolution options are available based on target print size and bulk discounts are available over 100 pieces. When we also do the developing of your film roll, the digital scans are even more economical.
General
We offer high quality photo scanning services to digitize (and optionally enlarge) your images. We also offer retouching and image restoration services for print orders. For an accurate estimate of time and cost; please bring in your original so we can see the size and condition firsthand and learn more about how you would like the final images printed.
The term “aspect ratio” describes the width to height proportions of a rectangle. A photo with a 1:2 aspect ratio would be twice as high as it is wide. A 6″x12″ image has a 1:2 aspect ratio, as does a 24″x48″ image. An 8″x 10″ image has a 4:5 aspect ratio. An image that is 4″x6″ has a 2:3 aspect ratio. Images can be scaled up or down in size consistent with the aspect ratio to avoid distorting or cropping the content. Aspect ratio principles apply to both digital and physical images.
Yes, we digitally capture and reproduce works of art in our facility for many artists. Under controlled lighting conditions, we photographically capture and digitally prepare full resolution image files which can then be printed true to color on paper, canvas, metal. We also offer wood print options, acrylic, gatorboard and foam mount options. Print pricing and production time varies depending on the kind of prints and finishing options you need, as well as how many reproduction work orders we may have in queue. On average 10 to 15 business days are needed for the photography, editing, printing, as well as custom size canvas frame construction when applicable. For the most accurate estimate of time and cost; please bring in an original so we can see the size and attributes firsthand and learn more about how you would like the final image reproductions printed.
Yes! It is actually possible to order prints from us using your phone or table, although our online ordering portal is best suited for use from a computer. Our Medium Size print category for our Professional Paper Photo Prints catalog, containing print sizes most typically fitting smartphone images. Depending on your device settings, all order options may not be readily visible; so look for the menu icon of three black lines in the upper right corner of the screen to choose your paper type as well as any borders and mounting choices.
Be sure to choose the highest quality version of your image(s) from your files or your Photos catalog. If an image is much too small to print acceptably in a size selected, a warning icon will appear in the middle of the image; however please note that this is based entirely on the file dimensions, not the sharpness or clarity of the photo. If you accidentally rotate or zoom your image and can’t get it back to the starting position, just drag your photo up into the middle of the screen again and it will reset.
On iPhone:
In the Photos app, tap the image to open it. Tap the “info” icon beneath the image, or just swipe up on the image itself.
On Android:
Go to Photos, select your image and click the “…” (three dots) icon in the top right. Scroll to bottom of page to find image size.
The image details will be displayed, including some or all of the following: date, time, and image filename camera and lens information, image size in megapixels (MP), width/height pixel dimensions, and megabytes (MB) exposure settings (if available) location information (if available) Width/Height
Pixel Dimensions are the most helpful attribute for estimating the best print size for the image. Please keep in mind that image size is different than image sharpness. Photos that are not in focus will loos worse (not better) when enlarged.
Prints
A “rolled” canvas is an image printed on canvas but not stretched onto a wood frame. We print the border as well as extra material so that the image can be rolled and shipped in a tube, and later stretched onto a frame. This greatly reduces shipping costs for remote customers, but is also a favourite option of mixed-media artists who wish to further add paint or other materials to the surface of their print before putting onto a frame.
Gicleé (pronouced “zhee·klay”) is a term used to indicate a high-quality inkjet print production. Our printers are capable of producing high resolution prints due to the very small droplet sizes of ink that are deposited with this technology. This enables very detailed accuracy and zero ink bleed on even the most textured paper and canvas.
Our individual printers are carefully calibrated for each of the specific papers that we carry. Therefore; we can accommodate this request for very large print runs, and by special appointment only. We do not print on sheet stock. A sufficient number of paper rolls for calibration and the print run must be supplied (unopened, undamaged, and from the same lot), or be ordered by us directly. There is a custom calibration charge, and a small monthly storage charge for any remaining rolls held in stock for your future orders on that paper. Please call us for more information and to schedule an appointment.
An image is considered “print-ready” when it is:
- In a high quality JPEG or TIF file format (and ideally has an embedded color profile (such as sRGB or AdobeRGB)
- Contains no special characters in the filename (#!^%$*@_/|:;’?, etc)
- Has image dimensions of 300 or more dots per inch for the print size you desire (for best print quality), or no less than 150 dots per inch
Proprietary file formats, (often ending in *.NEF, *.CR2, *HEIC, *RAW, etc.), must be opened by an image application such as Photoshop™, Lightroom™, CameraRaw™, or CaptureOne™ in order to view the size information for the image.
For standard file types; such as JPEG or TIF –
- In Finder on Mac: Right-click the filename, choose Get Info. In the More Info subsection, look for “Dimensions”.
- In File Explorer on Windows: Right-click the filename, choose Properties. On the Details tab, scroll down to the Image section to “Dimensions”.
Example:
An image that is 2500px X 3200px will print well up to an 8”x10”
2500/300 = 8.33 3200/300 = 10.66
Yes. While we certainly always strive to achieve as close a color and tonal match in ink as compared to original pigments in artwork, we also offer a test print approval process for paper and canvas prints. A section of the image containing key colors and tonal range is printed on the selected paper or canvas and held for your review and signature approval. To achieve the closest color and exposure match between your digital photography/art and your printed images; we recommend using a monitor calibration tool from a company such as X-Rite or Datacolor to fine-tune your digital display. Save your final edited print file in the JPEG file format with an embedded sRGB color space. One-on-one color consultation with our lead print technician is also available by appointment, charged in 15 minute increments as it halts regular print production.
Each canvas is custom made to the desired dimensions. Our standard production minimum is 6 days, but can vary by how many orders we have in queue at the time. It can sometimes be sooner if we happen to already have your frame size in our pre-built stock.The fastest way to order is through our website. Our Canvas Wraps catalog lists a variety of sizes where you can upload your file, position and preview your image inside the print dimensions, as well as select from border and finishing options. We also offer shipping.
Standard print resolution is 300 dots per inch. We recommend going no lower than 150 dots per inch on paper or any smooth surface, particularly metal. You can preview images using the online ordering interface on our website and it will display a warning if the image size is lower than recommended.
We also have a few FAQ topics regarding print quality and steps for finding your image dimensions which may be helpful.
Printed images will almost always look slightly different when printed as compared to when they are viewed on a digital monitor simply due to the difference in light properties (direct vs reflected). When a monitor’s brightness is set too high, images will appear brighter on the screen than the resulting prints.
To achieve the closest color and brightness match between your digital photography/art and your printed images; we recommend using a high quality monitor along with a calibration tool from a company such as X-Rite or Datacolor to fine-tune your digital display. Save your final edited print files in the JPEG file format with an embedded sRGB color space before uploading to our online portal.
Scanning/Digitization
An average shoebox can hold approximately 600 to 900 photos that are 4×6 or 5×7 in size, depending on the thickness of photo paper they were made on. If they are unframed and free of tape/adhesive residue on the back, we can capture standard resolution digital images of them at low cost. Please call us for pricing on small “flexible print scans”. We offer bulk discounts for large jobs.
Yes, we frequently scan or photograph heirloom/historical pieces and reprint high quality archival-grade copies. We do this for individuals, but also for museums, historical societies, schools, and even businesses. We recommend bringing the photos in to us in person if possible so we can see the sizes and condition of the prints and discuss your needs with regard to the final prints.
We offer an economical scan option ($1.20 each) if your photos are unframed, flexible and in relatively sturdy condition (not so old they are starting to fall apart). This is for photos or documents between 3″x3″ and 8″x10″ in size. They must be free of any sticky residue, such as from tape or album mounting adhesives. Average completion for this type of scan order (not including print services) is approximately 5 business days, but varies based on our current order volume.
Other scanning equipment and options apply for images that don’t fit these descriptions (fragile, framed/mounted, very small or large, or those requiring significant enlargement etc). Those processes require more detailed processing for each photo during the scanning process resulting in longer completion times. It’s best to bring your photos in to us for a full and accurate work order estimate.
Because every order is different, we recommend bringing your originals to our location in person whenever possible. Please call to open a new work order with us before sending any original items by mail. A team member will need to gather key pieces of information from you before generating a work order. You’ll be given the work order number for job tracking purposes.
Please include your work order number written prominently on your shipment.
Photo Studio reservations for large artwork reproduction are currently $50/hour, during which we can typically capture up to 5 oversize pieces. This quantity can vary depending on just how large, reflective and/or textured each piece of artwork is. A variety of lighting equipment and techniques are used to capture art effectively and to minimize surface reflections.