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Getting Started Which Order Entry Software Is Right For You?For the majority of wedding & portrait photographers - and for low- or medium-volume undergrad and sports photographers who do not need digital services like CDs, stickers, directories or ID cards- we recommend using the ROES order entry software. It is easy to get started, and it's free. Create sophisticated products using templates and the pager tool. Learn more about ROES. If you're a wedding photographers specializing in digital photo albums, we recommend LabPrints. While the basic ordering module is free, the low cost Digital Studio LP(tm) system is a comprehensive suite of marketing, ordering, album design, and presentation tools including the ability to put images online for customer orders. Learn more about LabPrints. For high-volume undergrad and sports photographers or for those who need digital services like CDs, stickers, directories or ID cards, we recommend PhotoLynx. This software package is specifically designed to automate the matching of student images and data to create virtually any kind of school or sports product. Learn more about PhotoLynx. In addition to our standard order entry products, for pre-qualified customers we offer custom order entry solutions such as ProShots, direct-to-print, and CDs with runsheets for undergrad, sports or event photographers. For specific details about any of these programs call customer service at 888.858.8084. Opening an AccountThe easiest way to open an account is to call our toll free number 888.858.8084 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Our staff will take a few minutes to collect your business information, assign you a customer ID, and answer any questions. If you plan to use the ROES software, you can send us your first order immediately without waiting to call. Image RequirementsOur lab uses state of the art digital printers and Kodak professional paper to create a 100% digital workflow. If you shoot using film, it will be processed and scanned to produce digital files for you to use in any of our order entry software, for retouching, and printing. If you shoot using digital cameras exclusively, please read the notes below to ensure the best quality prints. File SizeIf you use a professional digital camera set to capture the largest file size, the image file will produce any print from minis through 30x40". Don't resize or crop the images from your camera - our lab production system handles all resizing and cropping during printing. Image FormatDigital images should be sent to us as the best quality JPEG (also called level 10 or 12 in Photoshop). If your camera saves RAW files, they should be converted in Photoshop or the camera's software to the JPEG format (with the .jpg extension) before importing the images into any of our software ordering products. If you plan to modify your images in Photoshop, save your working files in the .PSD format, then save the final file as a JPEG level 10. A note about JPEG compression: given the high quality of the today's JPEG compression algorithms, at level 10 (or higher) you do not need to worry about image degradation. Best quality JPEG digital images produce the same quality print as RAW or TIFF formats, drastically decrease hard drive space, and reduce the time required to upload images to the lab. Any artifacts on prints are the result of the limitations of your digital camera, not JPEG compression. Color ProfilesBy default, most professional digital cameras save images using the sRGB ICC color profile. You should confirm that your camera embeds the sRGB profile in each digital image. If no profile is embedded, our system will assume you are using sRGB. For photographers who are familiar with ICC color profiles, we will also accept embedded Adobe 1998 ICC profiles. SharpeningYou do not need to batch sharpen every image as part of your workflow. Our printers apply a minimal amount of sharpening automatically, which we have found provides the best possible prints. Color CorrectionAs part of our full-service digital workflow, our Quality Control department inspects and color corrects each image before sending it to the printer. Therefore, for most photographers we suggest you leave images "as is" after you've taken the shot. Cropping, resizing, applying color corrections or filters may create a pleasing image on your monitor, but may result in a less than perfect print. Our order entry software gives you the ability to add text, borders, B&W, sepia or to create composites so you don't have to do it in Photoshop or similar programs. For those photographers who want to take control of their own color and density, we also offer JD Econo Printing. This service can save you money if you are willing to take full responsibility for the density and color of each print. Read more to discover whether JD Econo Printing may be a good option for you. To maintain the lowest possible price per print, undergrad and package printing are analyzed by camera as defined by the beginning and ending slate shots. All packages between the slates are printed at the same average color and density. Therefore, consistent exposure and lighting is always required. Calibrating your MonitorBecause every image is color corrected at our lab, you don't need to worry about your monitor matching the professional quality of our finished prints. However, if you show images to customers you'll want them to reasonably match the prints in both color and density. For new customers, the simplest way to achieve this is to open the calibration file found on the Welcome Kit CD and visually match it to the calibration print included in the kit. To order your free calibration print call us at 888.858.8084 or click here. Start by making sure you are viewing both the image and the print in a neutrally lit room. You can approximate neutral lighting by using both indirect florescent and incandescent (light bulb) fixtures in the same room. The resulting light should be bright enough to read in, but should not create any hot spots or reflections on the monitor. For a more accurate color match between your monitor and prints, you will need to put the print in a light box next to the monitor. For those photographers who want to take monitor calibration to the next level, we recommend you purchase either the Gretag-Macbeth Eye-One or X-Rite Optix. The primary advantage of these tools is that they will enable you to verify that you are using the proper exposure settings on your digital camera. If your images are too dark or too light, we will fix them at the lab. However, you may have to temporarily adjust your monitor to display the images to your customers. If you want to verify final print density and color, we encourage you to send us a free test order for up to five 8x10" prints. Simply enter the words "TEST ORDER" in the comments field of your order. Using ROES to Send Your First Order
For detailed instructions on using ROES, review the online manual. You can get answers to the most frequently asked questions by clicking the ROES FAQ link. You can also click the question mark icon in ROES at any time for help. If this is your first order, you must also complete the Shipping and Billing Information sheet and fax it to the lab at 810.239.5529. Click here to download a copy. Orders cannot be shipped without this information. If you checked the Tax Exempt box in ROES, you must include your Tax ID number in the Billing information or you will be charged sales tax. If you are sending images on a CD or film for printing, always include an order form. You can download a copy of the order form here. Using LabPrints to Send Your First Order
For detailed instructions on using the LabPrints software, from the help menu view the online manual or any of the online video tutorials. To submit your order, from the Invoicing Tab click the "Create Lab Order" button. Fill out the Contact Information & Notes window completely, including the Account number assigned to your studio by the lab. Enter any additional services, and then click the Finish button to submit the order online. Alternatively, you may zip the order up and copy the files to CD-R to mail to the lab. If this is your first order, you must complete the Shipping and Billing Information sheet and fax it to the lab at 810.239.5529. Click here to download a copy. Orders cannot be shipped without this information. If you don't want us to add sales tax to every order, you must include your Tax ID number in the Billing information or you will be charged. If you are sending images on a CD or film for printing, always include an order form. You can download a copy of the order form here. |
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