Category — Ordering Tips & Hints

So you are ready to order your album, the contact sheets are ready and the order form is filled out, now you just need to send the image files. But what is the best way?

Here are a couple of options for you.

#1 – Save the image files to a CD or DVD and mail along with your order form and contact sheet(s).

#2 – Use a large file transfer service such as Pando.com.

Pando is a free service that allows you to send files up to 1GB in size and is both PC & Mac compatible.

• Go to Pando.com
• Click on “Get Pando”
• Click on “Get Pando Free”
• Choose your computer platform
• Click on “Download Pando Now”

Then finish the installation by following the onscreen prompts.

This is a popular way of getting your order to us quickly and easily. Just remember to scan and send along your Order Form & Contact Sheets.

Unfortunately each computer has its own personality and quirks and we have run into a few that do not play well with Pando. Here are a couple of alternatives for you:

YouSendIt.com

MailBigFile.com

Where Pando is a desktop application, YouSendIt and MailBigFile are web based applications. Each has a free version and a premium version where you can personalize and brand it to look like your website.

How does it work?

When you upload via one of these services, you are temporarily storing your files on their servers, usually with a time limit of 7-14 days before they are permanently deleted. The recipient then downloads from the  server onto their computer.

This way you are reducing the bandwidth used at your hosting service and you are no longer sending large files that may or may not clog and crash  your or the recipients email system.

Once you use a service like this, you may never go back to sending your image files to us by CDs or DVDs again!

If you have ever ordered an Equinox Photo Journal or Orion from us you know the importance we stress on including a contact sheet. This is a simple tool that makes a big difference.

Here is an example (click on image for larger view):

A contact sheet is important for several reasons:

1. Shows us the page sequence for your album.
2. Helps us verify if we have all the prints… AND the correct prints.
3. Perfect tool for when we are checking and double checking the album before shipping.

Such weighty responsibility for such a little piece of paper. Even if you number each print on the back, when the images are made into a page these numbers are hidden and we have no way of verifying which order the pages should be in.

We cannot process an order without it! That shows you how important we feel it is.

How to create a contact sheet in Photoshop ^TM:

• Go to File
• Choose Automate
• Select Contact Sheet II

This brings up a dialog box where you can enter your settings:

1. Source Images: Select the folder where you layouts are saved
2. Document: Set the size to 8×10 & check the box “Flatten All Layers”
3. Thumbnails: We recommend 2 columns , 3-4 rows at most & check the box “Use file name as caption”

You will now see a preview of the layout in the upper right hand corner along with how many pages this contact sheet will be. Once you have verified your settings, click “OK” and the process will start.

When all the images have been processed you will have a series of open files on your screen. We recommend saving them as PDF files.

Image Numbering Tip: When you are numbering your images/layouts make sure to save it as image001.jpg and not image1.jpg. When you do not have the extra zeros your page sequence will get out of order when you get to image11.jpg or image15.jpg. These will be pulled up first before image2.jpg. So if you look at the layouts and they are out of order, the first thing to check is your numbering system. This works best:

image001.jpg, image002.jpg, image003.jpg and so on

Now you have a contact ready to send along with your order.

What other uses do you have for the Contact Sheet?