What is your normal turnaround time? Do you charge for rush service?
Turnaround times here vary depending on the time required to complete the job, and our existing workload. Twenty-four to forty-eight hour service is typical on smaller jobs when submitted via the Job Request page; sooner is not uncommon. Currently no rush charges are added. No project is too small, but we do have a $25 minimum invoice amount. An online Bookings Calendar is always available for clients to view our daily workload.

Why did you ask for my QuarkXPress/InDesign document?
For best results, we always need to see how the images are being used, for many reasons. Our main concern is always for the cropped visible portion of each image—there is no sense making compromising tradeoffs which only improve unseen areas. We do avoid cropping off any of the full image, though. Your layout document is processed through a custom AppleScript which gathers scaling and resolution data for automatically sizing the final images. It is always important that images be at or near print size for consistent, optimal sharpening.

You need the printing specs, too?
It’s important to know how the images will be printed to get the best color, sharpness and tonality. There is a big difference between printing on coated or an uncoated sheet, so separations must be made to compensate. We handle all these decisions for you, contacting your printing company when needed. Many finer printing companies will even share their particular settings or profiles useful in achieving matchable color on press.

We bought an RGB stock photo to use in an ad. The color looks terrible. Can you help?
A big problem with stock images is that they are often missing their own color profile. Also, much depends on the particular RGB colors in the image and how they translate into the smaller CMYK color gamut. However, we use many techniques for getting great color from RGB images that may appear hopeless.

Do you archive all of our images for us?
At the completion of a project, all final files are transferred to the client and it becomes their responsibility to archive them for future use. Colorprep will not be liable for archived images. That being said, we normally archive the layered Photoshop RGB files and have never been unable to retrieve any images.

Tell me about your digital proofs.
Prints are always imaged from the final CMYK or grayscale files, through our carefully profiled ProofMaster CMYK RIP for excellent press simulation. Multiple images are normally provided on neatly ganged randoms, placed in picture boxes taken directly from your supplied page layout, with file names placed beneath each. Images are scaled to final print size yet do include some additional resolution for minor enlargement if needed.

I have one image I need done today, but I’m in California. How do we arrange payment?
The easiest way is with PayPal. You can link it to major credit cards and it’s free and simple to set up if you don’t already have it. We can also directly accept Visa, MasterCard & Discover via telephone. Regular clients may take advantage of available credit terms.

What’s a Raw camera file, and what are the advantages?
All professional digital cameras are capable of producing “raw” files which contain the image information directly captured by the camera’s sensor. No filtration or adjustment has been applied by the camera; truly a “digital negative” which is compressed in a lossless proprietary format, different with each camera manufacturer. Appropriate color balance can be dialed in and the image can be opened into 16-bit depth for extreme latitude on major edits. Lens-induced color fringing can be minimized. Another camera raw benefit is being able to upsample resolution when necessary using a superior algorithm compared to normal Photoshop enlargement. More.