For
decades, photographers have chosen to work with professional
printmakers to make prints that match their vision. The
highest level of this collaboration is a custom print -
one where the print is made to the photographers specifications.
Why
is there a need for custom prints?
Rarely
will the file directly from your digital camera or a film
scan from a scanner produce the best possible results.
Creative decisions need to be applied with the basic tools
of photography to optimize density, contrast and color.
These decisions allow the photograph to best express what
the photographer felt when they clicked the shutter.
While
some photographers make these edits themselves, many choose
to work with a professional printmaker to do the work for
them, allowing them to use the vast knowledge and experience
of the printmaker. It also frees them from what can be
a long and laborious process, allowing more time for making
new photographs and for all the other commitments of life.
For
photographers who want to work with an expert printmaker
and make custom prints, we offer our Exhibition Print service.
While
the tools and techniques we use to make Exhibition Prints
are important, what really matters most is building a relationship
between printmaker and photographer. We use proofs and
phone calls to learn your style, and to see through your
eyes. This delivers the print you want, time after time.
If you can tell us what you are looking for, we can achieve
it.
A
relationship with one of our expert printmakers gives you
the equivalent of a whole team of digital experts who are
available on-call for your needs, with the benefit of paying
as-you-go, instead of adding another salary to your expenses.
Our
printmakers can make one print, or hundreds of prints for
a retrospective. They can also make files for a magazine
cover, fine art books, posters and calendars, or any other
CMYK offset need. Once your photographs have been scanned
and interpreted, there is no limit to what you can do with
them.
The
starting point for an Exhibition Print is to order a Custom
File, a proof on the paper you intend to print on, and
a scan (if starting from film).
We
start with your digital camera file or we drum scan your
original film. One of our expert printmakers then makes creative
decisions in Photoshop to achieve a print that meets your
expectations by making global and local corrections to color,
contrast, density, and saturation. When that's done, we can
make proofs and talk...or make your final prints (at our
reprint price) without the proofing step.
Once
you have a Custom File you are satisfied with, you
can order Exhibition Reprints at
any time. To make reprinting your photograph easy, we can
keep all necessary files on our servers so reprints are
just a click away.
We
work with you every step of the way so the process ends
with "oohs" and "ahhs".
Our
customers are constantly telling us that we’ve
made their prints look better then they thought possible.
Take a look at these "before and after" examples
that show how your photographs can benefit from our Printmakers'
experience.
 Before
(Camera
RAW File with no correction)
|
 After
(File
after Custom Printing)
|
 Before
(Raw
scan from 4x5 film) |
 After
(File
after Custom Printing) |
 Before
(Raw
scan from 4x5 B&W film)
|
 After
(File
after Custom Printing)
|
 Before
(Raw
scan from 4x5 film)
|
 After
(File
after Custom Printing and converted to B&W) |
To
create an Exhibition Print, you need to order each step,
a la carte. Please visit each link for pricing information:
1.
A Scan (if
working from film)
2.
A Custom
File
3.
A proof or reprint.
You
can order Custom Files, Proofs and File changes online,
by mail or by FAX.
Online
Order Form
PDF
Order Form
Upload
Images
Our
staff is here to help, if you have questions.
Exhibition
reprints are prints made from Custom
Files, where we do
all the work necessary to target your corrected file for
the highest quality. This includes sizing your file to
the optimum optimum dpi for output, careful sharpening
using masks to selectively apply different amounts of sharpening
to different areas, sizing the photo to your exact image
dimensions, and adding border as specified.
You
can order reprints at any time with our secure
online order form. By
storing a copy of your Custom Files on our server, we
can make prints quickly and easily without the need to
send us your files.
Each
print is carefully made to our exacting standards, using
ICC color management. After we’re sure your prints
are perfect, we put them in a sturdy package so they arrive
at your door in beautiful condition.
Reprint
pricing is determined by the paper surface and ink you
choose to print with, the size of your print, and how many
prints you order. If you order multiple prints of the same
image, in the same size, at the same time--you'll qualify
for lower pricing.
Let's
say you order four 16x20 prints of the SAME image. The
first print would be billed at the 1st print price and
the additional three would be billed at the 2-9 price.
Now,
let's say you order four 16x20 prints of four DIFFERENT
images. In this case, each print would be billed at the
first print price. This is because it take us more time
to print four different photographs than it does to print
the same photograph four times.
Turnaround:
We
work on a first-come, first-served basis with all orders
at West Coast Imaging. Exhibition Reprints and Print Lab
prints are given first priority by our imaging staff, and
we work to complete each order as quickly as possible,
without sacrificing quality. When we have prints with surface
damage and other defects, we reprint them until we have
a perfect print to send you. This adds time to each order.
If you need it yesterday, we have RUSH services that come
along with RUSH charges. Most Exhibition Reprint and Print
Lab orders generally take 5 to 7 business days
in-house to complete. Prints on any of our Epson printers
will take ten business days in-house , prints on Supergloss
or Fuji Pearl will take 10-14 business days in-house. All
estimated turnaround times can be longer or shorter depending
on our current workload. If you are working on a deadline,
even if it’s far in the future, please be sure to
let us know so we can work with you to meet your objectives.
The
pricing below is for prints made from Custom Files (or
Exhibition Prints). It does not include the cost of scanning or
the Custom File.
| Square
Foot Price |
$18/ft2 |
$12.50/ft2 |
$11.25/ft2 |
Paper
Size |
1st
Print |
Prints
2-9 |
Prints
10+ |
| 8x10 |
$10 |
$6.94 |
$6.25 |
| 11x14 |
$19.25 |
$13.37 |
$12.03 |
| 16x20 |
$40 |
$27.78 |
$25 |
| 16x24 |
$48 |
$33.33 |
$30 |
| 20x24 |
$60 |
$41.67 |
$37.50 |
| 20x30 |
$75 |
$52.08 |
$46.88 |
| 24x30 |
$90 |
$62.50 |
$56.25 |
| 24x36 |
$108 |
$75 |
$67.50 |
| 30x40 |
$150 |
$104.17 |
$93.75 |
| 30x50 |
$187.50 |
$130.21 |
$117.19 |
Other sizes are available! If you don't see
the size you need, use the square-foot pricing listed
above to find the price of your print. Prints smaller
than 8x10 will be billed at the 8x10 price
The
pricing below is for prints made from Custom Files (or
Exhibition Prints). It does not include the cost of scanning or
the Custom File.
| Square
Foot Price |
$22/ft2 |
$15/ft2 |
$11.25/ft2 |
Paper
Size |
1st
Print |
Prints
2-9 |
Prints
10+ |
| 8x10 |
$12.22 |
$8.33 |
$6.25 |
| 11x14 |
$23.53 |
$16.04 |
$12.03 |
| 16x20 |
$48.89 |
$33.33 |
$25 |
| 16x24 |
$58.67 |
$40 |
$30 |
| 20x24 |
$73.33 |
$50 |
$37.50 |
| 20x30 |
$91.67 |
$62.50 |
$46.88 |
| 24x30 |
$110 |
$75 |
$56.25 |
| 24x36 |
$132 |
$90 |
$67.50 |
| 30x40 |
$183.33 |
$125 |
$93.75 |
| 30x50 |
$229.17 |
$156.25 |
$117.19 |
Other sizes are available!
If you don't see the size you need, use the square-foot
pricing listed above to find the price of your print. Prints
smaller than 8x10 will be billed at the 8x10 price.
Watercolor Smooth - Silver Rag -
Canvas Matte - Canvas Glossy
The
pricing below is for prints made from Custom Files (or
Exhibition Prints). It does not include the cost of scanning or
the Custom File.
| Square
Foot Price |
$22/ft2 |
$18/ft2 |
$15/ft2 |
Paper
Size |
1st
Print |
Prints
2-9 |
Prints
10+ |
| 8x10 |
$12.22 |
$10 |
$8.33 |
| 11x14 |
$23.53 |
$19.25 |
$16.04 |
| 16x20 |
$48.89 |
$40 |
$33.33 |
| 16x24 |
$58.67 |
$48 |
$40 |
| 20x24 |
$73.34 |
$60 |
$50 |
| 20x30 |
$91.67 |
$75 |
$62.50 |
| 24x30 |
$110 |
$90 |
$75 |
| 24x36 |
$132 |
$108 |
$90 |
| 30x40 |
$183.34 |
$150 |
$125 |
| 30x50 |
$229.17 |
$187.50 |
$156.25 |
Other
sizes are available! If you don't see the size you need,
use the square-foot pricing listed above to find the
price of your print. Prints smaller than 8x10 will be
billed at the 8x10 price.
You
can order reprints at any time with our secure
online order form.
By
storing a copy of your Custom Files (or Exhibition Prints)
on our server, we can make prints quickly and easily without
the need to send us your files.
Making a beautiful color print
is about paying attention to the subtle nuances of each
photograph, and making sure those qualities are evoked
in the final print. The first step is to make global adjustments
to density, contrast, color balance and saturation. Once
the global changes are made, the print can be fine tuned
by applying the same tools to local areas. By working with
our expert printmakers and communicating your desires,
we can explore the possibilities inherent within each photograph,
and make a stunning final print.
In addition to the traditional
printing decisions made in Photoshop, digital printing
allows us to print on a wide variety of papers. This can
significantly change what your photograph communicates,
giving you new options and possibilities to explore.
Light-Sensitive
Photo Papers
Most of our clients
choose to use traditional light-sensitive photo papers, which
we expose in our Chromira using an LED light source, and
then process in RA-4 chemistry. Because it is real photo
paper, prints have the tactile look and feel of a traditional
photograph--but with all the benefits of digital control.
We
offer standard Matte and Gloss surfaces using Fuji Crystal
Archive Paper. Another option is Fuji SuperGloss, which
has incredibly deep and rich colors thanks to its SuperGloss
surface. If you like the look of Ilfochrome/Cibachrome,
you’ll love SuperGloss.
We also offer Fuji Pearl paper, which gives prints a unique,
metallic look.
Inkjet
Photo Papers
Another option is
to use our inkjet printers to print on papers that have surfaces
similar to light-sensitive photo papers. When viewed up-close,
inkjet prints will look sharper than light sensitive papers,
and many papers have extremely long life spans. Epson Premium
Luster Photo Paper is the most popular choice, and it looks
and feels very similar to Fuji Crystal Archive Matte.
Inkjet
Fine-Art Papers
Fine-art papers give color photographers exciting new
options. Fine-art papers offer the same look and feel as
the paper used for watercolor paintings. You can choose from
papers ranging from a light texture, to a heavy texture.
Prints on fine-art papers typically have a softer and quieter
feel that works well for many photographs. Blacks are generally
muted slightly, but rich, saturated colors are still possible.
Much of the muted effect comes from the non-reflective qualities
of the paper itself. Fine-art papers look wonderful when
displayed in homes with no direct lighting on the artwork.
Our most popular fine-art paper combination is Watercolor
Smooth.
Inkjet
Canvas
With inkjet printing,
we can also print on specially coated canvases. Since the
texture of the canvas shows through, it gives the viewer
a sense of a painting, and opens up new avenues of expression
for photographers.
A
complete list of the papers we offer can be found in the
paper choices tab.
It’s
hard to deny the beauty of a well made B&W print. By
removing color, and instead using only black, white, and
shades of grey, B&W allows ordinary subjects to be
transformed into a print that reveals more than the thing
itself. A pepper becomes more than a pepper--a nautilus
shell more than an empty shell.
Making
a beautiful B&W print is about choosing a proper overall
density (exposure) and contrast for a particular photograph,
then combining that with local changes (dodging and burning)
to both density and contrast, bringing out the purest essence
of the subject.
The
tools of digital imaging are capable of immense control
into the process. When working with a custom printmaker,
digital imaging allows great repeatability and ease of
proofing. Most adjustments can be made more quickly than
in the darkroom, which helps control costs and provides
more opportunities to explore the potential of each photograph.
A
digital B&W print can have many starting points: Color
digital camera files, color slide films, color negative
film, B&W negative films, and more. Color photographs
are converted to greyscale in the computer with very precise
control.
The
look and feel of a B&W print has always come from the
process that makes the prints. In the analog darkroom,
these processes are based on light-sensitive papers that
use different metals to achieve their particular look.
Most darkroom B&W prints are made with paper that uses
silver, but platinum and palladium are also very popular
alternative processes.
We
have several options for black and white printing:
Light-Sensitive
Photo Papers
It
is possible to use our Chromira to print onto light-sensitive
photo papers and make B&W prints, but we prefer the results
of inkjet printing for B&W over light-sensitive papers.
However, unique results can be obtained with Fuji SuperGloss
and Kodak Metallic paper.
Inkjet
Photo Papers
Inkjet
photo papers are the best choice when you want to replicate
the surface of silver based darkroom papers. Silver
Rag is a very popular choice for clients who like the look
of gloss-surface fiber based papers used in the darkroom.
Inkjet
Fine-Art Papers
A
fine-art paper is generally one that looks and feels like
the paper used for watercolor paintings, and for many alternative
darkroom processes like platinum and palladium printing.
You can choose from papers ranging from a light texture,
to a heavy texture. Prints on fine-art papers typically have
a softer and quieter feel that works well for many photographs
and allows a feel similar to platinum and palladium. Blacks
are generally muted slightly, but mid and high values are
very crisp and defined. Much of the muted effect comes from
the non-reflective qualities of the paper itself. Fine-art
papers look wonderful when displayed in homes with no direct
lighting on the artwork. Our most popular fine art paper
combination is Watercolor Smooth.
Inkjet
Canvas
With
inkjet printing, we can also print on specially coated canvases.
Since the texture of the canvas shows through, it gives the
viewer a sense of a painting, and opens up new avenues of
expression for photographers.
A
complete list of the papers we offer can be found in the
paper choices tab.
Nothing
changes a photo more than the paper it's printed on. From
traditional photo papers to watercolor papers and canvases--we
have a choice to meet your needs and make your print unique!
Favorite
Paper Combinations
Request
free samples of our favorite papers!
These
are our favorite paper and printer combinations--the ones
we think produce the best results. Choose the surface that
best fits the mood of your photo, and make a stunning print
to share with the world.
Gloss
Photo Fuji Crystal Archive Gloss
printed with the Chromira
This traditional glossy photo paper has beautiful color and
rich, deep blacks. If you're looking for a standard glossy
print, this is the choice for you.
Matte
Photo Fuji Crystal Archive Matte
printed with the Chromira
Like its gloss counterpart, this paper also has beautiful
color and deep blacks. This is a great option for those who
prefer a non-glossy surface, or for photos that will be handled
a lot.
SuperGloss Fuji
Flex SuperGloss printed with the Chromira
This is the glossiest paper you can use -- there's no other
material like it! SuperGloss offers the deepest and richest
colors, and incredible shadow detail. It practically glows
with light from within. The surface is similar to Ilfochrome
papers that have been popular with professional photographers
for years.
Fuji
Pearl Fuji Crystal Archive Pearl
printed with the Chromira
This truly unique paper combines Fuji's long lasting Crystal
Archive emulsion with a base containing natural mica and
titanium dioxide to create a pearl/metal appearance within
the print.
Silver
Rag Museo Silver Rag printed
with Epson 9800 K3 Photo Black
An inkjet paper with a surface similar to traditional
darkroom processes, such as fiber based silver gelatin
B&W prints,
and color dye-transfer prints. This is one of the best choices
for B&W printing.
Watercolor
Smooth Hahnemühle Photo Rag
printed with Epson 11800 K3 Vivid Magenta Matte Black
K3 Matte Black
Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 is a 100% cotton rag artist's
paper which allows prints to look like platinum, palladium,
watercolor, or other alternative print processes. It is our
most popular paper for photographers looking for something "different" from
standard photo papers. With Epson
K3VM inks inks it produces stunning depth, detail,
and subtlety.
Canvas
Glossy Sihl Instant Dry WR 350 Satin Canvas
printed with Epson 9800 K3 Photo Black
Give your photos or artwork the feel and texture of canvas.
This glossy canvas has excellent color fidelity and depth,
helping to reproduce the subtleties of your images. This
canvas is water resistant and ready to display without any
additional coating.
Canvas
Matte Sihl 3857 - Artist Canvas for Framing 340
Matte printed with Epson 11880 K3 Vivid Magenta Matte
Black
Give your photos or artwork the feel and texture of canvas.
This matte canvas has a softer appearance than our glossy
canvas, but still has excellent color fidelity and depth
to reproduce the subtleties of your images. This canvas is
water resistant and ready to display without any additional
coating. It can also be coated with various sprays to produce
semigloss or glossy appearances.
Luster
Photo Epson Premium Luster Photo
Paper printed with Epson 11880 K3 Vivid Magenta Photo
Black
Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper has been
a longtime favorite for inkjet printing because it
looks and feels just like Fuji Crystal Archive Matte.
This paper choice is popular with our customers who
own a small Epson printer. It allows them to offer
larger prints than they can make themselves, while
using the same paper they use to create their smaller
prints.
Don't
see what you want? See our Custom
Paper Combinations for more options.
