Black Point Editions
We understand that every client prefers different methods for getting to a final print. For example, some clients want only to see test strips, some want full proofs, some want both. Described below is our standard process for going from the original film/file to the final print.
Once you have decided on your final print-size, the scan is made in 8 or 16 bit RGB color space at the appropriate resolution for a print-size output of 200-360dpi. If you are working with digitally captured images, we will usually request that you provide us with the raw camera data (not necessarily meaning RAW format, but the file as it was captured in the camera, sans any post-processing). If so desired, you can also provide us with a file that you’ve worked on in post-production so we have a proper idea of where you’d like to see the file.
Either you take the file and work on it yourself, or we work on it with you in-lab.
Once the file is clean and visualized on-screen, we print a small proof and a 100% scale test strip.
After any adjustments are made and barring the need for a second proof, we do a first full print. If the print is good, we’re all happy. If the print is bad, we charge 50% of the full cost for the print, and a second “revised” print is made, which is billed at full price. You get both full prints (if you wish), all test strips, and the file used to make the final print.
Often we will keep a test strip of your final print for our own records. In the future, when you want a second, third, etc. print, we will use the test strip as a control strip to make sure our equipment is printing exactly the same as when we made the first print.
Scanning: We scan film originals on a Scanview Scanmate 11000 or Scanview Scanmate 4000 drum scanner with an optical resolution on all areas of the scanning surface of 11000 dpi and 4000 dpi, respectively. We are able to scan any film size up to 8×10 inches. We also scan on a Heidelberg Tango drum scanner. This scanner lets us scan larger than 8×10 inches and has incredible reflective scan functionality. Finally, we use an Epson V750M Pro Flatbed scanning for proofing and contact sheets, and for low resolution, low cost reflective scanning.
SCANMATE 11000 DRUM SCANNER
HEIDELBERG TANGO DRUM SCANNER
EPSON 750 M PRO FLAT BED CCD SCANNER
Printing:We print on the Epson 11880 with a maximum print width of 64” (on select papers) and a maximum length of 38 feet (100 feet for some papers). Because most papers are still milled only at 60”, the realistic maximum width we can achieve is about 59.75”.
For small prints, we sometimes use an Epson 3800 printer. This printer is great for detail as it has six variable droplet sizes.
EPSON 11880 64” MICRO PIEZO PRINTER
EPSON 3800 17” K3 ULTRACHROME MICRO PIEZO PRINTER
Inks: We use the standard Epson Ultrachrome K3 VM color pigment inks for a few reasons, consistency being the biggest.
Paper: We print on a slew of in-house papers: Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl, Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta, Harman Fiber (Warm and Neutral), Various Innova papers, Various Crane papers, Epson Premium Luster, Epson Premium Semigloss, and Epson Enhanced Matte. We also create our own ICC profiles and can print on any digital surface on the market that accepts pigment ink and is thin enough to fit through our printer. Recently, we completed a large job on Kraft paper – the client was thrilled.
Other media we are experimenting with and like is the Crane Portfolio Rag and the Moab Entrada Natural, among others. Feel free to contact us regarding paper choices, recommendations, and overall tech-talk.
To all those who are interested in printing on non-traditional papers, we now offer ICC profiling for your printer. We will give you a specific file to print in a specific way. You then send the print back to us and we make an ICC profile for your printer. Custom profiles are between $75.00 each, as is out monitor profiling service. We use GretagMacbeth’s i1 spectrophotometer, and can make RGB, CMYK, or Grayscale profiles. Please call or email us for more information.
We also make Colorburst CMYK ICC Profiles. This is much more time intensive than our basic profiling service, and time / cost can vary drastically, depending on your setup. Please call or email us for more information.
We ship FedEx unless a different carrier is requested by the client. We can also use the client’s shipping number if that is preferred. We add a 10% shipping and handling charge above the FedEx charge per package. If unique packaging is required, we charge material fees for Glassine, Cardboard, and Light Impressions interleave paper. That said, the fees aren’t that much. We also deliver prints by hand (in Chicago) or via courier.
Please download one of the below FTP applications in order to access our FTP file service
Email Walker hamilton at for user account information.