In a nutshell, all you need to do is send  your photo to Sherry and she'll do the rest and communicate with you about the art you want. Photos should be taken or scanned at a large (VERY large) file size which results in an image size at least 3000 pixels tall or wide.  The subject should "fill the frame". 

 Smaller photos can be scanned at high resolution (600 to 1200 dpi) to achieve this file size, but should NOT be resized larger with your software. If you aren't able to provide such a large image, you can mail a smaller photo and Sherry will scan it and return it to you unharmed - contact Sherry for the mailing address. Emailed photos should be sent at full size - do not use the "email" or "web" setting to prepare or compress your image for email.

The quality of your finished work will be highly dependent upon the quality and size of the photo you provide.

Please also read the Release of Copyright and Pricing information at the bottom of this page.

Email Sherry at for more information.   Read on if you'd like more details.
 

More about digital file size

First, please understand that file sizes discussed here are uncompressed sizes of the image as it comes from the camera, without any manipulation of image size or file format.

There are two types of file compression, "lossy" and "lossless". Lossy compression actually changes some of the original pixels and some details are lost. The most common type of lossy compression format is JPG. While the original JPG image out of a digital camera is fine, every time the file is saved again, detail is lost. If the same file is saved as a JPG a few times, significant quality is lost and cannot be recovered. Valuable originals should always be saved in a lossless format, like TIFF, PNG or RAW. TIFF and PNG files can be edited and saved any number of times without loss of detail because the compression does not alter any pixels.

The best image size for print work is a TIFF, PNG or RAW file or a 1st generation JPG at least 3000 pixels wide or tall.  An image that size cannot be viewed on your computer monitor without LOTS of scrolling.

Setting your camera for the best file size for print:
If you're just looking at your pictures on a computer screen or over email (your computer monitor can only display 72 or 96 dots per inch) versus printing out at  300  dots per inch, then the quality of the images is not very important.

For Print, it's a different story. For each 300 pixels your image measures in height, you'll get about 1 inch in quality print size.  So.....the 600 x 800 pixel image that nearly covers your computer monitor would only be 2" x 2.6" when printed.  That's smaller than a business card. Not good for framing :-)

Cameras are rated (in Megapixels) by the largest size image they can produce.
Megapixel means a million pixels. The megapixel size of an image can be determined by multiplying it's width in pixels by it's height in pixels:
1600 pixels wide x 2000 pixels high = 3,200,000 total pixels = 3.2 million pixels or 3.2 megapixels   The largest image possible from a 3.2 Megapixel camera at it's highest setting is 1600 x 2000.  Pretty good, but not quite optimum for print work.  To achieve an image 3000 megapixels wide, you need a camera rated at 6 megapixels or greater, and set to it's largest file size.

As noted above, if you have a favorite photo which doesn't meet the file size requirements, you can scan it at high resolution or send it to Sherry to be scanned.  Your photo will be returned unharmed.

Release of copyright

All photographs are automatically covered by copyright. Before I can work with your photo, I need a written or emailed release of copyright from the photographer  who took the photo, licensing me to make derivative works from that photo to produce a single commissioned art work for you OR to produce derivative works for commercial sale to the public (whichever applies - see below). This is true even if you have purchased a print from a professional photographer - the print is yours, but the photographer still holds the rights to the photo.

NOTE: Sherry has licensing agreements with several professional photographers who do dog agility photos in the Michigan area. If your photo was taken by Cathi Winkles, Tawnya Shepherd, or Randy Crider (WoofWear), no release is needed.

Pricing

Currently, Sherry is  seeking new source photos for art to be sold in her public galleries,  and will waive your art fees if your photo is something she feels would be useful there and it is accompanied by a release of copyright licensing her to produce derivative works from it for commercial purposes.  If you would prefer an exclusive commissioned work to be sold only to you, see below.

For commissioned pieces, art fees are based upon the complexity of the project and range from $50 for a very simple piece to $300 or more for a large piece. Sherry will give you an estimate after she has seen your photos and discussed the project with you.  Art Fees are in addition to printing and framing costs at ImageKind.  Click on any image in the right column to see examples of ImageKind costs - they vary greatly based on which print medium and optional matting, framing and glazing you choose.

Whatever the request, Sherry works closely with her clients to achieve the desired effect in the finished artwork.

Beautiful giclée prints of Sherry's work are available through her galleries at ImageKind.