A quality reproduction begins with a high resolution digital capture. In the case of watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, this is accomplished using a BetterLight Super 6K scan back mounted on 4X5 Toyo and Linhof view cameras using only the finest Rodenstock and Schnider apochromatic lens. This combination results in a 309 MB file which is more than sufficient for giclée prints up to 40x60 inches. In addition, we use polarized HID lighting which is safe for delicate works of art while providing the extreme intensity needed for accurate color rendition. Our NorthLight 900 HID light banks provide full coverage for paintings up to 48x72 inches. This copy setup is cross-polarized to remove all distracting reflections from paints and varnishes. We’ve color profiled our system in order to provide extermely accurate color captures. With exposures lasting from 15 to 20 minutes, it is possible to photograph approximately 3-4 paintings per hour.
For smaller works of art, such as watercolor paintings, drawings, transparencies and photographs up to 12x17 inches, we use an Epson 10,000 high resolution flatbed scanner. This 16 bit scanner captures images in native resolutions up to 4800 ppi, providing files of sufficient quality for extreme enlargements. Depending on size and resolution requirements, exposures vary from 2 to 10 minutes. It is possible to scan from 5 to 10 originals per hour.
All digital captures are normally delivered color corrected to customers on CD or DVD, at a resolution of 300 ppi at the size of the original art. Smaller JPEG versions suitable for web display can be provided at the client’s request.
In addition to providing captures on CD or DVD, duplicate files are stored on our hard drives for our established fine art and commercial clients. Additional CDs and DVDs can be provided at any time.