We scan your original on our in-house flatbed scanner and give you the file. Not a photograph — a flat, evenly lit, colour-managed scan with no lens distortion, no glare and no shadow across the surface.
Most print studios send scanning out or ask you to supply a photograph. We do it ourselves, which means we can check the scan against the original sitting next to us, correct it if needed, and reprint from it the same day.
What you get
- A high-resolution file suitable for printing at or above the original size
- Colour checked against your original under controlled lighting
- Dust and minor blemish removal as standard
- The file supplied to you to keep, use and reproduce from
- The file held on our system so future reprints need no rescanning
What we can scan
We scan works on paper, card, canvas and board. Suitable media include:
- Watercolour and gouache
- Drawing — pencil, charcoal, pastel, pen and ink
- Printmaking — etching, linocut, screenprint, monoprint
- Flat acrylic
- Mixed media on paper or card
Heavily textured or thickly impasto work is better photographed under raking light — the flatbed cannot capture relief. We will tell you honestly if your piece falls into this category before starting.
Larger originals are scanned in sections and stitched seamlessly. There is no hard size limit for flat work.
Bringing your work in
Drop the piece into either Wokingham location. Unframed work is easiest — if your piece is framed and you would like it scanned in the frame, let us know when you drop it off.
You can also post your work to us insured. Use a rigid board-backed envelope or a box, and ensure it is well padded. We are not responsible for damage in transit, so please pack accordingly and use a tracked, insured service.
Scanning is usually complete within 3–5 working days. We will contact you when the file is ready.
Pricing
Scanning is priced by the size of the original. Contact us with the dimensions and medium of your piece for a quote. If you are ordering prints at the same time, we can often scan and print in a single visit.
Colour management
We scan to a calibrated profile and check colour against the original under D50 lighting — the standard for colour-critical work. Where there is a significant difference between the scan and the original, we adjust before supplying the file. We cannot make a scan look better than the original, but we can make it accurate.
Ready to book?
Contact us with your piece's dimensions and medium and we will confirm turnaround and price. Or drop in to either studio — we are happy to take a look before you commit.
Once you have your scan, you can order prints directly from the store.