Theprintspace extends process to the web

Theprintspace has extended its innovative DIY photographic printing process to the web.

Theprintspace.com will be the first online service to incorporate an easy-to-use professional colour management process.

The result - enabling accurate soft proofing of images by clients on their own systems using bespoke print profiles, meaning prints that are as accurate as possible - first time.

The process is explained in easy-to-follow video tutorials filmed exclusively by theprintspace, making theprintspace.com the first specialist professional photographic printing lab to utilise the web to its full potential.

The printspace philosophy is to equip the customer with the knowledge and resources necessary to get creative with high-spec professional imaging equipment - which would usually only be accessible by the staff of a pro-lab.

Until now, it has been impossible for photographers to have such unbridled control over their images, with a full range of professional print types, from digital C-Type archival prints to Epson Giclees and CYMK proofs.

No website has ever made colour management so accurate, so professional and yet so accessible and easy to use.

Theprintspace originated as Europe's first walk-in DIY professional photographic printing lab.

Launched in October 2007 and based in Shoreditch, in the centre of London's art and photography community, theprintspace occupies two floors of a 4000sq foot area comprising of exhibition space, retouching booths, walk-in print booths and large-format printers.

Since its opening, theprintspace has enjoyed acclaim from both industry professionals and clients alike.

By augmenting professional service and supervision with a client-oriented workflow, theprintspace has been able to smash the divide between high-end digital printing and home-produced prints.

The Shoreditch lab is equipped with the highest specification digital equipment including colour calibrated retouching booths with state of the art dual core Mac Pros, oversized Wacom tablets, Eizo monitors and the latest imaging software.

Whether you're using the walk-in service or the comprehensive online process from home, at theprintspace guidance is available at every stage; from online articles to face-to-face consultations from in-house colour management and print technicians.

Professional printing services will no longer be a costly, drawn-out and exclusive process, whether you're a prestigious photographer or a student putting together your first portfolio you will find theprintspace a source of knowledge, more than just a service.

Helpful and affordable, theprintspace.com is like having a top-quality digital photographic printing lab at your fingertips - anytime, anywhere.

A key feature of the website is the colour management and profiling tutorials, which are available to stream or download from the website.

Offering step-by-step instructions on subjects ranging from monitor calibration to building colour profiles and soft-proofing at home, theprintspace.com will enable users at any level to learn more about colour management.

As well as Epson Giclee (inkjet) prints, theprintspace offer affordable digital C-Type prints, which are genuine wet lab prints exposed by a real photographic process.

Theprintspace's digital C-type professional photographic prints are produced on a Chromira, which is a professional quality, colour-managed, high-resolution print device producing exhibition quality archival prints suitable for the professional art market on Fuji Crystal Archive and Kodak Professional paper.

The machine prints up to 30 inches wide, and up to 50 metres long.

Alternatively, Epson (inkjet) prints are from the recently released 880 range using Epson's new Vivid Magenta inkset, exclusive to the range.

These 'Giclee' prints are printed on professional art papers, such as Hanhemuhle Photorag, Pearl, and Epson Gloss and Semi-gloss.

The Epson prints up to 60 inches wide by 30 meters long.

A straightforward web ordering process allows clients to send disks to the lab or to upload digital files directly via a built-in secure file transfer system.

Once received, print turnover is unparalleled.

Instead of waiting days for digital prints, files can be transferred, printed and returned within 72 hours.

Theprintspace also offers an in-house mounting service, to exhibition standard on a choice of foamboard, MDF, Dibond, aluminium or even the current fine-art 'vogue' method: perspex reverse mounting.

By simply specifying mounting on the online ordering form, prints are sent to a dedicated mounting team who turn your image round in the shortest possible time.

The team behind theprintspace.com are no strangers to the demands of the photographic industry, having run retouching and 'prolab' printing businesses in London for the past three years.

In creating theprintspace, MD Stuart Waplington said: "We wanted to do something different, something that would empower photographers and creatives - really give them tools they need".

As well as online and offline printing services, theprintspace also uses its extensive space to host regular photographic exhibitions and talks for student groups.

The popularity of these events has contributed to the reputation of theprintspace as a centre of the photographic community in Shoreditch.

Monthly exhibitions of the best British and international photographers, all printed in-house, contribute to the sense of theprintspace becoming a point of convergence for the creative sector in London.

The ethos at theprintspace.com is to give creative control back to individuals, while giving them the access to the kind of high-end equipment which currently only the most successful photographic and creative companies can afford.

Importantly, theprintspace.com is designed to give photographers total input over the final print, while offering proper technical support and full instruction.

Colour management is about to be demystified, simplified and made accessible.

Portfolios, end of year shows, and exhibitions are now within everyone's reach.

Photographers and artists, centred around this inclusive online community, will now be able to exchange ideas and contribute openly.

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