Posted by Jim Salge on September 12, 2009 at 12:17 PM
I know this sounds like a basic question, but I'm trying to standardize procedures and update my website to explain exactly what people should expect when they order a large print from me. And how I should order a print from a printer in order to best meet the expectations of a buyer who will be framing the print themselves...
So...if someone ordered a 20x30 print from you, how would you fill the order. This is to assume you are not printing the image itself, which I will not be. Keep in mind my printing experience is minimal. I'm still at the step of figuring out if I should order prints that are dry mounted on foam at the printer...
So...What are the expectations of the buyer?
1) Would the print already dry mounted on foam or board?
2) Would it have a white border or cut to the image? How big? How?
3) Would you ship it rolled up, repackaged?
We ask clients to specify what they want, then offer mounting as a for-fee option and have our lab do the work and pass along any extra fees. We ship all prints flat. Packaging materials are a huge issue for most home printers, and especially tough for remote locations like ours. That's one of the biggest reasons we went with a lab rather than continuing to do it ourselves. They arrive in our studio appropriately packaged. We open and inspect them, then ship them out again to the clients. Priceless.
Posted by Richard Wong on September 12, 2009 at 8:33 PM
What Hank said. I found matting to be too time-consuming and stressful to want to deal with so I don't matte anymore. Also that most people have their own decor in mind already that your matting might not fit in with. If someone asks for something specific then you can handle that request and charge accordingly but otherwise I wouldn't make extra work for yourself.
The bigger prints are rolled by the lab.
Posted by Howard Cheek on September 13, 2009 at 7:32 AM
I use MPIX for all my prints. They ship directly to the buyer.
I've always been satisfied with them, it's quick & easy. Buyers order directly from my site, I'm notified of the payment. I simply upload the image requested size to MPIX, enter the buyer address and that's it. They also offer framed prints, but the buyer has to contact me for that option.
The product is shipped flat up to 24x36 (the 24x36 runs about 45$), and the packaging is always very well done to insure the print arrives in perfect condition...Very reliable and excellent quality.
You asked about a white border, or cut to the image?
Your uploaded image file print dimensions should be a a standard print ratio..You can crop to fit on the MPIX site when ordering, but I don't recommend that..
Again, if the customer has a special request for a white border (hasn't happened with me), you can add canvas to the image I guess..But the final print size will determine your print cost of course..
Make life easier, just use MPIX :)
Are you using MpixPro or just regular Mpix? I loaded some stuff to their regular service and, even after softproofing at home, found the images to be a tad yellow. I've heard that generally they are very reliable (they certainly pack their images wonderfully) so I was just wondering if the problem is on my end. I do some printing on a 3800 and have no issues with color casts.
Thanks,
Alex
Posted by Nat Coalson on September 15, 2009 at 10:58 AM
My preference would be to include a 2 inch white margin, at minimum, and ship rolled in a tube. I've never filled any order with the print mounted to board, or matted...unless I'm going all the way and doing the framing too.
If you want to ship prints that large flat, you need to use some kind of fiber board for packaging (eg MDF etc.); cardboard won't cut it. Heavy and expensive.
Tubes come in different strengths, too... and on one occasion I've had one bent entirely in half (by USPS).
Discussion
5 repliesSo...if someone ordered a 20x30 print from you, how would you fill the order. This is to assume you are not printing the image itself, which I will not be. Keep in mind my printing experience is minimal. I'm still at the step of figuring out if I should order prints that are dry mounted on foam at the printer...
So...What are the expectations of the buyer?
1) Would the print already dry mounted on foam or board?
2) Would it have a white border or cut to the image? How big? How?
3) Would you ship it rolled up, repackaged?
Thanks?
The bigger prints are rolled by the lab.
I've always been satisfied with them, it's quick & easy. Buyers order directly from my site, I'm notified of the payment. I simply upload the image requested size to MPIX, enter the buyer address and that's it. They also offer framed prints, but the buyer has to contact me for that option.
The product is shipped flat up to 24x36 (the 24x36 runs about 45$), and the packaging is always very well done to insure the print arrives in perfect condition...Very reliable and excellent quality.
You asked about a white border, or cut to the image?
Your uploaded image file print dimensions should be a a standard print ratio..You can crop to fit on the MPIX site when ordering, but I don't recommend that..
Again, if the customer has a special request for a white border (hasn't happened with me), you can add canvas to the image I guess..But the final print size will determine your print cost of course..
Make life easier, just use MPIX :)
Howard
Are you using MpixPro or just regular Mpix? I loaded some stuff to their regular service and, even after softproofing at home, found the images to be a tad yellow. I've heard that generally they are very reliable (they certainly pack their images wonderfully) so I was just wondering if the problem is on my end. I do some printing on a 3800 and have no issues with color casts.
Thanks,
Alex
If you want to ship prints that large flat, you need to use some kind of fiber board for packaging (eg MDF etc.); cardboard won't cut it. Heavy and expensive.
Tubes come in different strengths, too... and on one occasion I've had one bent entirely in half (by USPS).
For packaging materials check out http://www.uline.com