What are my available choices for photo prints?
1. Paper finish. You can choose between five different paper types when placing a photo print order: Glossy, Matte, Lustre, Metallic, Pura Smooth, Pura Velvet and Pura Textured.
2. Border. Choose whether a white border should be printed around the photograph. Note that the image will be slightly reduced in order to accommodate the white border on the given print size.
3. Density and color correction. Choose whether you'd like to decline free density and color correction by professional technicians. We highly advise against declining this option, since color mismatches between your system and ours may make your image look wonderful to you, yet print out poorly in our labs. The purpose of the color correction is not just to optimize the appearance of your photograph in print but also to ensure that such optimization is consistent with the color space and calibration of our printers. However, we can
4. Print size. We offer 29 different print sizes for your photographs. The primary factors on which you should base your print-size decision are: 1) the intended setting for the prints (i.e. you want to frame them in an 8x10 frame you already have) and 2) the aspect ratio of your photograph. Most digital photographs have an aspect ratio of 4:3; hence you will need to print on a 4:3 aspect-ratio paper in order for you to get the entire image on paper without cropping or white strips.
5. Quantity. Specify how many prints you'd like. Note that wallet-size prints and smaller are printed four to a sheet. Therefore, our system only allows you to choose the number of 4-print sheets you'd like to order.
6. Cropping options. If the aspect ratio of your photograph does not match the aspect ratio of the print size you are choosing, then you must decide whether you want part of the image "cropped" (removed) in order to fit it onto the specified paper size OR you want the full image printed, which will result in white strips on either the sides or top and bottom of your photograph.
7. Custom text (Optional). You may enter text to be printed on the backs of the photo prints. This may give you essential identifying information about the photograph, such as image name, date taken or description.
Do you process negatives or slides?
Yes, we are a full service photographic laboratory. We process 35mm 120mm, 220mm color, black and white and E6. We offer normal processing, push and pull options. Please note, E6 takes 7-10 days since we do batch runs of just E6.
Do you offer scanning of film at time of processing?
Yes we have four scanning resolution services Low, Medium, Large and Super.
SMALL : 1800X1800
Medium: 3800x3800
Large: 6400x6400
Super: TIFF
What do you do with the photos I upload to CTPRINTS.COM?
All photos that are part of customer order are uploaded to their secure customer account.
Under no circumstances do we ever do anything else with your photos, such as sell them or give them away to third parties. Your photos are 100% secure with us. We will never compromise our integrity and betray your trust in us by improper handling or distribution of your photos.
What paper types and finishes do you offer and which one should I choose?
All colored prints are printed on the most modern, professional,
digital paper. This paper type is available in matt, glossy, and. We also offer metallic paper, Fine Art Pura, Fine Art Pura Smooth and Fine Art Pura
Why did my prints come out darker/lighter than the image I submitted to CTPRINTS.COM in my order?
Regrettably, there is no easy way for us to 100% reliably replicate the image you see on your screen, in our photo lab. This is why we highly advise our customers to allow us to density- and color-correct their photos, so that they come out as pretty as they possibly can. Special instructions are welcome and can be left in the "comments" area when placing the order.
For professional customers who seek exact reproduction of an image they have edited, two extremely important steps must be taken:
1) Monitor calibration. The monitor of the professional photographic editor must be properly calibrated in order for the image they see on their screen to be representative of the actual image data stored on their computer and ultimately submitted to us for processing into prints. For more on this, see http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration.htm.
2) ICC Color Profiles. Professional editors must ensure that they are working within the exact same color space as us. In order to achieve that, we publish a "color profile" for each of our printers, known as an "ICC color profile" and we make them available for our customers to download and install on their computer.
Why do I see a yellow triangle warning on my image when I try to order prints?
t's because the pixel resolution for your photo is not large enough for the print you are trying to order. The warning will usually only appear next to larger prints; you will still be able to order smaller prints.
The minimum acceptable pixel resolution on ctprints.com is 100 pixels for every inch of printed paper. For example, if you want to print a 4x6, your image should have pixel dimensions of 400x600 (thus making it a 100 ppi image). Needless to say, 100 ppi is the bare minimum. For high-quality prints, you should strive for about 200 ppi. Using our above example, you'd want your image to be 800x1200 to achieve optimum results.
Please note that file size is not a good indication of suitability for a particular print size since most image files are in a compressed. JPEG format and their resolution can therefore not be determined from file size.
How can I get a feel for the various paper finishes you offer before placing a print order?
The best way to get familiarized with our product offerings is to come in person to our Hamden Lab. Our store displays many of our products and we have a paper sample book which you can touch and feel to get a better of a feel.
Why do I have white edges on my prints?
When you order prints and the original photo isn't the exact same shape as the print you order, we provide two methods of handling this situation:
Crop a portion of your image so that it fits. This method requires some of your original photo to be lost.
Print your image as large as possible without cropping. The second method shows the whole picture but leaves two white bars on either side of the photo (the unexposed photo paper beyond the edges of your image.) - see the red arrows below
FAQ
Q. What can I do with your online imaging site?
A. Order all the reprints and enlargements that you would like to have, then simply choose to have them picked-up at the store, or have them mailed to you or anyone of your choosing. You can also order specialty, personalized photo books and gifts, create cards and announcements, and stay updated on our latest products.
Q. What size JPG should I shoot on my digital camera?
A. The higher the resolution of the picture, the greater the file size. JPEG compression can reduce the size of the file, but it also affects the quality of the image. Digital cameras and photo editing programs like Photoshop will allow the user to control the amount of JPEG compression. Increasing the amount of compression reduces the file size but also reduces image quality.
Q. How will I know if my digital image is high enough resolution for enlargement prints?
A. If you are using our online photo ordering system, we will tell you if a picture does not meet our suggested resolution standards. When you add an image to our shopping cart, we tell you if the image is OK to print at that size or not. If the quality is going to be questionable, you can get more details about why the resolution is less than what we suggest.
Q. I am not a professional photographer and don't have any knowledge of color space or toning images. Will CT PRINTS color correct my images?
A. Yes, at CT Prints we inspect each print for contrast, color and density and give you what professionals demand.
Q. What color profile should I shoot to achieve the best quality from my camera.
A. CT PRINTS uses SRGB color space. This is the color “language” that all professional photo lab printers share. By setting your camera this way it ensures that the printer will understand the color information in your file. Other settings will force a translation of the information but occasionally data is lost and the color cannot be represented as well.
Q. I have set my camera space to SRGB but when I adjust my images on my computer screen I see something different in my final prints?
A. Calibrate your monitor to be SRGB or use monitor profiles for soft proofing your images. We can provide you with a list of available monitor calibrators under $100. Visit our Links Page for more details.
Q. How should I save my file if I’m using Adobe Photoshop?
A. The image needs to be in SRGB mode (not CMYK). The file can be saved as TIFF or JPEG. (We recommend JPEG) Make sure that your image doesn't contain any additional layers, channels or paths (make sure it is "flattened") and is saved in standard 8-bit/Channel mode. It is now ready to be uploaded to CTPrints.
Q. My camera has a RAW format. What is this and does this make a better image?
A. The RAW format delivers the best quality from a digital camera. A RAW image is an un-compressed image, unlike a JPG which is compressed. Most professional photographers use RAW because they want better control over an image. They can adjust exposure better, darken or lighten shadows, midtones, and highlights in an image. Raw image files are sometimes called digital negatives, as they fulfill the same role as negatives in film photography: that is, the negative is not directly usable as an image, but has all of the information needed to create an image. Likewise, the process of converting a raw image file into a viewable format is sometimes called developing a raw image, by analogy with the film development process used to convert photographic film into viewable prints.
Q. Where do I get coupons to use on the site?
A. We offer coupons periodically, attached to our e-newsletter and posted in our social networking sites. To sign up for our newsletter, click the top right corner of the home page where it says “Newsletter Sign Up” and fill out the contact form. We generally send newsletters 2-4 times per month and you can unsubscribe at any time. We are also on Facebook and Twitter, click the links below newsletter sign up on home page and add us to your friends/pages.
Q.I have a credit and a coupon code. Can I use both existing credit and a coupon on the same order?
A. Yes, place your coupon code during checkout and your total will reflect in shopping cart.
Q. How long does it take to upload my photos?
A. The time it takes to upload an image depends on many factors. Some of the factors include the speed of your computer, the size of your files, and the speed of your Internet connection.
Q. How do I know when my print or gift order has been shipped or is ready for pick up?
A. If you place an order online, you will receive an email informing you when your order has been received and another when it has been printed. If you have any specific questions about your order, please call us at (203)281-6996.
Q. Can I see the photo gifts before ordering?
A. Yes, We have samples of select photo gifts available at our Hamden location; you are always welcome to stop in during business hours with any questions.
Q. What are my shipping options?
A. We offer Standard Mail, USPS First Class Mail, UPS Ground, UPS Overnight Delivery, or FedEx Overnight Delivery so you can be sure there’s a shipping option to fit your budget and your timeline!
Q. I’ve noticed your print prices are higher than the typical pharmacy or chain store prices. Why is that?
A. We differ from our print competitors in many ways. First, the quality of our prints, machinery and materials used in producing them are more expensive to maintain. We use an State of the Art Noritsu Dry Lab and chemical base Film processing. This creates a higher quality print than you’ll get from any ink jet printer attached to a poorly maintained in-store kiosk. Our professionals are trained specifically and thoroughly to operate all parts of these machines to create the best prints possible. When we print, are focused on printing photos, not multiple, separate departments within a large corporate location. The quality of our goods and services are provided to you at the lowest prices we can offer.
Q. Do you offer Gallery Hosting for Professional Photographers?
A. Yes, we do. We offer 6 month and 12 month, password protected galleries to any of our professional clients. Contact our Lab Manager for additional details (203)281-6996.
Q. Are there any services you advertise that are out sourced or mailed to another location?
A.Yes, and we aren’t afraid to tell you that. We do not have the capability to develop E6 Slide film. We will take in your order and send it to a trusted US lab that we have always had great success with. Some of our more major camera repairs may also be sent out for repair. Specifically if parts are unavailable. We will try to send it directly to the camera manufacturer, if possible. If not, we do work with a team of repair technicians based in New York and the Mid West.
Q. What is your policy on copyrighted photos and videos?
A. All images and videos are copyrighted, even ordinary family photos. Our intention is to comply with the copyright laws and protect the ownership rights of copyright holders. The person who possesses the photo is not always the copyright owner. The purpose of this policy is to provide a method for determining who is the copyright owner, and provide guidance on handling copy requests.
We will not accept, scan, print or otherwise reproduce clearly copyrighted work without the written permission of the photographer/creator. Photographers have the responsibility to identify and mark their photographs sufficiently to permit others to know whom to contact to obtain permission to copy. These marks would include, but are not limited to; photographer or studio name, studio logo, the actual copyright symbol or watermarked paper indicating “DO NOT COPY”. If there is no such notice or other indication that the image was taken by someone else, it may be copied.
To obtain permission to copy a photograph we recommend you contact the Professional Photographers of America at 1-800-786-6277.
Q. Are there exceptions to the copyright policy?
A.Copies can be authorized under the following circumstances if there are no other factors suggesting the law would be violated:
The customer has a written consent to copy or manipulate the order from the photographer or studio named in a copyright notice or other marking.
A prior agreement with the photographer giving a blanket consent for this customer to obtain copies in the future without further documentation.
Copying or restoring a photograph is permitted for the personal use of a customer in cases where the photographer or studio is unlikely to object to copying. Here are examples of reasons why a photographer would be unlikely to object; very old photograph, damaged print, or prints made by photographers not able to be located after a reasonable effort.
A claim of "fair use" may also permit the copying of a print. A “fair use” would include; education or research, the area of the photo being copied, the number of copies, the function
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