FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Digital Fine Art Prints
As part of Toronto Image Works' long-term commitment to bringing clients new, high quality digital technologies, we now offer Fine Art Prints. These prints are made using archival inks on archival substrates, including a wide variety of fine art papers available in widths up to 44"; photo-inkjet paper up to 60" wide; and canvas up to 57" wide. The Fine Art print process offers incredible control over the colour and contrast of your finished image; the superior image quality, sharpness, and colour saturation of these prints place them in a league of their own.
Q: What is a Fine Art Print?
A: A Fine Art Print is an exhibition quality original print or reproduction, made by printing archival pigment-based inks onto archival watercolour paper, photo-inkjet paper, or canvas. The print is made from a digital file, which is colour matched to an original piece of art, a client-supplied match print, or to client specifications.
Q: How long will they last?
A: Fine Art Prints can last from 60 - 200 years under continuous lighting conditions, depending on the substrate and ink set used. For the Fine Art Print process, Toronto Image Works has made every effort to use the most archival materials possible, while maintaining the highest standard in image quality. For some of the most comprehensive data on print longevity,
visit www.wilhelm-research.com
Q: How should I prepare my files?
A: Toronto Image Works employs a colour managed workflow. It is recommended that if you choose to prepare a file for output yourself, you work on a hardware calibrated monitor and use the appropriate profiles to soft proof your image. Of course, given the differences in colour gamut and dynamic range between an illuminated display and a reflective print, whenever possible we recommend having a test strip/ test print made from your file before proceeding to a final print. Detailed guidelines in preparing your image for printing can be found here
Q: What do I get when I supply an original piece of art,
and request a set up and print?
A: If you bring us an original piece of art, we will photograph it digitally, or onto 4x5 or 8x10 transparency film - depending on your desired final print size. The transparencies are scanned, cleaned, colour corrected, and sharpened; digital photos are colour corrected and sharpened. In the process of colour correction, we will make one or more test prints before you are called to come in for approval. If you request any changes to be made, another test is prepared. Once you are satisfied and have approved the test print, we proceed with the final print.
Q: Who uses this service?
A: Painters, illustrators, mixed media artists, photographers, designers and architects just some of the clients using this service.
Q: Can I make B/W prints with this technology?
A: Yes. We offer the best in piezographic technology, which offers neutral or split-tone prints with rich blacks on a wide variety of fine art papers. While piezographic inks are not compatible with photo-inkjet papers, we do offer outstanding black and white prints on these papers— including fibre-type papers - using our colour printers.
Q: What materials do you print on?
A: We print on a wide variety of fine art and photo-inkjet papers, as well as canvas. Our fine art papers include Hahnemuehle German Etching, William Turner, Photo Rag Bright White and Bamboo; for photo-based inkjet printing, we offer HP photo satin, photo gloss, and Harman gloss fibre paper.
Q: How big can I print?
A: The size of your Fine Art Print is limited only by the size of your file, and the maximum available size of your chosen substrate. Our Hahnemuehle fine art paper is available in sizes up to 44" - with a large enough file, 44"x60", 44”x72", or larger prints are possible. Our photo-inkjet papers are available in sizes up to 60” wide, allowing for prints at 60"x90" or bigger. Canvas is available up to 57" wide— leaving 2.5" borders for stretching, 52"x96" or wider prints can be made.
Q: Can I coat these prints to protect them?
A: While it is possible to coat the prints with archival coating, such as Hahnemuehle protective spray, we recommend alternate methods of protecting the prints, such as framing.
Digital Photo Prints - Chromira 5X
Q: What is a Chromira Printer?
A:The Chromira is a state-of-the-art, large format, high-speed digital photo printer, rivaling the quality of a LightJet or Lambda. Its high resolution LED imaging technology incorporates a wide colour gamut and higher visual resolution (425 dpi) than is available with other technologies. Printing directly onto traditional chromogenic paper, the Chromira allows for high quality digital images to be printed at analog photo prices.
Q: What is the resolution of a Chromira Printer?
A:The Chromira's native resolution is 300 dpi, although in extenuating circumstances we have achieved acceptable results with files as low as 72 dpi. The Chromira's advanced interpolation and print technology creates an astounding visual resolution of 425 dpi.
Q: How do I prepare my files for the Chromira?
A:Files should be prepared as RGB JPEGs or TIFFs, at size, with no greater a resolution than 300 dpi, and a size no larger than 700MB. Detailed guidelines in preparing your image for printing can be found here.
Q: How big can I print on the Chromira?
A:The Chromira prints 50” rolls of Kodak Ultra Endura chromogenic paper. While the Chromira will not accept a file larger than 700MB, large prints can be submitted at 150dpi, which will be upsampled by the RIP to 300dpi— thus making prints up to 50”x 216” (18 feet) possible.
Q: Do you have profiles for the Chromira?
A:Yes. Soft proof profiles are available below.
Kodak Endura Glossy | Kodak Endura Matte | Fuji FujiFLEX
There is a 'Readme' file with general usage instructions included in each profile's zip archive. (Zip files can be unpacked by WinZip, Windows XP, and Stuffit expander for MAC.)
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