File Preparation for Printing
Remember that we will print your files exactly as they are submitted to us with no adjustments, so be sure to prepare them correctly for size and color. Files must be submitted in TIFF or JPEG (beware artifacts) format in the RGB color space, as one layer (flattened).
Files that require basic processing before printing (resizing, color space correction, layer flattening, etc) will be subject to a preparation/handling charge of $15 each. More advanced processing will be billed at $150/hour with your pre-approval.
Here are some articles that explain print resolution, and how to make sure your digital images are sized best for printing:
- “Image Resolution and Print Quality” by Steve Patterson for photoshopessentials.com
- “Image Resolution — the key to excellent prints” by Lesa Snider for Macworld.com.
- “How to resize digital images for printing” by Lesa Snider for Macworld.com.
Size
The largest size we can print is just under 44" × 80". (Prints on canvas that are to be stretched without wrapping the image around the sides should be a maximum of 40" wide.)
1. Your image must be submitted to us at the final output size and resolution, including any specific borders. Files should be 150 – 300 dots per inch (dpi) with a maximum file size of 300Mb.
2. If you have specific requirements for image borders, these must be included in your image. For example, if you have an 8 × 10" image, but require a 2" white border all the way around, you would actually submit a file that is 12 × 14".
If you do not include a border, we will leave approximately ¼ to ½ inch of extra border around works on paper and approximately two inches around works on canvas (to allow for stretching). If you require precisely-cut edges, there will be an additional charge.
Color
If accurate color is critical to you, keep these things in mind:
1. For accurate colors, use a calibrated monitor. We use the X-Rite ColorMunki to calibrate our monitors, but many other options are available. If you work on an uncalibrated monitor, the colors you see on your monitor may not match those on your printed image.
2. You can also soft-proof your image in Adobe Photoshop by downloading the appropriate ICC profiles. We print using an Epson Stylus Pro 9900. You can download the profiles for the Epson line of papers, and profiles for Canson Infinity papers.
Use these profiles only for soft proofing your image on your computer. Remove them before submitting the image for printing.
3. Files should be 8-bit color in the Adobe RGB 1998 colorspace.
4. Finally, if you are printing a large image, you may want order a small (minimum 8 × 10") test print before ordering the large format print. The cost of your test print will be applied to the cost of the full-size print when you decide to go forward.
