Home
What's New About Us Contact Us Client List Pricing File Specs File Transfer Order Form
Reproduction Overview
Giclee Q and A
Giclee Reproduction
Photo Enlargement
Digital Photos
Posters
Murals
Canvas Creations
Gallery

On this page you will find information about our museum-quality prints from your photo print, negative, slide or digital photos. Utilizing the same Giclee printing process we use for limited edition fine art prints, we can print your favorite photo onto canvas or watercolor paper to make a unique framable print.

Note: If you are interested in fine art reproduction, you should visit our Giclee Reproduction page, as this page is more about reproducing photographs on canvas or watercolor paper, with or without artistic effects.

What is so special about Power Graphics printing?

  • We've been doing this for over 20 years and we're really good at it. Your job will be printed by a professional who actually knows what they are doing and cares how your print turns out.
  • We use 12 color archival pigmented inks for the ultimate in color and longevity.
  • Our prints are rated for over 100 years of longevity compared with only 15 years for a traditional photo print or canvas transfer, and as little as 5 years for prints with dye based inks.
  • We create custom color profiles for every material we print on, for the ultimate in color accuracy.
  • We have the largest selection of high quality canvas and fine art papers available anywhere, so you can get exactly the look you want for your print.

Valuable Tips

Which kind of traditional film or print is best?

The best choice of film formats in order of preference would be slide or transparency, negative, and then photo print. In some cases, better results can be obtained from a print rather than the negative, but usually it's the other way around. Generally we can get better color and detail by scanning a negative, often better than the original print. If possible, we suggest you send both the print and the negative so we can use whichever we determine will work the best once we are able to see them both.

 

Working with JPEG files

If you have a digital photo you want printed, don't repeatedly save the file in jpeg format. Each time you save it, it is recompressed and more image detail is lost. If you want to work on your file in an image editing program such as Photoshop, save it in tiff, photoshop or some other uncompressed format until you are ready to have the file printed. At that point you can save it in jpeg format using the highest quality setting to reduce the time it will take to transfer the file to our system, or you can leave it in tiff format if you don't mind the extra time it will take to send it.

 

How to get the best quality from your digital camera

Regardless of what size megapixel camera you may have, setting your camera to capture the largest image possible is always the best idea. You should also make sure the compression settings are at the highest quality possible. This will use a higher quality of jpeg compression. If your camera can save in an uncompressed format, it might be advantageous to use this option if you plan to make a very large print of your photo as jpeg compression is usually noticeable the larger you make the print. Also see working with JPG files above for tips on keeping your digital photo from degrading as you work with it.

 

How large can a digital photo be printed?

This is a difficult question to answer because of several factors. The biggest impediment to a quality print at a larger size from a digital photo is often jpeg compression artifacts. If you've followed our advice from above on how to get the best quality from your camera, you can often print your image quite large with good results. Obviously, the more megapixels your camera has, the larger you can print your image without loosing quality, all other things being equal. However the printing material also has an affect. Since canvas has such a textured surface, enlargements will often look better than on paper since the texture helps hide the lack of resolution that is common with enlargements. Another factor to consider is viewing distance. A print that shows a lack of resolution due to enlargement up close, might look just fine from arms length. We've printed images at 16 feet wide from 8 megapixel cameras that look very good from five feet away , so where a print will be displayed and how close you expect it to be viewed from are important to consider when deciding how large a print can be made.

 

Obtaining accurate color

Our system is tightly calibrated to produce accurate color, but accurate color may not be what you expect if your system is not calibrated, and in most cases it is not. Computer monitors and desktop printers are generally not very accurate, so even if you like how your photo looks on your screen or printed on your home printer, that may not be what your photo actually looks like when printed on a calibrated system. Here are some things you can do to help ensure your print comes out the way you want.

  • If possible, calibrate your monitor. Hardware calibration is best, but most home users will not have the equipment to do this. Software calibration, while not as accurate as hardware calibration should get you fairly close and should be adequate to give you good idea of what your file really looks like. If your system doesn't come with monitor calibration software, there are shareware and commercial utilities available that will let you do this without spending a large amount of money.
  • Save your monitor profile with your image. Most digital cameras will embed their color profile in the image, and image editing software such as Photoshop will preserve this profile, or save your monitor profile with the image if you've set the color preferences to do this. Including your monitor profile in your image will go a long way to allowing us to match what you see on your screen when we print your image, so this is always the best option if possible.
  • If you have a print from your own home printer that you like, you can send us that print and we will use it to match your canvas or watercolor print as closely as possible to it. This will mean that you have to send us the print, so it will add a few days to the time it takes to complete your order, but if the color match is important, this is probably the best thing you can do to make sure the print comes out as you expect.
  • If you have the ability to convert and/or view your file in CMYK color mode, do so. All printers use the CMYK color space (other than traditional photo developer prints) so viewing or converting the file to this color space will give you a better idea of what it will look like when printed. Again, the calibration of your monitor will have a lot to do with the how accurate this view is, but if you have the ability to view the file in CMYK, you probably also have the ability to calibrate your monitor, so you should do both. We recommend the SWOP Web Coated profile, if available, for viewing your image on screen.

 

Planning for framing

Watercolor paper prints must be framed under glass for protection, and traditionally have a mat in a complimentary color around them, although the mat is not required. When you order a print, you will be asked on our order form for the image size and the media size. If you want the image to extend all the way to the edges of the paper, these measurements would be the same, but it is often desirable to have some margin of paper around the image. If you will be matting the print, a small amount such as 1/4" to 1/2" would be sufficient so the matte can lay on top of the print without covering any of the image. In this case, the media size would be 1" larger than the image size in each dimension (1/2" on all sides). You can also leave a larger amount of paper showing, such as 1" to 2" and skip the matting. In either case, be sure to decide before you order so you can fill in the order form correctly.

For canvas prints, we automatically add 2" all around the image size to allow your print to be stretched by your framer. If, however, you want to gallery wrap your print, which is where the image actually wraps around the sides of the stretcher bar so that the print doesn't need a frame, you should keep a few things in mind. Make sure you talk with your framer to see how thick the stretcher bars will be so that you allow enough image to wrap completely around the sides. You will also need to make sure that nothing important will get wrapped over the edge of the stretcher bars, like the tops of people's heads, etc. In the additional instructions section of the order form, be sure to state that the image will be gallery wrapped, and indicate if you need more than the standard 2" margin so you have enough for stretching.

 

If your original photo is less than perfect, we can repair damage and fix color problems. We can also combine elements from multiple photos or give the photo a unique edge treatment to add an artistic touch without loosing the photographic look.

If you would like to turn your photo into a piece of art rather than have it look like a photo, we can apply an artistic effect, like the one pictured below, or create hand-painted digital art from your photo.

We offer three different styles of print on canvas or watercolor paper; Photo Reproduction, Artistic Digital Effect, and Digital Hand Painting. Click on each service below for more information and examples.

Photo Reproduction

The most basic form of archival print is simply reproducing your existing photo onto archival photo paper, watercolor paper or canvas. We can print from your scan or digital photo, or we will scan, retouch and print the photo onto your choice of material using archival inks so that the finished work will last for 100 years or more if properly cared for. This is an excellent way to repair and preserve family photos for yourself or as a gift.

We can also make modifications to your photos to fix problems that aren't easily correctable using traditional methods. In the following example, we changed the head of one family member because they had their eyes closed, and in the subsequent photo, you can see where we added a family member on the left who was not in the original photo, and changed someone in the back row.

Another element that can be added to watercolor paper prints is an artistic edge effect. This effect is inexpensive and gives a photo the look of a painted edge. People often mistake a photo with an edge effect as an actual painting because it's unusual to see that type of edge on a photo. Here are some examples below.

 

Pricing

Below are some example sizes and prices. Virtually any size is possible, so contact us for a price on a different size. The prices below include everything required to produce your print, ready for framing including scanning, retouching, any edge effects or digital painting, depending on what you order, an e-mailed proof of any effects, and the final print. These prices don't include shipping, stretching, mounting or framing. Often it makes the most sense to have your local framer perform these steps to save on shipping cost and to allow you to choose the frame that suits your tastes. If, however, you prefer to have us mount or frame your prints, we can provide that service as well.

Description Watercolor Paper Canvas
8x10 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $17.00 $20.00
11x14 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $26.00 $30.00
16x20 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $36.00 $44.00
18x24 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $42.00 $48.00
24x30 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $70.00 $80.00
8x10 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $37.00 $40.00
11x14 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $46.00 $50.00
16x20 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $66.00 $74.00
18x24 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $72.00 $78.00
24x30 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $110.00 $120.00
8x10 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $10.00
11x14 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $15.00
16x20 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $20.00
18x24 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $25.00
24x30 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $30.00
Edge Effects $20.00 $20.00
Combine Multiple Images or Change Backgrounds $60.00 $60.00
Physical Printed Proof (recommended for color critical jobs) $30.00 $30.00

 

Artistic Digital Effects

Digital art effects have come a long way, and now are able to create a fairly convincing impression that the photo is in fact a painting. With a digital effect, we do not have the same control and creative license that we would have with a Digital Hand Painting, but for most people, these effects are exactly what they are looking for, and at a much more reasonable price than a digital painting.

We offer 5 different styles of artistic effects; Oil, Watercolor, Pastel, Colored Pencil, and Modern Art. We can control how detailed or abstract the finished image will be, so we use our best judgment for each image, and then e-mail a proof for approval before we print so that the image can be adjusted if necessary.

By clicking on any of the three example headings below, you can see samples of how the artist effects look when applied to some different images. Each has different amounts of detail so you can see how the different artistic effects look for different kinds of images.

Pricing

Below are some example sizes and prices. Virtually any size is possible, so contact us for a price on a different size. The prices below include everything required to produce your print, ready for framing including scanning, retouching, any edge effects or digital painting, depending on what you order, an e-mailed proof of any effects, and the final print. These prices don't include shipping, stretching, mounting or framing. Often it makes the most sense to have your local framer perform these steps to save on shipping cost and to allow you to choose the frame that suits your tastes. If, however, you prefer to have us mount or frame your prints, we can provide that service as well.

Description Watercolor Paper Canvas
8x10 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $17.00 $20.00
11x14 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $26.00 $30.00
16x20 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $36.00 $44.00
18x24 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $42.00 $48.00
24x30 Photo Reproduction from your digital photo or scan $70.00 $80.00
8x10 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $37.00 $40.00
11x14 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $46.00 $50.00
16x20 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $66.00 $74.00
18x24 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $72.00 $78.00
24x30 Photo Reproduction from your slide, negative or print $110.00 $120.00
Artistic Digital Effects $25.00 $25.00
8x10 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $10.00
11x14 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $15.00
16x20 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $20.00
18x24 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $25.00
24x30 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $30.00
Edge Effects $20.00 $20.00
Combine Multiple Images or Change Backgrounds $60.00 $60.00
Physical Printed Proof (recommended for color critical jobs) $30.00 $30.00

 

Digital Painting

A digital painting from your photo in a watercolor or oil painting style, turns your photo into a truly unique work of art. Our artist hand paints an original digital painting from your photo, in much the same way as an artist creates a traditional oil or watercolor, but the entire process is done on a computer so it is much faster and less expensive. And, this process costs less than you might imagine. Check out the examples and prices below.

Above is a portion of the original photo and the example below shows an enlarged area of the finished painting to show the detail.

Photo Prints on Canvas

Below is another example of a section of a photo painted in two different styles, oil and watercolor.

Pricing

Below are some example sizes and prices. Virtually any size is possible, so contact us for a price on a different size. The prices below include everything required to produce your print, ready for framing including scanning, retouching, any edge effects or digital painting, depending on what you order, an e-mailed proof of any effects, and the final print. These prices don't include shipping, stretching, mounting or framing. Often it makes the most sense to have your local framer perform these steps to save on shipping cost and to allow you to choose the frame that suits your tastes. If, however, you prefer to have us mount or frame your prints, we can provide that service as well.

Description Watercolor Paper Canvas
8x10 Digital Painting $89.00 $94.00
11x14 Digital Painting $116.00 $138.00
16x20 Digital Painting $186.00 $224.00
18x24 Digital Painting $222.00 $288.00
24x30 Digital Painting $310.00 $380.00
8x10 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $10.00
11x14 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $15.00
16x20 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $20.00
18x24 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $25.00
24x30 Impasto Brush Stroke surface effect on canvas N/A $30.00
Edge Effects $20.00 $20.00
Combine Multiple Images or Change Backgrounds $60.00 $60.00
Physical Printed Proof (recommended for color critical jobs) $30.00 $30.00

 

 

 

 

Home | Art | Indoor | Outdoor | Hardware | What's New | About Us | Contact Us | Pricing | File Specs | File Transfer | Order Form

© Copyright 2007 by Power Graphics Digital Imaging, Inc. All Rights Reserved.