FAQ
Inks & Paper
All the inks & paper used are of a very high museum quality which are extremely long lasting.
The papers I use are acid free and the pigment inks are of the highest quality.
Equipment used
I print on an Epson wide format printer capable of printing up to 610mm (A1) wide using high quality bulk inks.
To produce accurate printed images the monitor, papers and printer are profiled in house so that what is seen on screen is as close as possible to the printed image output from the printer to the quality paper.
Buying my prints and your own uploads.
Image size versus paper size
Generally I print in A4, A3, A3+ and A2 the sizes of which are 297×210, 420×297, 485×330 and 594x420mm.
Though it is possible to print edge to edge my prints will be printed with a boarder.
As images rarely conform to the ratios above the prints are sized to the longest side less a boarder.
If you have a specific size to go in a frame all I need is the longer side the shorter being dictated by the image ratio. Likewise if the short side is the given choice.
Images can sometimes be cropped to fit the paper or frame sizes while still retaining the intended idea of the image which can be helpful if it is to fit a given frame size.
Why is the screen image quality not great on the site
The images on the site have been converted to the WebP format to reduce the file size and improve loading times for users. While WebP is a great tool for improving web performance, it can result in a loss of image quality when compared to the printed images. WebP uses compression to reduce image size removing data that makes up the original image. As such, the images displayed on the website will not be as sharp or detailed as the printed images. However, this trade-off is worth it for website performance.
Paper sizes & DPI
For all prints the original image is important. If it is a low resolution file, printing of any size is unlikely to be satisfactory for anything but use on a web page.
With good resolution data and file type larger prints can be achieved and the guide found here gives an idea of what can be printed satisfactorily.
It is possible to improve an image but imperative to supply the original image as direct from the camera before any work is done to it. If any manipulating is done in software the image will degrade unless non destructive software like Photoshop Camera Raw is used. Even manipulating an image in the Photoshop software destroys data unlike Camera Raw.
If you have questions then use the contact form here.
How to upload your images
If you have an image or images that you would like printed with quality paper and inks or or want larger than you can print yourself then I can do this for you.
You can upload your images are here. or by sending files in the post if very large.
If you’d like more information then please use the contact form.
Why is tif a better choice
If you save your image without any adjustments as a tif it retains the ability to be opened in Adobe Camera Raw which can be compared to a negative in a film camera.
When an image is adjusted in Adobe Camera Raw it retains 100% of the data so can always revert to the original file if required.
The opposite is generally true with other file types when adjusted in photo programs including Adobe Photoshop in that when adjusted data is always lost and in some cases considerable amounts.
If you camera has the ability to save/output as raw and jpg then raw is the way to go as it’s saving 100% of the detail. If saved/output as jpg which is what most cameras do as a base setting then that to throws away data in the camera never to be recovered.
A raw file will need to be adjusted as it will look flat and washed out and this is done in Adobe Camera Raw or similar program.
If you are interested in this then a web search will be able to give more information which I can’t do here.
About uploading image files
Go to this page for more information on your images you want to get printed.
Framing
Framing is very personal for many reasons and of course you can buy frames from retail outlets or get it done by a professional frame shop where they can likely give you advice.
Bear in mind that it is common to have a mat (a card frame with cutout over the image but under the glass) within the frame so this will reduce the image size or require a larger frame. The reason for the mat is to enhance, keep your fine art print from touching the glass and keep it flat and in place.
A mat can enhance your print as they can be many different colours and even be doubled up for a more interesting look.
Mailing
Prints on A4 paper will be sent flat in an appropriate envelope.
Prints larger than A4 will be rolled and sent in a tube.
The surface of the print will be protected by PH neutral tissue paper.