DONE. This offer is now over. I wrote that it was going to be an experiment, and for me it didn’t do much. I had two high-resolution downloads. Maybe three. Considering that is pretty close to “giving it away” and that during that time I licensed two other images at a “real” price, I decided to say to heck with the idea (though I used another word). But it was interesting. I had several questions about what each thing I wrote meant, such as what is Adobe 98; why didn’t I sharpen the images; what was the best way to print them; etc. What I thought would be a straight-forward no work idea was actually bringing up the questions about printing as if it could be simply explained. I’m currently outlining an entire chapter about inkjet printing and it just isn’t the same as assembling a bookcase, though I wish it were.
Well. It was an idea anyway.
* * *
For a limited time (how limited I don’t know) you can download the original high resolution files used for the store prints for $20 (for more than one photo). My marketing manager (newly hired) has suggested this experiment.
You can then download any high resolution file in the store. After that you might upload it to your favorite online lab to print; bring it your local drugstore for printing or print it yourself.
SIZES: The files are produced without extrapolation at 300 dpi. File sizes vary depending on whether they are scanned negatives which are generally huge, or from various digital cameras. At the least you can make high resolution 8 x 12 prints, and for some prints you can go much larger. I don’t have a way right now to post the exact size for each file. They will be “unsharpened” Adobe RGB 98 JPGS saved at 90%.
These are strictly for personal use. They are not for resale. If you are an international customer, you can imagine how much this will save in terms of shipping charges. If you are not an international customer, think of what you could do to redecorate the place.
As I say, this is a marketing experiment and will end without notice (or will it?) As you can see, the files are available both here in the blog, and in the photography store.
All you need to do is visit the photography store, pick an image, and do the download. Most of the image files are ready for download, but if not, you’ll be notified via email when the file is ready to download.
Dave
I think you have found yourself an excellent marketing manager!
How large are these files? At 300 DPI what size prints can I make?
They’re not all the same size or aspect ratio but you will be able to do 12 x 18 for the files from digitals cameras and larger for the film negs. But any of these could go much larger with a decent interpolation program.
The dawning of a new era is upon us!
Greg – it’s a new world. I find myself becoming more of a stock agency than a printer. I’ve never been one of those who has been able to get too wound up about my work being stolen. Well, I don’t like it, but we’re really at a point where if someone wants it, they can get it. So far, the downloads have mostly been from overseas.
Now – did I kill a sale of a print with any of those downloads? I doubt it.
Interesting .Some inevitable questions arise:
-”They will be “unsharpened” Adobe RGB 98 JPGS saved at 90%.”
Why?.Is additional sharpening nedded?.
-Price:25$.
Is this an implicit acceptance that digital files are easily reproducible ? .
Can this be be a turning point in selling fine art prints?.(Or “Fine Art Downloads” ?).
Is $ 25 the intrinsic value of your photographs?.
Surely not;so may be the answer is around here:
External quality printing and framing add costs that most of the time keeps you away from selling your art.So,it is not intrinsic value what counts but the market price.(Of course, I’m not talking about famous photographers).-
Thank you
Alex
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Alex.
There are two forms of sharpening. One for restoring what’s lost in either the negative scan, or how the RAW image has been formed. That is done for all images. Final sharpening depends on what the size and output media are, i.e. web, or printing. If I were to do that sharpening and then the person printed it at a different size than the file, you might introduce artifacts.
“Can this be a turning point in selling fine art prints?” – To some extent it’s happened already in the same way that digital hit the music business.
“Intrinsic value” – is simply what people who are buying from a particular provider will pay.
It puts the onus of doing the physical labor on the buyer. Whether it’s something that will catch on or not – I really don’t know, i.e. it is an experiment. Prices for commercial use remain the same for my work.
From what I see – you may soon be able to download images for the price of a song.
“It puts the onus of doing the physical labor on the buyer. Whether it’s something that will catch on or not – I really don’t know, i.e. it is an experiment.”
Dave,
OK.This is a nice new concept for fine art photography but we must give the tools to the buyer,just in case he/she doesn’t know how to proceed.
The sellers of furniture in a box ,include the tools and the assembly instructions for free or the assembly service for an additional price.
Regarding the output sharpening , photographers may need to give a pfd file or a video with the necessary instructions .
Thank you
Alex