There are three ways we can get your image into a digital format we can use to begin the process of making a fine art limited edition.  We can photograph the original, scan it from a transparency or a print, or you can supply us with a high quality digital file. We offer large format scanning for any size of artwork.

Photographing the original in our state of the art copy studio: This is most preferable method if you can either bring or ship the original to our Rhode Island studios. Shipping insured art is not as expensive as one might think. We can certainly help you with acquiring cost effective shipping if you need it. The benefits of us having the original are numerous. First and foremost in the printmaking process, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. If we have the original here while we proof it absolutely speeds up the process and helps us to be more exacting in matching an original work. It takes the responsibility of the quality of the photography away from the artist. The printmaker can’t use ‘poor photography’ as an excuse for a substandard job. If we do not feel the initial capture is of the quality we will shoot it again at no cost to you, until we are satisfied with it. It also give us the ability to use special techniques, such as multiple exposures for highlights and shadows that only a printmaker would fully appreciate. We are fully equipped with a Phase One digital scan-back on a 4x5 studio camera with a special digital flat-field lens and specialized lighting specific to copy work.  A normal capture takes 15 to 20 minutes to expose and will yield us a file that is 250MB.

You can also supply us with a digital file that you have. If you do send us a file, if at all possible, if you can send us a “ hard copy target ‘ to match to it is always helpful. This can be the original or any hardcopy output you have had made of it. If we do not get a target to match we will send out an initial proof with minimal correction for you to make comments on and work off that.  Please call us prior to sending us the file and let us know the size and format. If you can, it is advisable to do this prior to getting the work photographed. It is typical for many professional photographers to shoot files that are to small which would be good for the web or advertising purposes but would lack the resolution to do high-end reproductions. Ideally we need a file at 300DPI at final output size. If you contact us we can interface with your photographer to make sure you get a usable file. Be aware that many professional photographers lack the necessary equipment do produce this type of file although they may be very good photographers this is a specialty so we advise that you try and work with someone who specializes in fine art copy photography. 

We understand that providing us the original is not always feasable so we can accept transparencies or photographic high quality prints. When working with transparencies we prefer an 8x10 but can also work with a 4x5.  We have a Scitex Eversmart  Flatbed scanner  that produces results which are equivalent to drum scans.