CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS?
We work with three primary variables: images, cells and a master
image .
You can supply from 50 to 2000 of your own images for your Custom
Photo Mosaic. The number of images has a direct impact on the
price because we have to digitize each image (unless you supply them
digitized on a cd-rom and then it is much less expensive). A Custom
Photo Mosaic becomes more interesting and more of a personal archive
as you increase the number of images that you provide. Most people supply
between 200 and 400 images.
A typical Custom Photo Mosaic will contain about 1000 cells.
The number of cells is simply equal to the number of cells
in the height, times the number of cells in the width of the
finished print. The number of cells has no impact on the price
- only on the detail and clarity. Once we have digitized all of your
images, we run several rendering tests to determine how many cells
the Mosaic should contain in order to provide the largest cell
size while still maintaining optimum detail and clarity. If we need
more cells to provide more detail, and you haven't given us that
many different images, we will just repeat your images. There is nothing
wrong with repeating images.
You supply 1 master image. This is what your print will look
like from a distance.
We can use the same collection of images to make prints of different
master images. You only pay for digitizing of the images once.
Different prints would just require an additional rendering charge and
print charge.
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HOW SHOULD I PREPARE MY PHOTOS?
You can submit photos ranging in size from 2 " x 3 " to 8" x 10". They
cannot be in frames or albums. Please make a stack with the largest photos on
the bottom and work your way up to the smallest photos on the top. Please
number the photos on the back with pen. Your local retailer will go
through the images with you to make sure they are all numbered (Do not
use marker! It can come off on the photo stacked below it.) This way,
we can both confirm how many photos you are submitting. Your photos
will be placed in a sealable plastic bag, with an order form which you
must sign, containing all of your information. It will then be sent
to our lab unless you are working with one of our retailers who does their own scanning.
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CAN I SUPPLY MY OWN DIGITIZED IMAGES?
Absolutely. We are pleased and able to use your photo cd's or digitized
images in the jpeg file format. You
will need to supply all materials on a PC formatted cd-rom and only
supply the images that you want us to use. We will use all images that
you provide and charge for all of them. Please note that the aspect ratio of the images need to be 4:3 or 3:4. All of the images must either be vertical or horizontal, no mixing because it won't work properly. Images that you scan need to be scanned at 100 dpi.. The master photo needs to be scanned at 600 dpi and in the final size ratio that you want your finished print to be.
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WILL I SAVE MONEY BY DIGITIZING MY OWN IMAGES?
Yes. Please refer to your retailer for pricing.
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HAVE YOU EVER LOST ANYONE'S MATERIALS?
Since Custom Photo Mosaics is only 3 years old, the answer is of course,
no. Do we expect at some time to lose anyone's materials? No, this is
not an acceptable option. We have created a system of checks and balances
to assure that everything is accounted for and materials are digitized
and returned to you as quickly as possible. Hence, the reason we ask
you to number your images. If your materials are being sent to our studio, the sealed
plastic bag which they are in is put into a plastic container with your
name on it. The only time they leave that container and bag is to be
digitized. Then they go back into the bag for return shipping to you. If your local retailer is digitizing the images for you, the images will not be subject the potential risk of shipping and therefore, even less chance of misplacement.
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HOW DO YOU SHIP MY FINISHED POSTER?
The poster is sent in a mailing tube back to your retailer, unless
we are informed otherwise. We use UPS.
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HOW DO YOU SHIP MY MATERIALS BACK TO ME?
Any materials that are shipped to us will be shipped back to your retailer. We always use tracking numbers and require a signature
for delivery unless the retailer has other arrangements with UPS or Federal
Express.
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WHAT IF I WANT MORE POSTERS AT A LATER DATE?
We keep an electronic backup of all master mosaics. Additional copies can be ordered at any time for just the cost of the print and shipping. There are no additional charges for digitizing or rendering. If you think you might want to use these images in a new mosaic at a later date, we would
recommend the inexpensive option of ordering a cd-rom backup of all
of your images. This is an archive of your images that we can use to make a Custom Photo Mosaic from a different master photo. We can also add more images at a later
date to previously digitized images to make a different mosaic and not charge to re-digitize the original images.
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HOW LARGE CAN YOU MAKE A POSTER?
Please refer to the pricing grid at your local retailer.
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CAN YOU LAMINATE THE POSTER FOR ME?
Since the majority of our clients are having their Custom Photo Mosaics
professionally framed, we are not offering lamination services at this
time. There is no need to laminate a mosaic if you are also framing
it.
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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A POSTER?
From the time that we receive your materials, it will take 2-4 weeks
for your finished print to arrive back at your local retailer. Frequently,
the turnaround is a little shorter and during the holiday season it
may be longer, so please plan ahead. We stop taking orders for winter holiday
delivery on December 4.
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CAN YOU MOUNT THE POSTER FOR ME?
It is more cost effective for you to have your Custom Photo Mosaic mounted
locally.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE A MOSAIC POSTER?
Please ask one of our authorized retailers..
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HOW COME THE BIG PRINTS ARE SO EXPENSIVE?
Because they are prints, real photographic prints, printed in a machine that costs about $300,000. They are not printed on a wide-format inkjet printer like you will find at every local photocopy or print shop. They have the same physical and archival properties that lab produced photographic prints have and should last at least as long as you do.
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