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Information for Digital Artists
If you work in the digital format you can work with practically any program and save the resulting image in one of the many formats we accept. We prefer to print from a RGB format, it gives better results than CMYK color space
In terms of file size we recommend that the image needs to be no more than 300 dpi and no less than 150 dpi at actual size (the final size of the print you wish to make). If you are concerned about how the print will look we recommend that you proof a section of the image at actual size to check that the resolution is acceptable.
Obviously if you are making a very large print you have to be concerned about the size of the file, especially if you are editing the file. The chart below shows the file size of some sizes for reference. All are based on an RGB color model.
| 150 dpi | 180 dpi | 220 dpi | 300 dpi | |
| Mbytes per Sq Ft | 9.7 | 14 | 21 | 39 |
| Mbytes per linear foot (42") | 34 | 49 | 73 | 136 |
| Mbytes for a 34" x 46" print | 105 | 152 | 227 | 422 |
| Mbytes for a 42" x 72" print | 204 | 293 | 439 | 816 |
We daily make prints from 150 dpi files and they look great, we have also had success with increasing the size of even 75 dpi files. Send us your file, let us look at it and we will give you an honest opinion of how it will print. Since a proof is only $12 you have little to lose.
8 bit Vs 16 bit
We print in 8 bit color but we recommend keeping you file in 16 bit color while you are editing it. Please make sure you convert it to 8 bit before sending.
File Formats
We accept the following file formats:
| File Type | Notes | Pref. |
| Adobe .PSD | Adobe's native Photoshop format
(must be flat) |
ü |
| .TIF | TIF is the most standard format for bitmap or raster images | ü |
| .BMP | Windows bitmap format | |
| Photoshop EPS | Encapsulated Postscript format | |
| Adobe Illustrator .AI | Adobes' vector file format (convert text to curves) |
|
| Adobe Portable Document Format |
Most modern programs can save in one of the listed formats. But we also have in-house QuarkXpress Vs 4.0 and 6.0, InDesign Cs2, CorelDraw! and many other programs. If you want to use one of these please email for more information.
We are not a commercial printer and (unless it's the IRIS) we are NOT using a CMYK ink set. Your files will print much better in RGB. Why? because our printers use Cyan Magenta Yellow and Black PLUS Light Cyan, Light Magenta and Light Black. If you send us a CMYK file and we send it to the printer the printer converts it to RGB and then back to C, LC,M, LM,Y, K, LK. The printer is designed to print in the RGB color space.
If you are printing on the IRIS we still prefer to get an RGB file and do the CMYK conversion using our custom conversion profile.
How to Order
Editions
What is an edition and how many should you print
Color
Management
Some tips on getting good results
Giclee
What is a Giclée
Everything you wanted to know and more!