We understand that every client has a different method for getting to a final print. Some clients want only test strips; some clients 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 end print-size, the scan is made in RGB 8bit (or 16bit) mode at the appropriate resolution for a print-size output of 200-360dpi.
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 one-to-one proportional test strip.
After any adjustments are made, we do a first full print. If the print is good, you take it and we charge a first-print price. If the print is bad, a first print price is charged and then only material fees (+ new labor fees) are charged for the next “adjusted” print. You get both full prints, all test strips, and the file used to make the final print.
Often we will keep a test strip of your final print as a record for us to keep. Later on, when you want a second and third print, we will use the test strip as a control to make sure our equipment is printing exactly the same as when we made the first print.