How should I prepare my digital files and what formats do you accept?

File Size: 

The maximum file size that can be uploaded on the website is 100 MB. If your file size is larger than 100 MB, upload a placeholder image and upload your large file HERE.

File Preparation:

- Accepted file formats are JPG, TIFF, and PNG, but JPG is preferred.

- 8-bit RGB files only

- Embedded color space should be Adobe RGB (1998)

- If you have done any retouching work on the image in Photoshop, make sure that all layers are flattened before saving your final copy.

- For sample prints, we recommend exporting them at the size of the print. This will reduce the time required to upload the order, as you would not be sending files larger than needed for the product.

- Our printers will render each image at the optimum resolution for the print size. However, this will not improve the quality of lower-resolution files. 

File Formats: 

JPG 

- 8 bits per channel

- Baseline Standard encoding 

PNG 

- 8 bits per channel

TIFF 

- 8 bits per channel

- No Layers

- No alpha channels

- Image Compression: LZW

- Pixel Order: Interleaved

Naming Your Files: 

Do not use special characters when naming your image files. Use of Special Characters will require filenames to be changed before we can process the order. This will delay the production time. 

Monitor Calibration: 

In order to insure that the colors on your monitor match the colors in the prints you receive from Artbeat Studios, it is best to have a properly calibrated and profiled monitor. You can try some evaluation prints without calibrating your monitor but you will get more consistent and repeatable results if you do calibrate. 

Photoshop Settings: 

You need to make sure that you are embedding an ICC profile into the files you send to Artbeat Studios. We require that you use Adobe RGB (1998) as a working colorspace.

Below are the directions for proper setup of your Photoshop Color Settings:

- Open Photoshop and go to Edit > Color Settings in the menu bar. If you are using Photoshop CS3 or earlier on a Mac, the menu location is Photoshop > Color Settings.

- Go to Working Spaces and for RGB files select "Adobe RGB (1998)"

- Under Color Management Policies next to RGB select "Convert to Working RGB"

- Next to Profile Mismatches check "Ask When Opening" and "Ask When Pasting"

Whenever you open a file that is in a color space other than your working space, Photoshop will prompt you to convert to the working color space. If you would rather not be prompted when opening a file with a different imbedded profile that your working space, you can uncheck the "Ask When Opening" box and the "Ask When Pasting" boxes next to Profile Mismatches. Photoshop will then apply your working space to files that are in a different color space or with a missing profile.
VERY IMPORTANT: When you save your files, make sure to check the "Embed Color Profile" checkbox in the Save dialog box or your working profile will not be embedded and we will not know the colorspace of your files leading to inaccurate color.

Recommended File Size:

Digital Cameras measure their resolution in pixels. These are NOT measured per inch, but are a total count of how many pixels were used to capture the entire image. If you take a digital photo at 1600x1200 pixels, the total pixel count of the captured image will be 1,920,000 pixels. Whether you print this 1600x1200 image as a 8"x10" photo or an 16"x20" photo, the original file will still have 1,920,000 pixels. Photos intended for print should be taken at the highest [pixel] resolution possible for the best print quality. Lower resolution photos printed at larger sizes may stretch the pixels beyond the point where the look clear and sharp. However, many of our customers have great success enlarging their photos 200%-400%. Typically the photo needs start out very high res and well exposed, then it can be enlarged and sharpened in Photoshop or Lightroom. View your files at 100% in an image application such as Photoshop, this will give you an excellent representation of how the file will print.

Preferred Image Resolution: 150 dpi (Maximum: 300 dpi - Minimum: 100 dpi)

What is an image histogram? 

A histogram is a very powerful measuring tool that graphically represents the data within an image file. Having an understanding of a histogram will enhance your camera's exposure which determines the pixel values of your image. Having properly exposed images is the #1 thing to improve color management.   

Bleed Guidelines / Signatures: 

Our HD Metal and HD Acrylic prints have an overall bleed of approximately 1/8". It is important to keep text, logos, signatures and important image elements at least 1/8" away from the edge of your print.