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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a direct-digital continuous tone photographic print?
A direct-digital print is one where your original image is converted into a digital file
(scanned) and then printed directly onto standard continuous tone photographic
materials using laser light. The resulting print exhibits sharpness, clarity, and color
saturation unlike any print you've ever seen; it just looks better!
Why is a digital print better than a conventional photographic print?
This excerpt from an article in the 1996 PMA magazine explains it very well:
"Digital prints are superior to large-format copy negatives and inter-negatives used in
mural enlargements, since the scanned image can be enhanced, color corrected and
manipulated to perfection by computer before printing. Digital originals are sharper,
because second (and sometimes third) optical-system negative generations are
eliminated. Digital printers do not suffer the same physical problems created by
giant-size print enlarging, such as optical lens distortions, Newton rings, dust particles,
soft edge images due to print paper curl, and poor depth-of-focus due to imperfect
alignment of the enlarger to the printing surface. Image softening caused by physical
vibrations during long exposures with room-size enlargers is also eliminated."
What equipment do you use for fine-art print making?
On the input side, we use the following scanners: Nikon Super CoolScan 4000ED CCD
scanner, and Heidelberg Tango drum scanner. We use Windows-PC networked
workstations with color-calibrated professional graphic monitors. Most of our
image-editing work is done on a PC because it's faster, but files are interchangeable
between the PC and MAC platforms. Our primary fine-art photo printer is the Epson
Stylus Pro 9900. All our photographic prints are made exclusively using Epson Archive
materials to ensure longest archival life.
How do you ensure color accuracy?
Each device used in digital print making has different color characteristics. You've
probably seen this when you view an image on different monitors, or when you've
wondered why your inkjet printer doesn't give you an image that matches your original.
The key to controlling color is to work in a completely color-calibrated environment.
What does that mean? It means that each step of the print making process, scanning,
editing, and printing are done using calibrated equipment and carefully controlled
conditions. ICC profiles are used to describe and compensate for the color
characteristics of each device. Monitors are calibrated with a spectrophotometer. Even
the lighting conditions that are used to view your photographs are consistent. The
results are excellent color accuracy and almost perfect repeatability, something that's
nearly impossible to obtain using conventional photographic methods.
What is a device profile?
Every piece of equipment used in the print making process, from scanner to editing
monitor to printer, has its own way of interpreting the color information in your image.
Another way of thinking about it is that each device sees color a little differently. A device
profile is a way of correcting for those differences and allowing different devices to work
together to produce an accurate and reproducible result. Device profiles allow us to
convert your image files from one known colorspace to another, so that we can scan,
edit, and print with complete color accuracy.
How big can you make my print?
Maximum final print size is heavily dependent on the type of scan used and the quality
and format of the original. If we start with a sharp, medium-format negative we can
produce razor-sharp prints up to 4x8 feet (if you've never seen a 4 x 8 foot print, it's really
big!) Anything over 24 x 36 inches requires a drum scan for optimal quality but we are
able to deliver extraordinary results below that size with a correctly profiled, multi-pass
CCD scan. The key is to talk with us about your particular needs and let us work with
you to determine the best path to take to deliver the exact result you want.
I can get "digital prints" from my local photo outlet. Aren't they all the same?
Overwhelmingly NO! There is a huge range of equipment and expertise being touted for
digital printing. Take a slide to one of those photo outlets and make an inexpensive
"digital" print. If you're happy with the results then you don't need us. Ask your digital
printer some questions. Ask if they maintain a color-calibrated work environment. Ask
about archival life of the prints they produce. Ask about the experience of the people
who will be making your print. Ask if they guarantee accuracy and repeatability of the
print. If you don't get the answers you want, give us a call.
I want to see proofs before I commit to expensive prints. Is this possible?
Of course. All of our Master prints include one 8 x 12 proof. If additional proofs are
desired, they are available for $25 each. Proofs are not intended for final display, and all
are marked with information that tells us about your print.
What do you mean about archival prints? Aren't all photographs archival?
Definitely not. Archival life depends on many factors: print-type, mounting, framing, and
display conditions just to name a few. The Epson materials we use exclusively for our
prints are simply the best color materials available today, with an archival life of over
175 years when properly handled and displayed!
My files are already in digital format. Can you use and print from them?
Yes we can, and we welcome the opportunity to work with artists and photographers
who are already doing digital work. But there are a few caveats. First, it's extremely
important that you be working on a high-quality color-calibrated monitor, and that you
understand the issues involved in color-management. Second, since we don't control
the color-management process from start to finish, we can't guarantee that the final
print will precisely match the image that you see on your monitor. If you're already doing
digital work with your images we'll need a 100% scaled, unsharp masked, RGB TIFF
file between 200 and 300 ppi (output side) in a well-known colorspace (we edit in
AdobeRGB or CMYK). We would be glad to work with you. Talk to us about your
particular situation.
What is a "full resolution" scan?
Normally when scanning your original, we scan according to the size of the print that
you're making. A full resolution scan is an archival scan made to the maximum suitable
resolution of the device and image. This scan allows maximum flexibility for future
digital uses, and also serves as a digital "backup" to your film original. We can even
generate a new piece of film from a full resolution scan should something happen to
your original. Full resolution scans are typically 100MB scan for 35mm and up to 300MB
for larger formats.
Can I reorder prints?
If you purchased a print, then you may always reorder prints at any size up to the
maximum resolution of your scan. Preferred / Reprint pricing applies if you print from
your original profiled print file, and Digital Standard pricing applies if we need to
re-layout for a different size. If you purchased a print, then you may reorder up to the size
of your original print. Consistency and reproducibility are hallmarks of our digital print
making.
After you scan my images, who owns the scans?
You do. If you purchased a print, then both the scan file and the profiled print file are
returned to you (or archived at MJP in the case of a Master print). The artist retains full
ownership and rights to the digital image, of course.
What is the average turnaround time on prints?
We place a great emphasis on personal attention to each piece of work we do. As such,
our print making jobs are handled strictly on a first-come, first-served basis and the
turnaround is dependent on our current workload. We don't take shortcuts. Typical
turnaround is 5 days to shipment of the proof, and 5 days from when we receive your
signed proof to shipment of the final image, but this time can vary with our current
workload. Rush service is available for an additional charge.
How are my prints shipped to me?
We flat-ship your images whenever possible. Your prints will be carefully packaged in
foam-core, plastic, and heavy cardboard to ensure that they arrive in perfect condition. In
the case of very large prints, they must be rolled and shipped in heavy mailing tubes.
We usually ship either via Fed-Ex or USPS priority mail.
What is a direct-digital continuous tone photographic print?
A direct-digital print is one where your original image is converted into a digital file
(scanned) and then printed directly onto standard continuous tone photographic
materials using laser light. The resulting print exhibits sharpness, clarity, and color
saturation unlike any print you've ever seen; it just looks better!
Why is a digital print better than a conventional photographic print?
This excerpt from an article in the 1996 PMA magazine explains it very well:
"Digital prints are superior to large-format copy negatives and inter-negatives used in
mural enlargements, since the scanned image can be enhanced, color corrected and
manipulated to perfection by computer before printing. Digital originals are sharper,
because second (and sometimes third) optical-system negative generations are
eliminated. Digital printers do not suffer the same physical problems created by
giant-size print enlarging, such as optical lens distortions, Newton rings, dust particles,
soft edge images due to print paper curl, and poor depth-of-focus due to imperfect
alignment of the enlarger to the printing surface. Image softening caused by physical
vibrations during long exposures with room-size enlargers is also eliminated."
What equipment do you use for fine-art print making?
On the input side, we use the following scanners: Nikon Super CoolScan 4000ED CCD
scanner, and Heidelberg Tango drum scanner. We use Windows-PC networked
workstations with color-calibrated professional graphic monitors. Most of our
image-editing work is done on a PC because it's faster, but files are interchangeable
between the PC and MAC platforms. Our primary fine-art photo printer is the Epson
Stylus Pro 9900. All our photographic prints are made exclusively using Epson Archive
materials to ensure longest archival life.
How do you ensure color accuracy?
Each device used in digital print making has different color characteristics. You've
probably seen this when you view an image on different monitors, or when you've
wondered why your inkjet printer doesn't give you an image that matches your original.
The key to controlling color is to work in a completely color-calibrated environment.
What does that mean? It means that each step of the print making process, scanning,
editing, and printing are done using calibrated equipment and carefully controlled
conditions. ICC profiles are used to describe and compensate for the color
characteristics of each device. Monitors are calibrated with a spectrophotometer. Even
the lighting conditions that are used to view your photographs are consistent. The
results are excellent color accuracy and almost perfect repeatability, something that's
nearly impossible to obtain using conventional photographic methods.
What is a device profile?
Every piece of equipment used in the print making process, from scanner to editing
monitor to printer, has its own way of interpreting the color information in your image.
Another way of thinking about it is that each device sees color a little differently. A device
profile is a way of correcting for those differences and allowing different devices to work
together to produce an accurate and reproducible result. Device profiles allow us to
convert your image files from one known colorspace to another, so that we can scan,
edit, and print with complete color accuracy.
How big can you make my print?
Maximum final print size is heavily dependent on the type of scan used and the quality
and format of the original. If we start with a sharp, medium-format negative we can
produce razor-sharp prints up to 4x8 feet (if you've never seen a 4 x 8 foot print, it's really
big!) Anything over 24 x 36 inches requires a drum scan for optimal quality but we are
able to deliver extraordinary results below that size with a correctly profiled, multi-pass
CCD scan. The key is to talk with us about your particular needs and let us work with
you to determine the best path to take to deliver the exact result you want.
I can get "digital prints" from my local photo outlet. Aren't they all the same?
Overwhelmingly NO! There is a huge range of equipment and expertise being touted for
digital printing. Take a slide to one of those photo outlets and make an inexpensive
"digital" print. If you're happy with the results then you don't need us. Ask your digital
printer some questions. Ask if they maintain a color-calibrated work environment. Ask
about archival life of the prints they produce. Ask about the experience of the people
who will be making your print. Ask if they guarantee accuracy and repeatability of the
print. If you don't get the answers you want, give us a call.
I want to see proofs before I commit to expensive prints. Is this possible?
Of course. All of our Master prints include one 8 x 12 proof. If additional proofs are
desired, they are available for $25 each. Proofs are not intended for final display, and all
are marked with information that tells us about your print.
What do you mean about archival prints? Aren't all photographs archival?
Definitely not. Archival life depends on many factors: print-type, mounting, framing, and
display conditions just to name a few. The Epson materials we use exclusively for our
prints are simply the best color materials available today, with an archival life of over
175 years when properly handled and displayed!
My files are already in digital format. Can you use and print from them?
Yes we can, and we welcome the opportunity to work with artists and photographers
who are already doing digital work. But there are a few caveats. First, it's extremely
important that you be working on a high-quality color-calibrated monitor, and that you
understand the issues involved in color-management. Second, since we don't control
the color-management process from start to finish, we can't guarantee that the final
print will precisely match the image that you see on your monitor. If you're already doing
digital work with your images we'll need a 100% scaled, unsharp masked, RGB TIFF
file between 200 and 300 ppi (output side) in a well-known colorspace (we edit in
AdobeRGB or CMYK). We would be glad to work with you. Talk to us about your
particular situation.
What is a "full resolution" scan?
Normally when scanning your original, we scan according to the size of the print that
you're making. A full resolution scan is an archival scan made to the maximum suitable
resolution of the device and image. This scan allows maximum flexibility for future
digital uses, and also serves as a digital "backup" to your film original. We can even
generate a new piece of film from a full resolution scan should something happen to
your original. Full resolution scans are typically 100MB scan for 35mm and up to 300MB
for larger formats.
Can I reorder prints?
If you purchased a print, then you may always reorder prints at any size up to the
maximum resolution of your scan. Preferred / Reprint pricing applies if you print from
your original profiled print file, and Digital Standard pricing applies if we need to
re-layout for a different size. If you purchased a print, then you may reorder up to the size
of your original print. Consistency and reproducibility are hallmarks of our digital print
making.
After you scan my images, who owns the scans?
You do. If you purchased a print, then both the scan file and the profiled print file are
returned to you (or archived at MJP in the case of a Master print). The artist retains full
ownership and rights to the digital image, of course.
What is the average turnaround time on prints?
We place a great emphasis on personal attention to each piece of work we do. As such,
our print making jobs are handled strictly on a first-come, first-served basis and the
turnaround is dependent on our current workload. We don't take shortcuts. Typical
turnaround is 5 days to shipment of the proof, and 5 days from when we receive your
signed proof to shipment of the final image, but this time can vary with our current
workload. Rush service is available for an additional charge.
How are my prints shipped to me?
We flat-ship your images whenever possible. Your prints will be carefully packaged in
foam-core, plastic, and heavy cardboard to ensure that they arrive in perfect condition. In
the case of very large prints, they must be rolled and shipped in heavy mailing tubes.
We usually ship either via Fed-Ex or USPS priority mail.