Handcrafted Prints vs. Digital Negatives

Handcrafted Prints vs. Digital Negatives

I am frequently asked whether the images included on the DVD of your wedding images are edited. While the answer is essentially “yes,” this explanation of the difference between your digital negatives and the edited images you receive in print should help clear up any remaining questions you might have on the topic.

  

What are digital negatives?

Back in the days of film, negatives were the raw product you received from the technician at a lab. What the film caught was what you got, no enhancements whatsoever were made until a print was created.

Digital negatives from Red Gecko Studio are similar to these raw negatives, but with a little extra TLC. All of the images you receive on your digital negative CD or DVD are lightly edited, which includes:

·Exposure correction

·Basic color temperature correction

·Slight color & saturation enhancement

 

What’s the difference between digital negatives and handcrafted prints?

When you order a print from Red Gecko Studio, the images you order are handcrafted with more extensive editing processes prior to being sent to print. Each image takes between 15-30 minutes on average to transform into a stunning piece of art for your home. Handcrafting can include a wide variety of individual treatments, including but not limited to:

·  Artistic color enhancements or alterations

· Black & white, sepia, or vintage colorization

· Sharpening or softening

· Texture elements or effects

· Blemish removal or skin retouching

· Removal or enhancement of distracting background elements

To view examples of these processes, simply look at our website or blog. All images on the Red Gecko Studio website, blog, and Facebook page are examples of the hand-crafted process.

Prints 8×10 and larger are coated with a linen texture to further improve the look of your handcrafted image. Prints 11×14 and larger are mounted on sturdy art board backing to protect them from tearing and folding through the years. When you purchase a print, you are paying for not only the paper that the print is printed on, but the time and expertise required to create a beautiful print that will last for generations to come.

 

 

Can I purchase the fully edited digital files?

No. The images on your disc are lightly retouched and will be fine for printing at your local one-hour lab. Red Gecko Studio uses only the best professional labs who have proven their quality. To ensure that the handcrafting process is represented most accurately in print, your prints and other products from these files must be ordered through Red Gecko Studio.

 

 

If I order an album, are the files in the album handcrafted?

YES. All images included in an album are handcrafted for beautiful quality within your album.

 

 

When I own the digital negatives, do I own the copyright to the images?

NO. As per copyright law, Mandie Haberman and Red Gecko Studio own the copyright to every image we take. Copyright ownership cannot be sold to any person at any price. When you purchase your digital negatives, you will be entitled to print those images for your own personal use. If you would like to use your images online, we’d be happy to provide you with web-sized and watermarked images. This applies particularly to Facebook, as their terms of use state that any image uploaded can be used by Facebook for any purpose. Please help us protect Red Gecko Studio’s images by using watermarked images only. J

 

What CAN’T I do with my digital negatives?

First of all, you cannot share your print release rights with any other individuals. This means that you cannot transfer a JPEG to friends or family and allow them to print it themselves. You cannot duplicate your CD or DVD and disperse copies to other individuals. You cannot sell the images, prints, or CD/DVD to individuals or companies, including wedding magazines or websites- although we will be very happy to submit your images on your behalf! J This also applies to the other vendors involved in your event. If your florist, caterer, etc would like a copy of one of your images, please direct them to contact Mandie via phone or email to obtain them.

You also cannot make significant changes to the images we provide to you, as per copyright. Cropping and resizing is okay, but please leave the editing to us- it’s what you pay us for!