- What is the LightJet?
- What’s the difference between Regular Service and “Level 2” Service?
- How do I set up files for LightJet enlargements?
- How do I get “LEVEL 2” pricing?
- Does Photo Craft post ICC Profiles of its printers on its web site?
Q: What is the LightJet?
A: The LightJet prints digital files directly to traditional photographic paper using red, green, and blue (helium, argon, and neon) lasers. The resulting prints, which are processed through standard photographic chemistry, are arguably the finest photographic prints available. The LightJet is accepted as the state of the art in photographic printing throughout the photographic art-world. Prints can be made as large as four feet by ten feet in one piece. Negatives, slides and transparencies, original prints and artwork are scanned to digital files prior to printing. For those wishing to print using their own Photoshop files or digital camera files, we offer two levels of service: our Regular Service and “Level 2”.
Q: What’s the difference between Regular Service and “Level 2” Service?
A: With our Regular Service you can send us a file (or have us scan a slide, negative, print, etc.) and one of our experienced color technicians will adjust the file for a superior image then make you an 8×10 proof print for your approval before making the final, full size print. (If necessary, additional proofs are $12 each.) Based on the proof, you can make adjustments to your file or you can have us make adjustments for a fee. There is more hand holding with this service.
“Level 2” is a discounted service where you submit a file that is setup and ready to print. You take complete responsibility for how the print turns out. There are no free redo’s; if you do not follow the protocol exactly, the price is automatically changed to the Regular Service pricing. There is no hand holding with this service. Often people will order a Level 2 8×10 as a proof before ordering a large final.
Q: How do I set up files for LightJet enlargements?
A: Tips for getting the best quality:
Scanning: It is important to start with the best digital information possible. When scanning original film we recommend drum scans. Though there are a number of very high quality CCD scanners available today, Photo Craft offers both Drum Scans and Repro Scans for LightJet printing.
Resolution: Scan at a resolution that is reasonable for the size prints you plan to make, but whenever possible, scan at a “true optical resolution” for the scanner being used. Most film sizes have a point at which there is no increase in value when scanned at a higher resolution. The LightJet has a phenomenal ability to interpolate image data. The LightJet images at 300 dpi, though the apparent resolution is over 4000 dpi due to the nature of writing to photographic paper with laser light. For large prints, we have used files as small as 100 ppi at final size and obtained very good results, however we recommend at least 200 ppi at final size for prints smaller than 20×30 and 300 ppi for prints smaller than 12×18. There is no advantage to sending file data at over 300 ppi as the excess info will be thrown away.
DO NOT “res-up” (resampling to increase the resolution) your files in Photoshop. Always send original scan resolution even if it is lower res than you want. Let the LightJet interpolate your files to the final printing resolution. We also do not recommend any third-party programs for increasing the resolution of files. We have tried a number of applications and none do as good a job as the LightJet at interpolating image files.
The use of unsharp mask is essential to obtaining sharp looking prints. But, be careful to not oversharpen lower resolution files. The higher the resolution, the more sharpening you can and should apply.
Color depth and dynamic range: For the highest quality prints, the color depth and dynamic range of the scanner are often more important than the maximum scanning resolution obtainable. Use scanners that are able to capture at least 12 bits per channel (36 bit color) at a dynamic range of at least 3.4. Anything less and you will be sacrificing highlight or shadow detail and color gradation. Files must be converted to 8 bits per channel (24 bit color) before you send them to us.
For LightJet printing we make the following recommendations when ordering Drum Scans at Photo Craft.
| Size | Size Resolution | File Size (24 bit color) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35mm | 5000 dpi | 95 Mb (1) | |
| 35mm | 4000 dpi * | 61 Mb | |
| 645 cm | 4000 dpi * | 185 Mb | |
| 645 cm | 2666 dpi * | 82 Mb | |
| 6×6 cm | 4000 dpi * | 238 Mb (2) | |
| 6×6 cm | 2666 dpi * | 106 Mb | |
| 6×7 cm | 4000 dpi * | 280 Mb (2) | |
| 6×7 cm | 2666 dpi * | 124 Mb | |
| 4×5 in | 2666 dpi * | 360 Mb (2) | |
| 4×5 in | 2000 dpi * | 200 Mb | |
| 4×5 in | 133 dpi * | 90 Mb | |
| (1) maximum recommended scanning resolution for 35mm films | |||
| (2) not recommended unless you are printing 30×40 and larger | |||
| * “true optical resolution” settings available from the AZTEK Drum Scanner. | |||
Print sizing: You should give us the exact dimensions you want the file to be printed. We print your file to the size you request. Typically we do not check the size or proportions in Photoshop. If you expect borders, then they must be a part of the file. Stroke your canvas with a 3 pixel (or .05 in.) inside stroke. We must be able to see the stroke line or we will trim to the image. Stroke lines print inside the size requested. Narrow stoke lines and requesting prints a quarter inch (¼”) larger than the finished size you need will result in a trim size that is more nearly correct and will usually not incur additional charges. Don't bleed over your outside crop in Photoshop or your cropped image will be smaller than expected.
Photo Craft operates in an ICC-compliant environment. For those doing their own Photoshop work, we strongly recommend using Photoshop 6 or higher and a hardware/software solution for calibrating and profiling your monitor to ICC standards. [See Color Management] Several companies provide colorimeters and software for monitor calibrating. We sell Colorvision's Spyder monitor calibrator (colorimeter) with OptiCal software [call us at 800-441-3873 for pricing and availability].
If you are supplying a digital file you can supply a reference guide, or order a proof. A reference is especially important if you are not calibrating your monitor with a colorimeter. Our Regular Service price includes producing one free proof print for approval. Additional proofs are $12.00 each. IMPORTANT NOTE: We will not match guide prints but they will be used as a reference, Further we do not match prints made on other printers or by optical means.
Submit files on CD’s, Zips, and over the internet to our FTP server.
Do not compress files.
For those wishing to supply files, properly set up, profiled, and Ready-to-Print there are economic incentives. Savvy users supplying files Ready-to-Print on CD can receive prints at a lower first print price.
Q: How do I get “LEVEL 2” pricing?
A: “Level 2” is a discounted service where you submit a file that is setup and ready to print. You take complete responsibility for how the print turns out. There are no free redo's; if you do not follow the protocol exactly, the price is automatically changed to the Regular Service pricing. There is no hand holding with this service.
To receive “Level 2” pricing one must adhere to the following protocol:
- Files must be on CD’s, ISO 9660 standard, MAC and PC compatible.
- Uncompressed RGB TIFF
- Profile embedded (we suggest staying in your color editing space)
- 8-bit per channel (24 bit color)
- Flattened, no paths, no extra channels (ex. alpha channels), no masks, etc.
- Use numbers and letters only in file name. No forbidden characters.
- Files over 50” in either dimension must be in landscape (horizontal) orientation.
- Images must be set up to the size (height and width) of the print you want. That height and width must be specified in the creating application (ex. Photoshop)
Important Note: You no longer need to convert your file from the editing space to the printer profile to get Level 2 pricing. But it is extremely important to embed your profile. We recommend leaving your file in a color editing space.
Photoshop 6 and 7 embed profiles based on your instructions. If you are using Photoshop 5 the embedded profile will be the same as your working space. In other words, even if you convert your file to a printer profile, Photoshop 5 will still embed your working space profile (Adobe RGB (1998), sRGB, Colormatch, etc). Our system will see your file as having the working space as the embedded profile and convert the file to the printer profile. This will be bad if you have already done the conversion. Hence, if you are still working with Photoshop 5 you must not convert your file. You must leave it in the working space. If you are working with anything earlier than Photoshop 5 or are submitting files which were originally done in earlier versions you should open the file in Photoshop 6 or above and resave it with an embedded profile.
Files that do not have an embedded profile will be assumed to be in Adobe RGB (1998).
We do not accept files via FTP for “Level 2” pricing. CD's only.
“Level 2” pricing is also available for reprints when we have saved your print file. Photo Craft can archive your files if you are planning on making repeat orders of the same image.
Q: Does Photo Craft post ICC Profiles of its printers on its web site?
A: Yes, Photo Craft posts custom printer profiles for the LightJet and the Fuji Frontier on our web site. We suggest you use these for soft proofing only. The LightJet recognizes embedded profiles and will convert to the printer profile automatically, hence it is important to make sure files submitted for LightJet prints have the profile embedded. This can be the printer profile or it can be your editing space. (Adobe RGB (1998), Ekta Space, etc.)
The Fuji Frontier printer is built around the sRGB model. We suggest you work in sRGB or convert your files to sRGB (or to the Frontier profile on our website) before submitting them. The Frontier does not recognize embedded profiles.
We do not post profiles for our inkjet printers.
To expedite your orders, please download our online order forms.
