Do you restore my actual photo? What is a float frame? Amber's answers to your most frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page should provide answers to most of the questions you may
have. To help find them as easily as possible, just click on the relevant
category. If you need more information please do not hesitate to contact
us.
General
- The studio is open 09.30-17.00 Monday-Friday when you can speak to someone
- If we are busy or outside of these hours, leave us a message
- For original photos, negatives and slides, we recommend a service that is traceable from when you send them, right up to when we sign to receive them such as Royal Mail Special Delivery or a courier service
- We do not recommend standard Royal Mail post for original material although it is an option for returning your scanned images or prints
- Orders are generally completed within ten working days, however if your deadline is sooner than this, let us know and we will do our best to get your work finished in time.
- We accept bank transfer and cheques. If collecting your order, cash payments are possible
- Images are normally supplied in standard jpeg format the same as produced by digital cameras
- Images can be supplied in other formats such as tiff if you prefer
- We normally supply your images on archive quality DVDs.
- We don’t currently offer a service to provide images on memory cards
- No, your personal information and photos are confidential and secure
Scanning
- We include basic colour correction, red-eye removal, cropping, straightening, brightness and contrast correction for no extra charge.
- No we can scan most formats, contact us for more information.
- Yes, we are able to offer the same high quality scanning service for any piece of paper or card including documents and paintings etc up to A4 in size
- Yes, we can scan specific negatives in the 35mm film strip. However, this can be quite time consuming which adds to the cost. Please contact us for more details
- dpi stands for dots per inch and is the dot density of an image when it is printed or displayed on a computer monitor
- The greater the number of dots per inch an image has, the bigger it can successfully be enlarged
- The dpi required to display on a TV or computer monitor is much lower than that required for printing, however we always scan at the higher level of dpi to allow your images to be printed at a later date if required
- Yes, they can be scanned but the quality of the digital image produced will reflect the damage seen on the originals, however we also offer a separate renovation/improvement service to restore damaged images, helping to return them to their former glory
- The digital images are your own personal property provided you own the copyright to the original material
- All work is undertaken on the basis that you own and have copyright over the original material
- Yes, just let us know. Put them in the order you would like them scanned, we will scan and number them in the same order
- We use top of the range Nikon CoolScan and Epson V750 scanners
- We keep copies of the images a minimum of six months giving you time to review the results and order further copies or prints without the need to send back the images
- For large file(s), we recommend using the free file transfer facility provided by WeTransfer (https://wetransfer.com/)
- WeTransfer is simple to use – enter the site, attach the required file(s), enter our email address (info@amberphotographics.com), enter your email address and press send
Improvement/Renovation
- We appreciate the value of your photos and go to great lengths to handle and look after them carefully and safely, and we use a fire proof safe to store them
- We give a selection of collection/delivery options
- There is no risk of ‘machinery handling damage’ because we don’t use any automated processes in our studio
- No, your original photos are returned to you exactly as you gave them to us
- To produce your restored image we scan your original photograph to produce a high resolution digital copy. We then restore this digital copy using computer software , finally we produce high quality prints from this restored image or we can supply the image in whatever format you prefer
- Yes, we will return the original material along with your completed order
- Unfortunately not.
- No, your personal information and photos are confidential and secure
- For customers who would like to review renovation and improvement results before ordering prints, we have a gallery section on our website where your work in progress can be viewed by following a link which we will provide. If you have any concerns about your images being available in this way, we can work with you directly via email
- Yes and no. There is a technique called ‘sharpening’ that can be used to improve the image definition. Sharpening edges within the image will help make it look less blurry. However, it is not possible to make a blurry, out-of-focus image completely clear
- Yes and no, depending on what is missing
- If the photo is missing parts of the background for example, it is often possible to use another part of the photos background as a template to help recreate and blend out the missing parts
- If the photo is missing unique aspects such as part of a person’s face or body, it can be very difficult or maybe impossible to repair satisfactorily, unless you have those aspects in another photo taken at the same time
- Combining photos is possible although there are many factors such as subject positioning, lighting and background that effect the degree of success
- Yes, it is usually possible to change the photo in this way
- Removing an object, leaves a gap in the background. If this background is fairly uniform – such as a painted wall, grass or sky the gap can be filled in quite successfully. If the background is more complex this infilling can be very difficult or impossible. An alternative in these cases may be to change the background completely
Printing
- We look for three major requirements from our paper supplier: 1) quality of the final print, 2) durability of the final print quality and 3) environmental commitment. Hahnemühle meet all these requirements
- Hahnemühle has been producing paper from the finest materials since 1584 and have a strong focus on their environmental responsibility. They exceed German standards for environmental control within their manufacturing plants and ensure that all suppliers of wood products adopt and can prove that they have implemented a replanting policy
- We can produce prints of any size from 6x4 up to 24 inch wide by many metres long
- We produce high quality prints aimed primarily at framing and/or display. As such, there is a significant manual input whether the final print is 6x4 or 36x24. For this reason, we have not priced our ‘standard’ prints below 10x8 in size
- A canvas print is a photo printed on heavy weight 100% cotton with a textured coating, this gives a durable and attractive appearance similar to that of an oil painting
- The canvas is stretched across a frame and wrapped around the side of the frame before being pinned at the back
- We use high quality tulip wood stretcher frames which are sprung loaded in each corner ensuring consistent tension in the canvas over time
- The canvas can be printed such that the photo wraps around the edge of the frame or printed on the front only leaving unprinted canvas wrapped around the frame
- Float frames are lightweight and glass free. They cleverly mount your photos in such a way that they appear to “float” within the frame, this is a contemporary and stylish way to display your photos
- The frames are available in white, black or ash wood finish, 30mm or 50mm deep, and hang flush with the wall
- Smaller prints are packed in reinforced envelopes
- Larger prints are rolled and packed in strong cardboard tubes
- Other packaging requirements can be arranged, please call to discuss
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We support the community by donating 10% of our annual profits to
charity.
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