Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is UberScan?
A. UberScan is a service brand offered by Colourgenics fine art workshop & boutique. It is comprised of hardware - German-built Cruse Synchron 285 ST FA - the only scanner of its class in Canada; custom colour management solution for precise, vivid colour; and a set of know-how settings designed to capture various types of original artwork in ultimate detail.
Q. How is Uberscan better than other flatbed or drum scanners?
A. There are very few flatbed scanners that can scan originals larger than 11x17, and those are usually geared towards engineering/architectural use - meaning they are not optimized either for great colour reproduction nor for high resolution. And drum scanners are designed to scan film. Uberscan, on the other hand, is designed to scan art directly and do so with great colour fidelity and sharpness. This means you don't have to photograph your artwork first and, more importantly, it can be pretty much any size.
Q. I work with mixed media. My art has lots of relief and texture and proved to be very difficult to photograph... can you help?
A. Yes! Uberscan excels at capturing artwork with prominent surface detail (impasto, etc.) as well as glossy, reflective finish and metallic surfaces.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. That depends on the file size you need. Take a look at our pricelist.
If all you are looking for is an excellent image that is suitable for a magazine-size print or for website use, "Mini" scan is a very affordable option.
For a fine art publication, "Midi" option will provide a scan that is comparable in size to an output from one of the very best digital capture backs, but with far better lighting, colour and more detail.
Finally, for very high-resolution scans intended for large format fine art prints, "Maxi" and "Ultra" options will give you digital images that are better than professional drum scans from 4x5 and 8x10 chromes, respectively.
Q. What's next? What if I wanted to retouch or print my images?
A. Uberscan produces digital images in industry-standard TIFF format (available options are 8 bit RGB, 16 bit RGB and 16 bit grayscale). They can be opened by any imaging application, such as Adobe Photoshop®, etc. If you need professional retouching take a look at Colourgenics' website - we offer top-notch retouching suitable for both commercial and fine art fields. Likewise, Colourgenics offers excellent and affordable professional fine art printing services, ranging from large format chromagenic prints to large format giclée prints.
Q. Is there anything Uberscan can't (won't) scan?
A. Scanning table's weight limitation is around 300lbs, so you probably won't be able to scan large sculptures and the like. Also, the maximum height of an object cannot be more than 15 inches - that is how high the lights can be raised.
Aside of these limitations there may be issues of depth of field, so get in touch with us and discuss your project before bringing in the artwork. And, yes - we can scan a person :) ... not that it would ever be a part of our regular service.
Q. What are the maximum dimensions of something I can scan?
A. Scanning bed is sized to 60"x90" and the maximum practical light clearance is about 12"-15". However, we have provisions for scanning oversized art as long as the shorter dimension is under 90". Please get in touch to discuss details.
Q. What is a maximum resolution you can scan at? Is it comparable to a drum scan?
A. The fundamental difference here is that a drum scanner is designed to scan relatively small pieces of film at very high resolution. Uberscan, on the other hand, is designed to scan art directly, thus sidestepping this whole "shoot-develop-then-scan" process. At the end of day you end up with an image that is similar in size to a high-res scan from 8x10 film, but is sharper, free of grain and is a much more accurate colour rendition of the original, not to mention a more life-like representation of surface texture and relief.
Q. What is the minimum object size you can scan?
A. Uberscan is primarily built for scanning large artwork... so in practical terms the smallest objects would be the size of jewellery, coins, leaves - that kind of thing.
Q. What kind of printers are suitable for printing Uberscan's output?
A. This depends on the size of scan that you are getting done; but for, say, "Ultra" size either large format chromagenic print or a large format giclée woud be a good match. Amount of detail captured in scans this big is quite incredible.
Q.Can you scan to a specific resolution that I require? (ie. 300dpi, etc)
A. Yes! We can easily scan to your requirements, though keep in mind that pricing will be determined by price/size brackets outlined in our pricelist.
Q. What can I do with a 500MB scan? How big can I print a scan this large?
A. For example, you can make a 60x80 chromagenic print or giclée print that will look as sharp and detailed as an original... or print a wall-sized mural... or a 5-storey high billboard... the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Q. Do I need to prepare my originals in any way?
A. Most of the time no preparation is necessary. If anything, try to keep your artwork flat (very curly originals are hard to handle). You don't need to take your artwork out of the frame, unless the frame is very deep - in this case you might end up with shadows on the top/bottom; but even that can be circumvented. Generally speaking, though - no, there's no prep work needed.
Q. How long does the scanning process take?
A. Regular turnaround for this service is 2 business days. We also have a "Shoot&Scoot" option which, for an extra charge, allows you to get your scan done while you wait. "Shoot&Scoot" option is available by appointment only.
Q. What is your policy on copying/reproducing copyrighted manerials?
A. Click here to view/download Copyright Policy and Copyright Indemnity Form.
Q. How can I make sure that my artwork would not get lost/damaged/mishandled?
A. It is our experience that most accidents happen during transit. As a standard precaution we package all outgoing materials with utmost care and only use reputable courier and shipping service providers. While at the lab, your artwork is stored safely in a designated storage area in purpose-built storage slots. Lastly, nothing ever touches the surface of artwork during the scan, and there's no harmful UV exposure. Should you feel inclined to be present during the scan we offer an option of "shoot&scoot" (scan-while-you-wait) at a minimal extra charge (please make sure to phone ahead to book an appointment). Please take a look at out pricelist for details. Click here to view/download the Limit of Liability Statement.