FAQs

Q: When are you open?

A: Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm.

Q: How long will my order take?

A: Film processing can usually be ready within a few hours. If any prints, contact sheets or scans are required the service time is 24hrs.

Machine prints and large format prints direct from files normally take 1-2 working days, photo art prints 2-4 working days, mounting services 7 working days and framing up to 14 working days. We will always try to be flexible to meet your deadlines, however all guide times are subject to current workload. Please note that Saturdays are not counted as a production day.

Q: What can you print from?

A: Pretty well anything! You can supply us with original prints, paintings, negatives or transparencies. All we ask is that the material isn't covered by copyright, for example we cannot reproduce images from books without the written consent of the publisher.

We can print from digital files, the easiest being Jpeg or Tiff, but not from raw camera files. These should be processed first using the software supplied with your camera.

Q: How do I size my files ready for printing?

A: If you require machine prints up to 10x15 inches, they should be sized at 300dpi. If you require large format prints above 10 inches in width they should be between 180 and 300dpi.

All files should be supplied as either uncompressed tiffs (no layers please!) or highest quality jpegs.

If you have Photoshop or similar software and are unsure how large your files will print, below is a brief guide:

Open your file in Photoshop.

Go to IMAGE, scroll down and click IMAGE SIZE, an information box will appear onscreen.

Normally files will be displayed at 72dpi- standard screen resolution- untick the RESAMPLE IMAGE box, highlight and change the dpi to 300 for machine prints, or 180 for large format prints, then re-tick the RESAMPLE IMAGE box. The file size in megabytes will be unaltered, but the physical dimensions will change. This is now the maximum size for printing at optimum quality.

Files can be stretched (interpolated) should they need to be printed larger still. This should be discussed with a member of staff to achieve the best possible quality.

Q: If I need borders on my prints, should I add them to my images first?

A: All standard size machine prints are available with a white border at no extra charge- these are roughly 4mm.

If you require a different kind of border, either not plain white, or wider than standard, you will need to artwork your files accordingly.

Q: Can you print sizes other than those listed?

A: Yes, in theory we can print any size. Simply size your files at 300dpi, and tell us what size of print you would like them exposed onto. For example, should you require a passport size print, size it at 35mm x 45mm and ask us to print them 'no resize' on a standard 6x4 sheet- your passport image will be printed in the centre without enlargement.

Large format prints are output on a roll of paper and as such can be anything up to 43" wide by several metres in length if required.

Q: How do I work out a print price?

A: Firstly does your print need any intervention?

If it needs resizing or adjustment of any kind including colour balance or density you need to look at the section headed 'Individually Corrected Prints'.

If you are happy that your image can be printed straight from the file, select the section headed 'Direct Prints From Files'.

If your print size is different to those listed we will work it out pro-rata at a cost per square inch, based on the nearest print size in the price list. You can do this yourself by multiplying the length and width to find the surface area of your image and working out the cost per square inch of the nearest print size listed, but if in doubt email us with your exact requirements and we will put together a quote as soon as possible.

If you also require your print to be mounted simply add on the cost of your chosen substrate, either a Matt or Gloss seal, and split battens to hang if required. All these can be found in the section headed 'Mounting and Finishing' along with a detailed description of the substrates we provide.

Don't forget, as a professional service all our trade prices exclude VAT which must be added at the current rate.

Q: Do you offer a postal service?

A: We do. If you are sending any order for us to complete, please give clear instructions along with your name, a return address and a daytime telephone number. We will contact you when your order is ready and take payment by card over the phone. It saves us valuable time if you inform us how you would like your order shipped- we offer first class, recorded delivery or special delivery (next working day).

Please note that postal services are at a customers' own risk and we are not liable for losses in transit. We would always recommend postage that requires a signature as these come with a tracking number.

Q: Do student discount cover all your services?

A: Yes, if you have an NUS card you will receive a special rate on all services we provide. The listed student prices already include VAT, and for all other services (except books) we will discount your total by 20%.

Q: If I want to design a photobook, how do I layout the pages?

A: Our books are all produced using high quality photographic prints, which are folded and bound back to back to form pages. Therefore if you require for example a 12x9 inch upright book, your double page spreads should be set up as 12 inches high by 18 inches wide at 300dpi. Simple guides can be added in Photoshop or similar applications to help with layout- showing where the centre fold will be, and to align images accurately.

You can arrange images and text to your own design, then save each double page spread in order (i.e. Spread_01, and so on) as a high quality jpeg file for printing. As with all our prints, these files should be 8bit and RGB colour.

Images and text can be laid out full bleed to the edge of the pages, but be aware that once books are trimmed to fit covers you will lose approx 3-4mm. For this reason if you are placing borders around pages we would normally recommend a border of at least half an inch.