Are you an artist or photographer looking to showcase your work in the most exquisite way possible? Look no further than fine art printing. This specialized technique takes prints to a whole new level, capturing every intricate detail and vibrant color of your original artwork. With advanced technology and premium materials, fine art printing ensures exceptional precision that will leave audiences in awe. Whether you’re preparing for a framing project or an exhibition, giclee fine art printing is the perfect choice.

Whats the difference between your Direct-to-Print and Custom Printing services?

Both our Direct to Print service and Custom Printing service use the exact same large format printers, archival inks, and fine art papers. Direct to Print is our more affordable service for you to upload your files for printing. Custom Printing gets us involved in editing.

Direct to to print service is our straightforward, easy to use printing service for files prepared according to our file submission guidelines. There is no retouching, test prints, scanning, or proofing included with Direct to Print orders, which is why using the Direct to Print service is less expensive than our Custom Printing service. If there’s an issue with the prints as a result of something you did in the file preparation, you’ll need to readjust your files, and make another print at your cost. This includes, but is not limited to: brightness, contrast, color balance, image resolution, focus, sharpening, dust/sensor spots, and cropping.

For Direct to Print orders – we encourage you to test before ordering large prints, or ordering a large print run – simply upload your files for Direct to Print orders, and order a smaller size print using the same paper you’ll choose for your final prints. 

Custom Printing is our specialty. You work directly with our master printmakers to create the best possible fine art prints. We handle all the image editing and color adjustments, file clean up and optimization, and preparation for printing. Drum scanning is available for an additional fee. Proofing is critical – a test print or magnification strip is included to review appearance and sharpness before producing the final prints. Your files are archived in your user account for easy re-ordering. Custom Printing allows you to tap into our fine art printing skills and technical expertise, and help you realize your artistic vision.

SAMPLE KITS AND TEST PRINTS

Sample kits and test prints will help you choose the best paper for your images. Read more about how to use them.

SAMPLE KIT

What is a sample kit? A sample kit contains pre-printed images using the exact same printers, papers and inks we print on every day at the studio. It allows you to see and feel the media types via sample images we provide. 

ORDER SAMPLE KIT HERE

TEST PRINTS

What is a test print (also called a proof)? A test print is a print of your image using the same printer and same paper you intend to use when you make your final print. Usually proofs are made at a reduced size (typically 8″ x 10″) to be economical. This allows you to see exactly how your image will look printed on the paper you choose. That said, you can order whatever size test print that you prefer.

WHEN TO CHOOSE A SAMPLE KIT VS A TEST PRINT

A sample kit is a great place to start because you can see and touch each type of paper, and see the differences in the media for yourself with images from our library. As you get a sense of what papers you like, and prepare to place orders, then we suggest ordering test prints on the paper(s) you’ll make final prints on. While test prints are not not mandatory, they are very helpful –  especially if it’s the first time working with us, or you’re placing a large order of an image you’ve never printed before.

Test prints are essential if you want to see how your image will print on a specific paper. Making test prints (also called hard proofing) has always been a part of fine printmaking. Even the best computer displays will always look slightly different than a print. Nothing beats a test print to see the image exactly as it will print on paper. Here’s more information on how to order and use test prints. 

Raw files are not accepted for direct-to-print service, nor can raw files be uploaded through our direct to print tool (it only accepts JPEGS or TIFFS).

To upload a raw file for custom prints, use the custom printing order form. It will walk you through the information needed to start the order and how to submit the files to us.

Basic file specifications for uploading to our Direct-to-Print service:

For best results, prepare your files like this to send to us for printing:

• Adobe RGB, Display P3, or sRGB for color prints and Gray Gamma 2.2 for Piezography
• Flattened Tiff or JPEG saved at maximum quality
• Don’t uprez your image – send it at the native resolution.

For more in depth information, see this FAQ (insert link)

You can easily add even borders around your images after uploading your files. You’ll do this in the “Paper and Borders” tab.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Borders are always added around the image size – the image is never inset into the sheet size.
• There is a +/- tolerance of 1/8″ for trimming prints.

SIZES:

You’ll select from a variety of options from borderless to 3″ even borders added all around the image size.

COSTS:

Borderless or adding 1/4″ borders around the image size are included in print costs. You may order larger borders of 1/2″, 1″, and 2″ to be added evenly around the image area. Adding these borders increases the print cost since more materials are used. The additional costs for borders are calculated in Step 3 when ordering online.

CUSTOM OR IRREGULAR BORDERS

If you have other border requirements, such as irregular borders, centering on a certain sheet size, bottom weighted borders, or want exact borders that are built into your file, choose “Keep Borders in File” for your finishing option. Here’s how to do that:

1. Build the borders into your file in Photoshop using Image > Canvas Size BEFORE uploading your file.
2. Upload your file.
3. Select “Actual size” for your print size.

Both methods create digital files of your artwork. Larger paintings, or those with textured brushstrokes, metallic paints, and/or glossy surfaces must be digitally captured using our capture system with up to 400 megapixels of resolution. We use a suite of color matching software for best possible color match to the pigments of your originals. Our optimized lighting enhances brushstrokes and fine details. Cross polarization is used to eliminate or control reflections. All in all, it’s a finely tuned system that records the subtle hues, delicate details, and color fidelity of your original artwork.

We can work from your own scans or digital captures, provided their quality and resolution is suitable for printing. Imaging, correction, and color matching is $150/hr, billed in 1/4 hour increments. Proof prints are $20.

If you have copy slides of your artwork, you’ll order a drum scan instead of an artwork scan/capture – we can scan any format film up to 11×14″.

Basic file specifications for uploading to our Direct-to-Print service:

For best results, prepare your files like this to send to us for printing:

• Adobe RGB, Display P3, or sRGB for color prints and Gray Gamma 2.2 for Piezography
• Flattened Tiff or JPEG saved at maximum quality
• Don’t uprez your image – send it at the native resolution.

For more in depth information, see this FAQ (insert link)

Raw files are not accepted for direct-to-print service, nor can raw files be uploaded through our direct to print tool (it only accepts JPEGS or TIFFS).

To upload a raw file for custom prints, use the custom printing order form. It will walk you through the information needed to start the order and how to submit the files to us.

A drum scanner a film scanner that makes the best scans of negative and transparency film. Nothing else captures the dynamic range, tonal quality, detail, and sharpness of your image. These are professional machines designed for exacting reproductions. Our Tango drum scanner is five feet tall and weighs 550 pounds. Our Aztek (the small scanner) weighs 140 pounds.

Your film is fluid-mounted to an acrylic cylinder (the drum) and sandwiched between optically clear Mylar. The fluid mounting increases highlight and shadow detail in your scans. It improves fine detail while removing much of the dust & scratches, emulsion blemishes, etc) in your film, and reduces film grain. There’s no way to simulate the improvements fluid mounting your film offers – you can only fluid mount film with drum scanners and some flatbeds, not with an Imacon or Noritsu scanner. The end result is drum scans that are cleaner and sharper, without feeling like the scans have been sharpened with a filter.

After mounting, the drum is loaded into the scanner, where it spins at high RPM as the scan head (also called the “periscope”) travels up and down in a series of extremely precise micro-steps, slowly yet faithfully recording the film’s details line by line. A medium format negative may take up to 2 hours of scanning time.

How can I print from my drum scan? Rarely does one want to print a raw scan, even a high quality scan from a drum scanner. The objectives at scan time are a little different than at print time and there are many subtle but critical actions that can be performed on