Our INTRODUCTION is where you should start if your are new to digital imaging. Here's where you'll find basic information and explanations of some of the terminology photographers should have an understanding of to use digital imaging to its fullest. We'll discuss issues of resolution-scanning versus printing, of color management, including monitor calibration, working spaces and printing profiles as well as an overview of some of the types of digital printing now avalible. This gets a little technical, but not excessively so, but if you have any questions after reading it, feel free to call our toll-free number, (888) 649-8111, and we'll try to clear up any lingering confusion
If you are a photographer already versed in digital printing and terminology, you'll probably want to go right to one of the following pages concerned with the printing or scanning service you're interested in. You can always check out the introduction later-let us know if you disagree with anything contained there!
SCANNING details our film and print scanning services which can be “stand alone”, allowing you to do the preparation work yourself. We can also do it all for you, creating the Master Image File. Once this is done, the resulting file can be printed by any of the methods discussed here with no further conversion fees. It’s a one-time charge for each Master Image File. We will archive it to a CD-R and keep it available for printing, and return a copy to you. You’ll also find here a discussion of scanning issues such as resolution, ICC profiles and color spaces, guaranteed to either confuse you more, or straighten out all the misconceptions you’ve labored under for so long!
GICLÉE (pronounced zheeCLAY) is the somewhat artsy term used for fine art inkjet printing on water color and print making papers using archival inks. Here is a good look at the process, what it has to offer, how it differs from what you might get with a small home printer. Around The LightRoom, this has become our favorite way of printing, due to the exquisite lushness of these prints combined with the fine control the digital process offers.
Our newest giclée printer is the Epson 9800, using long-life water resistant pigmented UltraChrome inks. Our information brochure has the information and samples of the papers for both the Epson and our original ColorSpan Giclée Printmaker. Call or email a request and we'll be happy to send it to you.
LIGHTJET is the brand name of a printer that can be considered a digital enlarger. Scanned film-slides or negatives-converted to a digital file, are exposed onto photographic paper for traditional processing. The results exceed what can be achieved from straight printing of the original film with a darkroom enlarger, even on Ilfochrome Classic. We have seen the future. It’s here now. It’s digital.
PREPARE your own files for us to print. The specifications on this page will aid you in preparing your own scans or digitals pictures for giclée or LightJet printing. Here you'll find resolution and sizing guidelines as well as answers to questions about profiles and other digital imaging esoterica.
Upload your files to our FTP site for either LightJet or Giclée printing. When your image files are ready to print, you can send them to us on a CD-R or DVD, or, if you have a fast internet connection, upload them directly to our FTP site.