Aris Editions: Giclee Reproductions and Art Scanning in Seattle

Frequently Asked Questions

Scanning

Are my 35 mm slides or negatives suitable for reproduction?

Assuming a nice sharp image, a 35 mm slide or negative can be used to reproduce prints up to 20"x30" with excellent results if they are digitized with a high resolution drum scanner. Prints larger than that can start to lose some of their sharpness. Depending upon your needs, however, you may be completely satisfied with larger sizes.

Tips when submitting a slide:

For extra protection it's a good idea to send two copies of the slide in case there's an emulsion or scratch problem on one.
Make sure the color balance and exposure is representative of what you expect. Would you be happy with a giclée print that looked just like it?
It should be an original exposure of the original and not a duplicate.
Avoid submitting a slide that has been subjected to the heat of a slide projector. It causes the film to curl causing slight scanning problem.

Any guidelines when I have my work photographed?

Look for a photographer who is familiar with copying artwork. They should be prepared to deal with the glare from glossy originals like oils, caseins and acrylics. The best way to do that is with cross-polarization which is the method we use for our art scans. First determine what size giclée print you want and then have the photographer shoot in a format (35mm, 6x9, 4x5, etc.) that will produce enough detail information when we scan it. The photographer should use the finest grained film possible with a neutral color balance. Have them include a gray scale in the field.

How can I get the very best print possible?

Have a 4"x5" or 8"x10" transparency made of your original and send it to us for drum scanning or send us the original artwork and we'll scan it using our Better Light scanning system. Both ways lead to a digital master file that can pick up every nuance of your art and support a wide range of print sizes.

What is the best way to ship my original art?

If you would like to ship your original to us worry-free, we recommend Masterpak or Airfloat for shipping containers engineered for shipping artwork. Most painters who enter competitions rely upon these boxes to safely ship their work. Shipping costs will be considerably higher than for artwork that can be shipped in a tube. If the original can be unframed, please do so. We can scan the original with the frame but removing it will lessen the chance of damage and reduce the shipping costs. If the original can be rolled, we recommend using a sturdy mailing tube for added safety and cost savings. Use a 4-6 inch diameter tube to minimize curling. Always make sure that the surface of delicate artwork is carefully protected to prevent scuff damage. When rolling artwork, protect the image side with a sheet of non abrasive material. Your artwork will be handled with skill and care and be returned to you in your original packing carton.

What are common mistakes to avoid?

Amateur Photography: Slides or negatives of artwork that has been photographed non-professionally can have problems that limit the size of the final print. If there was camera jiggle, the use of a grainy high-speed film, scratches, spots, poor exposure, the image not squared or any number of other problems, we might have to go back to the drawing board for a better shot.

Consumer Film Scanning: Most consumer desktop scanners do not produce scans with enough size and detail to be suitable for Giclée prints larger than 11"x14" at the most. The same is true for consumer oriented film processing companies. For reference, most of the image files we work with at 100 megabytes or larger. Also, many scanners will clip details in the highlights and shadows that would otherwise be captured with a professional scanner.