Frequently Asked Questions

DSI Digitals Silver Prints® Fiber are processed in liquid photo chemistry, archivally washed, then air dried on specially made racks. The dry prints are then flattened in a heat press allowed to cool and trimmed down to the finish size. Unfortunately this process takes time and many skilled hands to complete, but the results are beautiful.

Start with a calibrated monitor! Calibrating your computer monitor is essential because it gives you a much more accurate rendition of how your file will print. Calibration insures that both you and Digital Silver Imaging are looking at an image that will appear the same on your monitor and ours in the lab.

File Format  We prefer .TIFF but a .JPEG saved at maximum resolution is also acceptable. We can print from almost any file type including RAW or .PSD. However, unless you have a specific reason for using a RAW or .PSD this file type slows down file transfers and increases printing times. There is no quality gain from using a RAW file instead of a .TIFF.  Our online Value Print Service (ROES Web) currently only accepts .JPEG files.

File Size The sweet spot for our DSI Digital Silver Prints® and Museum quality inkjet prints is 300 ppi/dpi at 100% size. In other words, if you want an 11×14″ print the file should be 11×14″, 300 dpi/ppi at 100%.

How do I export files from Adobe Lightroom? We have a short tutorial on how to export your files for print from Lightroom. Follow this link to view the tutorial.

Exporting files from Adobe Lightroom for printing is not always an intuitive process. We have put together this tutorial to show our customers how to export files to create the best prints possible using our services. You can read our post on the full procedure here

All orders within the US ship via UPS Ground or United States Postal Service (USPS). We happily ship orders all over the globe. International shipping quoted on a per order basis. Shipping charges are determined by package size/weight. DSI Digital Silver Fiber Prints® are always shipped flat.

Estimated Shipping Charges – Although we try to be as accurate as possible shipping estimates are subject to change. Because every order is different, and we package orders to best protect your images, it is often impossible to predict exactly what the final charge will be. Simply put an estimate is not exact and may vary.

Using Your Own Shipping Account – If you have an account with FedEx, UPS or a freight carrier we are happy to ship using your personal/commercial shipping account. Please note that we will add a handling fee to cover our costs of packaging and order entry.

Custom Shipping Crates and Overseas Shipping – Yes we can do all that. Every project and shipping destination is different so please let us know when placing your order and we will create an estimate for you.

Damaged Shipments – We have developed packing methods to best protect your prints in transit. However at times damage does occur. It is important that you follow these steps so that a damage claim can be filed. Failure to do so may result in the loss of a refund on your order.
1. Photograph the EXTERIOR of your package. Making several photographs from different angles is important.
2. Keep ALL packaging
3. Call Digital Silver Imaging immediately

Digital Silver Imaging’s liability is limited to the replacement of the product that we have produced. We are not responsible for loss incurred as the result of an order that was damaged in shipping. If the customer request that we use their shipping account to make a shipment, the customer must file all damage/loss claims against the shipper. Digital Silver Imaging will not replace prints, frames, mats or any other product damaged or lost when using the customer’s shipper.

In this FAQ you will find a quick overview of the archival life of our products. For an in depth report on how Digital Silver Imaging’s prints compare to other print options follow this link.

DSI Digital Silver Fiber Prints®  are made on black & white, light sensitive, silver gelatin, Ilford Gallerie paper. This is a heavy weight, baryta paper with a proven history of archival quality, light fastness, and durability. Henry Wilhelm, of Wilhelm Imaging Research called our prints “the gold standard” in black and white print longevity.

DSI Digital Silver RC Prints® are made on black & white, light sensitive, silver gelatin, Ilford Resin Coated paper.RC paper is sealed between layers of polythene with the emulsion and a ‘super-coating’ on top. This makes them a typically more robust paper that is easier to handle. This is a medium weight paper comes on a bright white resin coated base. It has excellent lightfastness, it can be rolled, and is ideal for commercial applications.

DSI Museum Quality Inkjet Prints are made on Canon Prograf printers using the latest Lucia Pro pigment inks. Not all inks are created equal, and Canon Lucia pro inks meet the highest archival standards. When printing on a quality paper with no OBAs (optical brightening agents), like Hahnemühle Photo Rag, these prints will last over 200* years framed under UV glass, and 300* years in dark storage. Digital C prints can’t compare, making our prints the best choice for quality and price.

Standard Inkjet Prints are made on Canon Prograf printers using the latest Lucia Pro pigment inks. Not all inks are created equal, and Canon Lucia pro inks meet the highest archival standards. These prints differ from our DSI Museum Quality Prints in that they are made on quality papers that may not meet the highest standards set by preservationists.

*Based on Wilhelm Imaging Research’s paper  “Canon image PROGRAF iPF6100 and Canon LUCIA Pigment Inks“, 6/15/09