Prints:

How good are your prints?

Probably better than you're seeing on your monitor.

Most landscapes were shot on Velvia with pro-level cameras on a heavy tripod, using a cable release and mirror lock-up. Some casual shots (bands, etc) were hand-held with higher ISO film, so they may show modest grain and a little less crispness than a formal landscape. But I won't sell an image I'm not proud of, and I suspect you'll be pleased too.

Recently, I went all digital, moving to a Fuji S2 DSLR. It's a remarkable camera, producing "grain" finer than Velvia and images at least as detailed, especially after PhotoShop tweaks and enlargement up to 12x18". All newer images were made with the S2.

Prints are on Fuji Crystal Archive paper -- the most durable choice for prints from digital medium according to independent tests. Current results suggest Crystal Archive prints will outlast the best inkjet prints by about 3 times, and Fuji color is superb.

Will your print fit my frame?

With a little help...

The "aspect ratio" of my digital camera is 2:3, also used by most 35mm film cameras. That works out nicely for borderless 4x6-8x12-12x18 prints, but other common sizes like 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 require cropping.

The dimensions of frame and mat-style albums are another complication. If you buy a 5x7 frame for your nifty new borderless 5x7 print, the frame will probably crop the image. Most frames and the openings in mat-style albums have an image area about 1/8" to 1/4" smaller on all sides, so borderless prints don't always fit well.

If you know your print is destined for a frame or a mat-style album, let me know and I'll crop the image a little more loosely. That leaves some unimportant imagery on the edges, which gets covered by the frame. That's the "crop-for-frame" (CFF) option seen in my shopping cart, as opposed to the "no-border" (NB) option normally provided.

Many images crop reasonably well into standard formats, but others really do want to be square, panoramic, etc. Even a well-framed 4x6 image may look considerably different, cropped into an 8x10 format.

So how does a square image fit into a rectangular frame? The typical solution is to use a larger frame and cut a custom mat for the image -- nice but pricey. If all you want is a simple photo in a simple frame, maybe I can help.

Using Photoshop, I can add a border with a contrasting thin edge around the image for delineation. The result fits nicely in a standard frame with no mat, looks swell, and eliminates the expense of custom framing.

Custom borders insure the entire image will fit your frame, without cropping the image or cutting a custom mat. No extra charge for this service, but you may want to specify 5x7 instead of 4x6 to produce a reasonable image size.

4x6 print

5x7 print, custom white border

5x7 print, custom black border

If you're pasting prints into a scrapbook, custom borders aren't really necessary -- just cut off any white space around the image with an Xacto knife. But even in a scrapbook, those custom borders look pretty good. I use them a lot in my display samples.

A Caveat:

To avoid unpleasant surprises, get out a ruler and email me the actual image area of your frame or mat. I'll size your print to fit, using a custom border if necessary. Again, no charge...

Confused?

Not to worry -- if you make an inappropriate choice, I'll use my best judgement. Your print may arrive with a custom border, but the integrity of the image will always be preserved.

What framing options are available?

Prints are offered in common sizes up to 12x18, depending on image quality. A double-mat can be chosen by itself, or combined with a "step oak" frame or black metal frame.

Prints may be ordered in two basic frames -- "step oak" and black metal. Both are economical but nicely made and attractive; I have many on my own walls.

The "step oak" frame works with most subjects, but particularly well with landscapes. A simple black metal frame is also available, well-suited to B/W images but fine for most color subjects, too. If a frame is specified, please also specify a mat. These are actually double-mats, with colors chosen to complement the frame and subject. A .040 styrene plastic surface protects the print, but can easily be removed. I don't like reflections, but you may favor the added protection. Framed prints are signed in pencil and dated on the mat. (Think "eraser".)

16x20 Step Oak Frame

16x20 Black Metal Frame

Can I give a print as a gift? You bet. When you've made your purchase, just email me to indicate where you'd like the order to be sent. For a modest charge, we'll even gift wrap it. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

Can I return a print? Any print may be returned undamaged within 30 days for a refund, with return shipping paid by the sender. If PayPal was used for payment, the PayPal transaction fee (about 5%) will be deducted from the refund -- money I never received.

How does stock photography work?

Essentially, I shoot what interests me and hope somebody finds a use for it. Images range from formal American landscapes to whimsical glimpses of Austin, but all subjects are treated as professionally as my skills and equipment allow.

Hopefully, the result is compelling images at irresistible prices. View online, pay online, and I'll email or ftp the image to you quickly -- usually within 24 hours. If I'm going to be out of town on a shooting safari, I'll indicate that so folks will know a delay is likely.

What about prices??

The market leader is Corbis, owned by Bill Gates and well on its way toward world domination. Corbis has a zillion pricing schemes, but expect to pay at least $250 for a typical image.

I also found an online stock photo price calculator for a starting point. Lowest price: $187 for editorial use in a small newspaper.

Based on some involuted stock agency prices, I came up with this simple scheme -- no 1/4-1/2-full page pricing, no inside/outside or annual/quarterly report variations. Also no "exclusive use" rights, but contact me if interested.

• Web Use: any web site -- personal, non-profit, for-profit

  Images may be displayed on the web for an unlimited time after purchase, but must include my copyright (see below).

• Print media: brochures, postcards, editorial, calendars etc.

  Print media prices are for one-time use. Each subsequent use requires a repurchase, but my prices are very reasonable, so that shouldn't seem unfair. Most uses are allowed, except fine art prints and posters.

How big are stock images?

Web images are provided at PC resolution (typically about 400x600), large enough for nearly any web page. These are JPG files in RGB format, about 100KB in size.

Print publication images are provided at full resolution -- typically about 2700x3500 in RGB format. Average JPG file size is 2-3 megabytes, using moderate compression.

After you've ordered, I'll email or ftp the image to you, usually within 24 hours.

What about model releases?

I rarely obtain model releases, but my people photos are usually benign and flattering. Even so, use my people shots with some common sense. Avoid applications that malign the subject or imply some kind of endorsement.

The First Amendment (freedom of speech) has been interpreted by the courts to allow anybody to be photographed in a public place, so long as no endorsement is implied -- commercial, political, religious, etc. But that doesn't mean folks won't raise heck if they feel their images are being abused.

A typical "safe" use is for editorial content in a newspaper or magazine article. Again, use some judgement -- photos of publicity-loving musicians are less likely to be challenged than grim street shots of unsuspecting "civilians".

Can I return a stock image?

A stock image may be "returned" within 30 days by asking for a refund, less 20% to discourage abuses. I don't expect you to return the bits -- just don't use them. Before buying, please download the "comp" version first.

What restrictions apply?

• I reserve the right to decide if a use is inappropriate. Please, no "extreme" uses of my material -- pornographic web sites, hate groups, and so on.

• Suitable print uses include: calendars, greeting cards, post cards, editorial articles, advertising, and similar products. No royalties are required, but no exclusivity is offered.

• I reserve all rights to these images for "fine art" sales. These images are not available for fine art reproductions or posters.

• My images may not be resold in digital form. They cannot be licensed to other purchasers, may not be included in a CD-ROM "clip-art" collection, offered as part of a screen-saver collection, etc.

• My copyright and an underlying link to Acme Enterprise must accompany web-based use of these images. Here's a code snippet you can use in your HTML pages:

  <A href=http://www.AcmeEnterprises.com>
  © Chris Butler
  </A>
  
  (The copyright symbol in HTML is "&_copy;" but with no "_")

Other terms and uses may be negotiated by contacting me. Prices and policies are subject to revision as I acquire a better understanding of stock photography markets.

My images are registered with the US Copyright Office. If used without permission, the offender may be sued for costs plus legal fees and damages.

Payment:

You can pay by check, credit card, or PayPal. Any purchase option will produce an email to you and a copy to us, describing your order in full. We also recommend that you print a copy of your order directly from the browser, as added insurance.

If you use a credit card or PayPal, your order will be entered in our database. You'll be able to view your databased orders online, which may be helpful with future orders.

What if something goes wrong?

It might -- this shopping cart is home-grown. My Computer Science degree dates back to the Radio Shack TRS-80 (yikes!), but the occasional glitch is still a fact of life.

I value my reputation more than any modest profit I make off this stuff. The Web community is smaller than you might think, and word-of-mouth moves at warp speed. If there's a problem, email me and we'll straighten it out.

Pronto...