New Digital Photography Workflow seminars announced. Click here. This Price List is current as of 10/11/05 and
New Entries (11/9/04): Topics: Listed below are the several levels of Post-production that I offer, and a short description of the advantages, drawbacks and uses of each. Raw Files: Raw files are the proprietary files created by the digital camera. We rarely deliver Raw files to a client: historically they only go to clients with hardware-calibrated color management, and their own in-house pre-press capability. While you may be able to open Raw files with your recent version of Photoshop, unless you have spent some time working with Raw files, you will probably be damaging them when you do so. Delivery of Raw files is not recommended. In-Camera Jpeg Files: Like the Raw files discussed above, these files are created in-camera. Unlike Raw files, they are a universal format that cannot be damaged upon opening. They are inferior, however in two important ways. The first is that the critical color and brightness decisions are all made automatically by the camera. The second is that the Camera throws away about 90% of the capture information (color and brightness data) when it creates the jpegs. In-camera jpeg files can be appropriate when the final use is minilab prints (corrected by the lab) or web design (corrected by the designer), or in rare cases when there is severe deadline pressure. Batch-converted Files: These files are shot raw, and converted in a batch in Photoshop. They will look better than Jpegs, and they do not require special knowledge to open correctly. They are not final files, however, and will require technical and artistic color-correction in preparation for high-quality uses. They will also typically require sharpening, dusting and minor retouching. 16-bit batch-converts are even better, but are more expensive, require greater knowledge on the back end, and take up much more space. Batch-converted files are appropriate in situations where the client has a hardware-calibrated monitor and color-managed hard-copy proofing capability. Generally this will be clients with an in-house production department. RGB Master Files: Master Files have been color-corrected, sharpened, dusted and undergone minor retouching. These files are appropriate for use as photographic prints, on the web, or in high-quality offset reproduction. Typically, Master files are accompanied by a color-managed Guide Print RGB Master files are our most common form of final image delivery. Think of it like a finished scan from a transparency. CMYK Master Files: These images are prepped for reproduction on press. When you convert from RGB to CMYK, you lose the ability to reproduce many colors due to CMYK's inherent limitations. Having us do the conversion ensures that the images will look the best they can, as we balance the technical limitations with the artistic vision in the original creation. CMYK master Files are accompanied by either Color Guide Prints, or by Contract Proofs: in either case, these hard copies only show colors that CMYK is capable of reproducing. Ideally, the printer supplies us a profile for the ink/paper/press combination that will be used. If that is not available, we will convert to the closest generic profile available (eg.SWOP sheetfed, coated,). CMYK Master Files are our second most common form of delivery, and are often delivered in addition to RGB Master Files. The reason that digital photography has taken off recently is NOT because it is cheaper to produce. Rather, digital photography is being adopted by the marketplace because it provides significant value to the buyer. What kind of value? We Get more Done: Digital Capture has greatly increased our productivity during the shoot. Immediate Feedback : Because the image can be viewed right away, everyone can walk away from the shoot knowing that it has been successful. In cases where the photographer is "shooting for expression", this is extremely valuable. In many cases, polaroids can simply not show what you get, because expressions change so fast. Easy Editing : I can make the shoot available for viewing over the web pretty quickly. We can discuss which images work for the project, and I can put them into final production right away. And this is all done without the risk of sending original film. Shortened
Project Delivery Times : Digital Capture
consolidates the production of images. The Digital Photographer is able
to provide a product ready to be dropped into a document, and sent to
a printer for final settings and output. This could easily remove 6
messenger fees and the associated time delay from a project. And in
many cases, the entire delivery of images can be done electronically.
Please discuss delivery time-frame at the time of contract signing. Rush charges may apply. Reduced Liability : Clients frequently accept large potential liabilities when they take responsibility for original film. The liability for loss or damage of the image is no longer a consideration with digital capture and delivery. Digital
Photography has brought a whole new set of opportunities to the world
of publication photography, but it has not come cheap. A digital-savvy
film photographer will spend at least $10,000 to convert to digital capture.
If you're not already in a digital workflow, count on $20,000. Much of
that investment will have fully depreciated and need to be replaced within
18 months.
Fees: The Expenses are the incremental costs associated with a particular job, such as Freelance Assistant, Props, Film and Processing and other production charges. Listed below are the Production Charges associated with Digital Capture and Delivery.
Production Charges : Image
Capture:
Delivery
Photographer
Selects
Epson Contact Sheets: Contact sheets are available in 20,
12, and 4 images per sheet
CD-ROM,
Raw Images
Note - NEF
Files: You need Nikon
Software (or the Adobe Capture Raw Plug-in) to open these Nikon Electronic
Format files. This software is only worth purchasing if you will be working
with NEF files a lot. 4x6
Machine Prints
Master
File Preparation:
Master File Prep from High-res Capture The most versatile format for file preparation is RGB. These files can be made into good CMYK files for printing, downsized and sent to the web, or I can make great Prints. Raw images straight out of the camera must be individually prepared including conversion to tiff file, individual color correction, sharpening, as well as any needed dust removal, conversion to Black and White, or web resizing. Files are delivered as RGB tiff files accompanied by an epson print as a color guide. Read more about this above. Retouching: A Word About Color Pay
attention to your license.
What
do you mean, Digital Capture?
Archiving:
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