Artist FAQ

Selling your work through Art for Conservation couldn’t be easier - and more rewarding. Even so, we suggest that you take a little time to look through our FAQ’s below. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to send us off an email at info@artforconservation.org.

2.  How many images can I upload?
If you select our free Self-Service Account, you can upload as many as 27 images at no charge. If you select our Full Service Account (a fee is charged), you are allowed an unlimited number of images. All images are subject to review before posting on Art for Conservation. See “How do I upload my images?”

3.  How do I upload my images?
Once you've created your Art for Conservation account, you are ready to upload your low res jpeg files. These files will be the ones used to show your images in the Art for Conservation Gallery. After your low res files are received and Approved vy Art for Conservation, you will be allowed to upload your hi res printing files and image information.

How to upload your low-res image files:
Before you begin the process of uploading your files, we suggest that you first create low res files for all of the images you wish to upload. * Resize your files by setting "Resolution" to 72ppi, and the largest dimension to at least 600 pixels. The resulting file should be no larger than 2 MB. See the sample below. Save the file as a jpeg, level 10. When you access your Artist account on Art for Conservation, you will find directions on how to actually upload these files.

When you submit your low res jpeg files, representatives of Art for Conservation review your images to determine:

1. Quality of the image.
2. Content. Any content we deem inappropriate will be rejected without explanation.
3. Fit for the Art for Conservation website. Once approved, you will be provided directions to upload the remaining image information (substrates, sizes, prices, keywords, etc) and your hi-res files.
   
   

4.  How do I determine the prices I will charge for my prints?
There are two ways to set up your sizes and prices on Art for Conservation:

1. Set up your Master Price List through your artist management homepage. Once you fill out this form, you will never have to set your prices again! If you need advice on pricing, please talk to one of our customer service representatives.
2. You can choose what sizes, substrates, and prices to offer on an image by image basis. Simply check the box of the size you wish to offer and set the price you wish to sell the image for! If you need advice on pricing, simply talk to one of our customer service representatives.

5.  How do I choose the size of prints I will sell?
Art for Conservation offers you up to 11 sizes and any size in between the shown sizes – virtually an  unlimited choice of sizes up to 40x60.  When you upload your file, the actual size of the print will show on the site. For example, if you upload a 16x16 file, it will show up as a 16x16 print, not a 16x20 print.

• 8x10
• 9x12
• 11x14
• 12x18
• 16x20
• 16x24
• 20x24
• 20x30
• 24x36
• 30x50
• 40x60

When you upload your hi res file to us, the size of file will determine how large an image we can print for you.  For example, if you upload a 200 ppi file at a size of 16x24, you could safely print an image at 16x24 and even larger – possibly to 24x36. However, if you started with a small file and simply sized it up to 16x24, it may be that you won’t be able to print the image even at 16x24. In the example below, a 4.79 mb file was sized up 16x24 and became a 43.9 mb file. The resulting file will likely show some digital noise and a loss of sharpness and may not be appropriate for a print this size.

6.  What kind of substrates (paper and canvas) can I print on?
We offer 6 great substrate choices:

• Photo Paper, Gloss or Matte
  Highest quality, Fuji Crystal Archive museum quality photo paper. Gloss has a high sheen, bright look. Matte has a less reflective, natural look.

• Epson Presentation Watercolor Paper
  A smooth, bright white, coated paper yielding bright colors. This paper is not as heavy as our other watercolor papers and is therefore less expensive.

• Somerset Velvet Watercolor Paper
  100% acid free heavyweight cotton rag fine art paper with a textured radiant white velvety surface. Provides vivid color reproduction and rich black tones. Archival museum quality.

• Premier Art Smooth Watercolor Paper
  A smooth 100% acid free cotton rag, natural white, heavyweight fine art watercolor paper. Yields brilliant colors and rich B&W prints. Archival museum quality.

• Hahnemuhle Bamboo Watercolor Paper
  Natural white acid free heavyweight fine art paper made from fibers from highly renewable bamboo. Its warm tone combines beautiful art prints with environmental considerations. Archival museum quality.

• Fine Art Canvas
  Chromata White Canvas is a textured heavyweight bright white, poly cotton blend matte canvas using an acid-free, neutral pH coating. Our canvas prints are coated after printing with an earth friendly protective, u-v inhibiting varnish. Archival museum quality.
  

Chromata White Canvas is a textured heavyweight bright white, poly cotton blend matte canvas using an acid-free, neutral pH coating. Our canvas prints are coated after printing with an earth friendly protective, u-v inhibiting varnish. Archival museum quality.

7.  How long does it take for my site to become active?
Your site can be active within 24 hours of uploading the low res images. However, since each uploaded image goes through a review process to determine appropriateness of subject matter and printability, the initial process can take up to one week, depending on a number of factors.

8.  How do I make money on the sale of my images from Art for Conservation?
There is no charge to join Art for Conservation as a "Self-Service" member until you make a sale.  You get to set the price and profit you want for each image. Once you log in to the site as an artist/photographer, you will receive specific pricing information.  When you make a sale, will we deduct a transaction fee of 18% and the cost for printing the items ordered.  At the beginning of every month we will send you a check for all completed orders.

9.  Can I market my images in other venues?
We do not ask for exclusivity. We encourage our artists to actively explore other ways in which to sell their work. We are all in this art and conservation world together. Use Art for Conservation as one of the cogs in your overall marketing plan. Our most successful artists are those who aggressively promote their art and themselves. If you're not successful, we're not successful.

10.  Can I send people directly to my "site" on www.artforconservation.org?
Yes. When you register, you will choose your user ID which will become a part of your “url” - the name that you will provide to your customers to access your site on Art for Conservtion. For example, if you chose ScenicLakePhotos as your user ID, customers wishing to view your art will find you at www.artforconservation.org/artists/sceniclakephotos

11.  How are my prints made? How are my prints shipped?
Here's the great news! Fine Print Imaging, our parent company, has a 33 year history in printing for artists and photographers who make a living selling prints. Our professional artist and photographer customers expect nothing but the best from Fine Print, and that is what they get. We use the highest quality materials in all facets of the printing process. And, we deliver unsurpassed customer service.

12.  How are my prints shipped?
We use custom designed boxes made especially for Art for Conservation. We use FedEx shipping. Customers may choose Ground, Saver, 2 Day or Overnight shipping.

13.  Can I order prints of my own work at a discount?
There are three ways you can do this:

1.  Simply order one of your prints through your Art for Conservation web site. This is the most convenient, but also the most expensive way since you will be paying an additional 18% transaction fee. You will also be paying you markup, but all of that money will be rebated to you.
2. Establish an account with our parent company, Fine Print Imaging (www.fineprintimaging.com)   and order directly through them.
3.  Upload your image and order through our online fulfillment service, Fine Print Express at www.fineprintexpress.com.

14.  How long does it take to fulfill an order?
All orders are shipped within 10 days of receipt. We like to under-promise and over-deliver, so we attempt to beat our stated delivery time whenever possible.

15.  What's the difference between Art for Conservation’s Full-Service and Self-Service Account?
Full-Service:  Art for Conservation Full Service artists and photographers have selected us to upload all of their information, including their image files. We will provide you with a form which guides you through providing us with the information we need to upload your images and make them available for sale. We will ask for a hi-res printable file and do all of the required resizing for you.   Full-Service artists get unlimited uploads and the ability to sell Limited Editions. We will also set up your Art for Conservation web page. There is an annual fee of $100 for managing your information.  Additionally, there is a one-time $15.00 per image upload fee. Contact us if you would like to use our Full-Service Upload. You do no need to create an Artist login account when using a
Full Serviice account.

Self-Service:  Artists who select the Self-Service upload to the Art for Conservation site must have at least a basic knowledge of image preparation. You take care of your image and information uploads. In return, there are no fees. You can change or add images any time you wish. In order to change an image, you will need to delete the image and all of the information associated with the image.  You may remove images any time you wish. You are allowed up to 27 images at no cost. We will soon offer options for uploading additional images.

As an Art for Conservation artist, you are offered co-op advertising opportunities and are promoted individually as well as collectively. We also feature artists and photographers on our Art for Conservation site on a rotating basis. Art for Conservation artists are provided with their own web page within the Art for Conservation site. There is no charge for this site.

16.  I want to use Self-Service Upload. How do I upload my full size files for making my prints?
To prepare your printing files, please carefully follow the information below.

1. It is assumed that you are using image editing software to prepare your images. We recommend either Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements.
2. Convert your files to adobe RGB 98 color space. Flatten layers.
3. Choose the largest size you wish to print from the chart below. Create your file using the specification from the chart for the largest size you wish to print and sell. Do not upload files larger than 9000 ppi in either dimension.
   
   

Print Size	Resolution in PPI	Width/Height	Height/Width	Pixel Dimensions
				W	H
8x10	200	8	10	1600	2000
9x12	200	9	12	1800	2400
11x14	200	11	14	2200	2800
12x18	200	12	18	2400	3600
16x20	200	16	20	3200	4000
16x24	200	16	24	3200	4800
20x24	200	20	24	4000	4800
20x30	200	20	30	4000	6000
24x36	200	24	36	4800	7200
30x50	150	30	50	4500	7500
40x60	150	40	60	6000	9000


(See the sample from Adobe Photoshop below for the correct settings for an 11x14.)


4. Save your file as a jpeg, quality at level 12.  *Very Important Info* When naming your hi-res file, you must follow a specific name/title/extension format. Use the exact, same title as you used when you Added New Art.

   The example below shows how George Smith would name “Pacific Beach Sunset”.  

   smith_g_pacificbeachsunset.jpg

5. You can now upload your hi res file using our easy Hi Res Image Uploader found in your Artist Account Manager section. Click here to log in.