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Photo
Restoration |
Frequently Asked Questions |
| What is Digital Restoration? |
| Digital Restoration is a process in which an existing hard copy photograph is converted into a digital image. Once converted to a digital image, many aspects of the photo can be digitally altered. "Restoration" usually refers to the condition of the original photograph - torn, bent, worn, aged, basically damaged. Once converted and altered, the digital image can be redeveloped or "reprinted" to give you a new or "restored" photo. |
| What is Digital Retouching and Enhancing? |
| Digital Retouching and Enhancing is a process in which a digital image made from a scanned photograph is altered to meet your approval. Generally it means the removal of image flaws (dust, scratches, blemishes, etc..) or the addition of color to a photo. |
| What is Digital Manipulation? |
| Digital Manipulation is similar to Digital Retouching and Enhancing in that it is a process in which a digital image made from a scanned photograph is altered to meet your approval. It is different, however, in that it is a higher level of alteration. Manipulation includes such changes as removal of objects and people and the addition of missing imagery. |
| Will my original photograph be altered or damaged in any way? |
| No. We will merely scan the photograph and return it to you with the utmost care. |
| How do I prepare my photo for shipping? |
| Preparing your original photo for shipping to us will depend on the condition of your photo. In most instances a photo can be protected from shipping damage by placing it between two pieces of cardboard and placing it in a padded envelope. Many office and computer supply stores carry various sizes of envelopes specifically designed for shipping photographs. Either of these methods is sufficient if your photo is not in need of "restoration," and is in one piece. If you have a photo that is in pieces, or very fragile and needing restoration services, we suggest that you use place the photo inside an envelope, then place the envelop between two pieces of cardboard, press them tightly together, and tape the edges of the cardboard to hold the pieces snugly inside.(Please do not put tape any part of the photo.) Place the photo that is surrounded by card board in to a padded envelope and mark the envelope as"Fragile." For peace of mind, you might want to purchase "insurance" and/or a "delivery confirmation" from the Post Office. You will be notified by the postman and by us (via email) when we have received your photo. |
| What is the difference between Pictrography, Kodak and Laser prints? |
| Quality. Pictrography prints are the highest quality in terms of color, paper and sharpness of images. They are also a much more expensive than Kodak Glossy prints and Laser prints. Kodak prints are good in terms of color, paper and sharpness also, but if you order Kodak prints you are restricted to glossy paper. Old photograph are generally on a more matte-like paper, and so many people want their "restored" photos to be a close to the original paper as possible. Old photo restorations are not good candidates for a Kodak glossy finish paper. They really should be reprinted as Pictrography prints. Laser prints are the least costly of the three papers, and the lesser in quality. However, they are not poor quality prints. The highest quality prints are not always the objective, especially in image manipulation projects. We offer all three types of prints to better suit your needs and objectives. |
| What can you and can't you do to my photo? |
| It would be easier to answer, "Can you do this to my photograph?" We can add things and subtract things. We can add color, or take it out. You be the artist and we'll be your tool! |
| How long will it be before I get my digital image or my new photo? |
| It really depends on what you've ordered. If you have minor retouch work done on a photo and want it in digital format without any prints, we can get it to you in a couple of days. For more complex jobs such as those that include manipulation or prints, our standard answer is 2 weeks, but we try very hard to deliver your order to you in a much shorter time. |
| Will I get a negative with my new photo? |
| No. You will get a digital file of your image. If you're really asking if you will be able to get reprints when you want them, you may take your digital file to your local photo lab to have additional prints made. A word of caution however, many photo labs are just beginning to offer "digital" printing, so quality will differ from place to place. You can always contact us to order additional prints. We will have a backup copy of your image on file for at least one year. Please note, we will not be liable for disappointing prints that may come from other sources. While your home printer and the lab at Walmart are able to print your image for you, they will in no way reflect the "photo quality" prints that come from high-end digital photo labs. Of course there may be a high-end digital photo lab in your area, and if so, check their prices and compare with ours. We want you to have your perfect photo at a price you can afford! |
| How should I send my original photo to you? |
| The safest way to send your original photo to us is to put it in between two pieces of cardboard and mail it via the US Postmaster to The Imaging Dept, 233 Purple Leaf Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Be sure to include a completed Quote/Order form and $3.00 for return shipping. When mailing, you may want to insure the photo for damage or loss. For peace of mind, you can also purchase a "delivery confirmation" from the Postman for 65 cents. You will be notified by the postman and by us (via email) when we have received your photo. |
| What if I don't want to mail my photo to you just to get a quote? |
| If you don't want to send your original photo until you're sure you want the work done, you have a couple of options. The first option is to send us a color copy of your photo along with a completed Quote/Order form. The second option is to have the photo scanned locally. You can send us the digital file instead. However, if the scan is not "photo quality" you may need to send us the original photo once you've decided to have the work done. The downside to both of these options is, if you elect to have us do the work, the turnaround time is a bit longer. |
| How will I be notified of the amount of your quote? |
| As soon as we've looked over your photo, we will email you with a quote. If you want us to complete your order, just reply by filling out the "Order Form" and checking the box next to "Yes, please complete the work. I'm sending payment now." If you do not want us to complete the work, just click the box next to "No, do not complete my order. Please return my photo to me now." If you want to change your order in any way, just click the box next to "See New Order" and submit via email a new completed Quote form. (If you are unsure how to do this, just email an explanation of the changes. We'll fill out the form for you and confirm the changes with you by return email.) We will deliver your order to you once we have received your payment. |
| Why shouldn't I just have a local photo lab do the work? |
| You can. However, digital retouching is an emerging new service that a few labs offer. At most of the labs, the digital retouch work is not being done in-house but being subcontracted out to places like The Imaging Dept. As the middlemen, the photo labs mark up retouch prices to cover their handling costs and to generate some profit. Why pay your local photo lab to deliver the work to us when the postman's charges are considerably lower? |
| How will I get my order from you? |
| We will send your order to you by US Postal service. As we suggested that you do above, we insure and track our delivery to you with a "delivery confirmation." |
| How much does a typical job cost? |
| Simple photo retouching without prints is the least expensive service that we offer. A basic order costs around $20.00. Our most expensive projects are those that include photo manipulation as well as prints. There isn't a typical job where a higher level of digital manipulation work is performed. |
| What is the difference between a regular photo and an "optimized" image? |
| An optimized image is one that does not have enough information to be considered "photo quality." Because optimized images have less information attached to them, their filesizes are smaller. The smaller filesizes allow the images to display more quickly on web pages. Optimized images are also small enough to be sent as attachments to email. |
| Can I have work done on a photo that was taken by a professional photographer? |
| No, not unless you have written permission from the photographer or the studio in which it was taken. If you are unsure about who owns the copyrights to your photos, you or a photographer, click here to find out more information on copyright laws. Photos that were taken before 1900 have copyrights that have expired. |
| When and how do I pay for my new photo? |
| You pay for your photo after we've given you a quote. We will email you with a quote. If you want us to complete your order, just reply with a "Yes, please complete the work." Once you've decided to get the work done, send us a check or money order for the entire amount. We'll trust that your sending payment to us just as you trusted us with your precious photos. In the meantime we will be completing your order. We will deliver your order to you once we have received your payment. |
| Will you work on pornographic photos? |
| No. |
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