GENERAL: Q. Is there really a Nancy? Q. Is the NancyScans process the same as traditional photographic printing? Q. What is the “KRIST’L™” process? Q. What are the advantages of file direct digital printing? Q. How long will my scans and prints take to finish? Q. Does NancyScans offer print finishing services? Q. What happens if I’m not happy? Q. How can I reach NancyScans in off-hours, on the weekend, a holiday? Q. When printing from transparencies is a film inter-negative required? PRICING AND PAYMENT: Q. What does it cost to do custom scanning and fine art printing? Q. How does NancyScans accept payment? Can I pay by credit card? DRUM SCANNING: Q. What kind of film is best for scanning? Q. What kinds of scanners are used to scan images at NancyScans? Q. How do I know how large of a scan I will need for my KRIST'L print? Q. Do I need to scan at the highest resolution possible to get maximum sharpness? Q. What is the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit scans? Q. What type of media does NancyScans write to? Q. What is “over scanning”? Q. How much “sharpening” should I ask for during the scanning process? KRIST'L PRINTS: Q. How big are the image files used to print KRIST’L prints? Q. Is the material used for printing KRIST’L Prints archival? Q. What is the resolution of KRIST’L prints? FILE PREP: Q. Can a user submit digital files for printing? Q. What are the correct resolution settings for KRIST’L LightJet printing? Q. May I send image files directly from my computer? Q. If I submit files, how can I get the color and density that I see on my monitor? Q. How do I calibrate my monitor to ensure good output results? Q. What are there recommended settings for color temperature and gamma of my monitor? Q. When I up/download files to/from NancyScans, is there potential for quality loss? Q. How much “sharpening” should be used during the KRIST’L process? Q.What is the best way for me to apply additional sharpening? Q. Why do I need to “stuff” (Mac) or Zip (PC) my files when using T-1 Service? COLOR MANAGEMENT: Q. What's the difference between ICC Color management and a “Closed Loop" system? Q. What is an ICC Profile? Q. If I profile my own files, how will NancyScans know that I have applied the profile? Q. If I submit profiled files what else should I send with my order? Q. Is there a Nancy? A. Nancy Olson is President and Co-Founder. She continues to be responsible for every scan we do. Nancy is available to take your calls and answer questions. TOP Q. How do I best communicate the subtleties I require in my scans and output? A. NancyScans suggest an open line of communication with our customers. After we have completed our first job for you, tell us what you think. TOP Q. What happens if I’m not happy? A. NancyScans offers a money back guarantee. No questions asked. It’s that simple. TOP Q. How can I reach NancyScans in off-hours, on the weekend, a holiday? A. We return calls and e-mails 7 days a week, even on holidays. We accept digital uploads 7/24/365. TOP Q. When I supply small digital files for output, is there anything you can do to interpolate the data without a quality loss? A. We frequently use special software to maintain a small files integrity for large output. TOP Q. Is the NancyScans process the same as traditional photographic printing? A. No. The process that NancyScans uses employs state of the art high resolution drum scanning and high resolution RGB laser printing technology to achieve results that surpass traditional photo enlarging processes. TOP Q. When printing from transparencies is a film inter-negative required? A. There is no "film inter negative" used when you are making file direct prints. The high resolution digital file replaces the need for a "film inter-negative". TOP Q. What kind of film is best for scanning? A. In most all cases transparency film yields the best possible scans. Transparency film sizes from 35mm up to 8x10 can be scanned on the Heidleberg Tango drum scanner. TOP Q. Do I need to scan at the highest resolution possible to get maximum sharpness? A. Sharpness is not related to resolution but to a filter known as “unsharp masking”. Unsharp masking can be added when the original is being captured on the scanner or at a later time. There are many good reasons to add little USM during the scanning process. Primarily, once you have added it, it can’t be removed once it becomes part of the “master” file. As every output device interprets data differently, it is a good idea to add USM specifically for the device you are outputting to. TOP Q. What kinds of scanners are used to scan images at NancyScans? A. NancyScans uses the best drum scanner in the world, the Heidelberg Tango. The scanner is the choice of the fine art community and is able to capture 11,000 pixels per inch in 8 or 16 bit color. TOP Q. What is the “KRIST’L™” process? A. The “KRIST’L™” process is a multi step process created to meet the demands of the fine art community. Step-by-step the process includes; •High resolution custom scans done on the Heidelberg Tango. •The use of five color management programs to insure an exact color match. • Output completed on the Cymbolic Sciences Lightjet 5900. • Fuji Crystal Archive™ Print materials for extended print life. TOP Q. What are the advantages of file direct digital printing? A.. Direct digital printing from electronic files gives photographers and digital artists control over the quality of the print that they couldn’t achieve with optical printing. Issues of edge to edge sharpness, contrast, density, color balance, highlight and shadow detail can be controled when the digital master file is completed. Results are repeatable through the use of ICC Color Profiles today, tomorrow and a year from now. "On demand printing" is possible for artists who do not wish to maintain a large inventory of prints for sale. Turnaround times for print order fulfillment are drastically reduced. Large quantity or single print orders can usually be fulfilled within 72 hours of receipt of your file. TOP Q. Is the material used for printing KRIST’L Prints archival? A. The substrait used to create KRIST’L Fine Art Prints is Fuji Crystal Archive™ Professional Paper. It is formulated to produce outstanding image quality for large-format laser printing. The material offers superb colors, pure whites, exceptional color image stability & sharpness. Our prints are available in glossy and matte surfaces. NancyScans also offers Fuji Backlit Crystal Archive materials for tradeshow or POP use. According to studies by Wilhelm Imaging Research Fuji Crystal Archive will last over 60 years+ before noticeable fading occurs. http://www.wilhelm-research.com/ TOP Q. What is the resolution of KRIST’L prints? A. The Resolution of the LightJet that produces our KRIST'L prints is 304.8 pixels per inch or 120 pixels per centimeter. Printing is done as continuos tone RGB so the resolution appears much higher. TOP Q How big are the image files used to print KRIST’L prints? A. Files sizes for a typical print; say 16x20, would be 85.1 Mb. The LightJet has the ability, through interpolation, to print the same size from a 37.8 Mb file with no noticeable difference. TOP Q. Can a user submit digital files for printing? A. Photoshop users can prepare their own digital files. Files should be created to the required KRIST’L specifications. TOP Q. If I submit image files how can I ensure I get the color and print density that I see on my monitor? A. Photographers and digital artists should use monitor calibration hardware and software to calibrate to their system to ICC standards. NancyScans sells and supports the same software that we use, software that we know meets or exceeds ICC standards. TOP Q. What type of media does NancyScans write to? A. We accept CD ROM, Jaz, and Zip Cartridges. TOP Q. May I send image files directly from my computer? A. Yes, however you may not email files. NancyScans has created T-1 Internet Priority Service. This broad bandwidth connectivity allows you to access your own secure FTP folder on the NancyScans file server 7/24. Users may upload and download large files directly to or from their folder providing they have the bandwidth to support the transfer of large files quickly. (DSL, Cable, or T-1 modems). TOP Q. What does it cost to do custom scanning and fine art printing? A. Custom drum scans done by NancyScans at high resolution are the most competitive priced scans found anywhere. Prices for scanning start at $39.95 for a custom 100 Mb scan. Print prices are also very competitive by industry standards, full pricing can be found on the NancyScans web site. For large quantity print runs, feel free to call or email NancyScans. TOP Q. Does NancyScans offer print finishing services? A. Yes! We offer a full range of print mounting and finishing to all popular substrates: Art board, foam core, Gator foam, Sintra and Plexiglas are all included in the selection. TOP Q. How long will my scans and prints take to finish? A. As everything we do is custom done, scanning and printing times may vary. However, scheduled scanning jobs are often shipped the day after they are received. Fine art prints from existing digital files usually ship two days after they are recived. If mounting and laminating is required, and additional 24 to 48 hours may be required. TOP Q. How does NancyScans accept payment? Can I pay by credit card? A. You may pay by any popular credit card or by a check with your order. Should you need help figuring out the pricing and shipping for your order, give us a call. TOP Q. What is “over scanning.”? A. Every original image has a maximum amount of “useable data”. One school of thought says that a 35mm transparency has approximately 100mb of useable data. If you have a 35 mm scanned at a size and resolution that captures move than 100mb you risk capturing “non useable data”. Non-useable data translates as increased film grain. When deciding how much data to capture, you should take into account the film size, emulsion type, the scanner you are scanning on and, and most importantly, the device you will be outputting to. TOP Q. How much “sharpening” should I ask for during the scanning process? A. We recommend you ask for minimal USM at time of scan and add additional USM prior to output. TOP Q. How much “sharpening” should be used during the KRIST’L process? A. The amount of USM you add for the KRIST’L Fine Art Archival Print Process depends on many factors., However, many customers add an amount of 135% at a radius of 0.9 and a threshold of 0 to their files prior to output. TOP Q.What is the best way for me to apply additional sharpening? A. One way is to add USM to RGB files by first converting them to LAB and working in the lightness channel. 1) in Photoshop convert you file to LAB (image>mode>LAB) 2) open curves (image>adjust>curves) 3) under channels, click on the lightness channel 4) choose un-sharp masking (filter>sharpen>unsharp masking) 5) choose your amount, radius and threshold. Once you have added the necessary USM, convert your file back to RGB. TOP Q. What is the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit scans? A. 16-bit color has far more “color depth” than 8-bit. In 8-bit, there are 255 steps between pure white and solid black. In 16-bit there are over 65,000 steps. Every time you do a correction to your file in Photoshop such as applying a curve or a level adjustment, it discards some useable data. The more corrections you do the more useable data that gets discarded. When working in 8-bit, this can translate into “stair stepping” in areas of your image that are gradated such as an early morning sky. As 16-bit has many more “steps”, discarded data is far less damaging to your file at time of output. TOP Q. When I use T-1 Internet Priority Service to upload and download files to and from NancyScans, is there potential for quality loss? A. Data transfer is a fast cost effective way to move files quickly. It frequently saves up to a 24 hrs and is almost always trouble free. TOP Q.Why do I need to “stuff” (Mac) or Zip (PC) my files when using T-1 Service. A. When you “stuff” a Photoshop file using Stuffit or Zip a file using WinZip, the files “tagging” remains in place. The “tagging” is the data that shares important information such as your designated RGB working space. If you send a file without stuffing it, this data can be lost. TOP Q. What is the difference between “Open Loop Color management” and “Closed Loop Color Management”? A. Digital lab operators who are ICC compliant are "Open Loop" and will provide their customers with up to date ICC profiles that can be used to guarantee quality output. If your vendor or lab does not provide profiles they are "Closed Loop". When you work in an ICC compliant workflow, the file you see displayed on your monitor is what you should expect back in the way of output. TOP Q. What are there recommended settings for color temperature and gamma of my monitor? A. A color temperature setting of D65 and a Gamma of 2.2 is the standard that we suggest. TOP Q.How do I calibrate my monitor to ensure good output results? A. To calibrate to ICC standards you need hardware and software designed to optimize your monitor to this worldwide standard.. We recommend Optical. For more information on this product visit our website. TOP Q. What is an ICC Profile? A. An ICC profile contains a unique set of instructions that describes the specific charastics of your monitor, printer, film recorder or scanner. The profile interprets the uniqueness of the device (and materials) and, when used in conjunction with a second device profile, allows two devices to communicate with one another, thus guaranteeing accurate color. TOP Q. What are the correct resolution settings for KRIST’L LightJet printing? A. The Resolution of the LightJet that produces our KRIST'L prints is 304.8 pixels per inch or 120 pixels per centimeter. You may also rely on the LightJet's interpolation software to "res - up" a file that is created at a resolution of 80 pixels per centimeter or 203.2 pixels per inch. (The difference in the output is barely noticeable.) TOP Q. When sending in files with profiles applied how will Nancy Scans know I have applied the profile? A. We suggest that you follow our file naming conventions outlined on our web site in the section Products & Services>Technology/Color/Setup/Profiling>Preflighting & Profiling. If you follow these suggestions we will know which profile you have applied. We will also be able to tell what the print size should be at a glance. TOP Q. If I submit profiled files what else should I send with my order? A. In all cases please be sure to submit a quick desktop print of each image showing dimensions in the borders. This quick proof will be use to check file proportions. It is not meant to be a “Color Description” or “Match Print” of your file. Please be sure to print a directory of the files on your media and include it with your order form. Clearly mark your name on all disks. TOP