Digital Services

Palette Arts uses a method of direct digital capture of originals using 4×5 professional camera, high resolution Apo lens, indirect lighting and high resolution scanning camera back such as the Phase One PowerPhase. The accuracy of electronic focusing, uniform lighting software, fidelity of the electronic eye, precision of computerized exposure control and the balancing of the colors using sophisticated ICC profiling are the reasons why this method is the best. This method captures, and assures, the highest level of details and sharpness with well defined highlights and shadows. Please do not confuse this set up with low cost ordinary digital cameras (just the cost of the lens alone on this setup exceeds the cost of the consumer digital cameras by thousands of dollars). A single scan takes about 20 minutes to complete before color corrections.

Drum scanning (or high quality flat bed scanning) of transparency of the original produced using professional photography of the original on 4×5 or 8×10 transparency captured by micro focused large format camera, high resolution Apo lens and indirect lighting. The quality of transparencies varies greatly due to the photographer’s experience, specialty, lighting and camera equipment as well as the grade and quality of film and its processing.

Good
Direct scanning of originals on flat bed or drum scanners.

This method is not recommended for textured or reflective surfaces due to the direct lighting of the scanning mechanism. Direct lighting creates shadows and reflection on the surface of the originals as they are scanned. These anomalies add unnatural effects to the scanned image and create reflections that cause loss of detail and color in all or parts of the scanned image.

The quality of these captures varies greatly due to the camera, lens, lighting, focusing, film speed, developing and the photographer’s experience. This method can produce medium quality portraits and photo-art reproduction where detail and accuracy of colors are not as significant. We do not recommend enlargements of 35mm photos or prints beyond 24″x30″ due to the film grain magnification. For choice of film, we recommend the use of 100 ASA film speed or less, as high-speed films produce noticeable grain.

The quality of these captures varies greatly due to camera manufacturer, lens, resolution and lighting method. These types of cameras do not produce large enough files for enlargements. As a general rule file sizes between 50 to 150 megabytes are needed for giclée reproduction. Ordinary digital cameras produce file sizes between 1 to 20 megabytes. A 10 megabyte digital file can be printed to 16″x20″ size in medium photograph quality, but not fine art quality.

Prices and Requirements for Giclée Reproduction services:

1. We can use your original, if you want us to use the BEST method as described above
   ($70.00 capture fee up to 5′x 7′ each) Fee includes first proof and CD.
2. We can scan your professionally captured 4×5 or 8×10 transparencies with embedded color and gray scale $50.00 fee each) Fee includes first proof and CD.
3. We can scan photograph prints or slides of anything ($50.00 fee each) Fee includes first proof and CD.
4. We can use digital files of your artwork in TIFF (*.tif) format that are 50 to 150 megabytes original size (not resampled). We also need a color proof in order to match the colors, as colors may appear differently on your monitor ($15 fee each proof with color change made)

These rates are for the scanning and capture processes only.