Need photo advice

Posted by John Smith on March 6, 2013 at 7:47pm in Jurying for Art Fairs & Craft Shows

We are preparing an application to a festival that requires actual hard copy photographs. We tried to print these on our ink jet and the results were poor. Where is the best place for us to take our digital photos to have hard copy prints made. We are coming up on the application deadline.

Thanks. we are still taking baby steps to get started but we are making progress.

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Jim Parker March 12, 2013 at 11:49pm

Very few of the better shows require hard copies or slides nowadays. For those shows that are still asking for images rather than using ZAPP or JASV, jpegs on a CD is becoming the norm. I'd be leery of any show still asking for hard copy prints these days.
- Larry Berman > Jim Parker March 12, 2013 at 11:53pm
  
  Pink Palace in Memphis does. I'm in the middle of filling out the application for an artist who doesn't own a computer. They require four digital images (three plus the booth) and one print.
  
  Larry Berman
  http://BermanGraphics.com
  412-401-8100
Dave Hinde March 12, 2013 at 9:04pm

I would vote with Larry on this, except that you have to know the person behind the machine is experienced. I've had work printed at Costco several times, but one time my photo was a little bit off. I took it in and they reprinted it perfectly. The second person even hinted that the first person had a setting wrong.

Trust your instincts. If your first copy doesn't look good, try again with someone else, or send it somewhere else. If it's a store you shop at often, look at the photo section every time you go in. If it's usually the same person, you can probably trust them.
- John Smith > Dave Hinde March 12, 2013 at 9:33pm
  
  Thanks Dave. We decided not to apply to that show. We have decided to avoid the shows that have buy/sell merchandise for now. We ended up applying to Inman Park in Atlanta requiring digital images on a CD. However, I am sure at some point we will need hard copies for a show.
Barbara J Carter March 12, 2013 at 4:07pm

I've used Shutterfly to have decent prints made, but you do need a little turnaround time for that.
- John Smith > Barbara J Carter March 12, 2013 at 9:34pm
  
  I do not have any experience with Shutterfly. That may be a good way to go in the future. Thank you!
John Smith March 6, 2013 at 8:28pm

Thanks for more great advice. I vote for the 8 X 10.
Larry Berman March 6, 2013 at 8:01pm

What size prints do they want. If they don't specify, I recommend a set of 8x10 prints. It'll blow the jurors away.

That's 2400x3000 pixels at 300PPI with the image masked in black. Convert to sRGB and have it printed at any Costco, Sam's Club or Walmart.

Or you can stick to the same 4x6 size everyone else submits. That's 1200x1800 pixels at 300 PPI.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100