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Which software do I need for the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service, and where do I get it?
In order to use Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service, you'll need the software. It is available from Platinum Imaging free of charge - simply click download. Once the software has been downloaded, it is your easy guide through the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service. You enter your personal data, then select the pictures you want printed, as well as size and so on - off-line (i.e., at no extra cost for you). And Platinum Silver Wire will do the rest: One mouse click and your pictures will be sent via Internet to Platinum Photo & Imaging for processing!
To Questions
Does my PC meet the minimum requirements for the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service?
Every PC (Win95/NT) and/or MAC suitable for Internet automatically meets the requirements for the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service.
To Questions
What should I do to prepare images?
We should point out that a traditional Photographic print has a resolution that is superior to all current computer color print technologies. Therefore, it is necessary that the image you upload should have a sufficient number of pixels and colors.
Number of pixels : this is generally called resolution. The first generation of Digital Cameras, that are not sold anymore, carry a resolution of 320 x 200. Photos taken with such Cameras are great for WEB usage and other PC illustrations, but they are not adequate for printing on real photographic paper.
In order to produce a satisfactory photographic print, your Electronic Photo should have at least a resolution of 600 x 400 in its original size. You should also remember that photographic films have a specific rectangle ratio of 24 x 36, which corresponds to a width of 3 for an height of 2. In the PC world, the rectangle ratio is different : 640 x 480. This comes from the fact that PC's are mostly screen dependent, and today these screens have this other ratio. This produces a difficulty when printing a computer based image to traditional photographic paper. Therefore, Platinum Silver Wire enables you to crop to a 2 x 3 ratio. If you select "Crop", you will be able get a print without any borders.
We should also mention that a 600 x 400 image has just enough resolution to print a of a 4" x 6" photo. You will notice that the Platinum Silver Wire application will warn you if you try to send an image that does not have enough resolution, still you will be able to bypass the warning and upload such an image, but the result will be a poor quality print in most of the cases.
To Questions
Is every digital image suited for the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service? (file format, resolution)
Photos on photographic paper are usually of high quality. In order that prints of digital images be of equally high quality, they should meet the following requirements:
- File format
The Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service works with the popular file formats JPEG, TIFF and FLASHPIX. In order that your digital pictures be uploaded and forwarded as fast as possible, the format should be extremely compressed. Any other than the above formats takes up too much time, so that we have decided to only use the above formats in the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service.
Platinum Silver Wire also advises against the use of GIF files. Although a highly compressed and well-proven format in Internet, GIF files are limited to 256 colors - which may be sufficient on screen, but lacking quality in a photo.
- Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels of a picture. The first digital cameras have a resolution of only 320x200. Such pictures are perfect for use in Internet and on screeen, but not good enough for prints on photographic paper.
For a high-quality photo, your digital images should have a resolution of at least 640x480. In addition, please note that photos have a side ratio of 24x36 (i.e., 2:1), whereas the ratio of digital images relates to the screen size 640x480 (i.e., 3:4). In order to cover the difference, Platinum Silver Wire offers you two alternatives: "margin" or "cut to 24x36". If you select "margin", the margins of your photo will turn out empty. If you select "cut to 24x36", however, your photo will be cut on two sides to fit the paper format.
A digital picture with a resolution of 640x480 pixels can even be printed to the size of 10x15 cms. Only a limited number of labs, however, can print larger formats; this is due to the fact that up to now only a small number of digital cameras can even produce a resolution high enough. That will surely change with time.
If you have selected a digital picture that doesn't come up to the above standards, Platinum Silver Wire will tell you so. If you ignore the warning (i.e., if you continue to upload pictures of a lower resolution or in GIF format) Platinum Silver Wire just assumes you have accepted that the resulting quality will be poor.
To Questions
What should I do to print frames in my pictures?
With any Image Editing Software you may be interested in composing some of your pictures with frames. Various machines used by photofinishers print differently, and the printing of the exact perimeter of your picture will vary from one photofinisher to the other, some cutting into the total picture and some others not. Should you be interested in printing frames around your pictures, make sure you put some white borders around the frame to ensure that the frame is printed in its entirety. Then you can trim the framed pictures at your end.
To Questions
How to do the best when adding text, frames or other design?
When you add text, or a frame or any other design to your pictures, an unpleasant result may occur. The colors you may have chosen are such that on the print, they may spill over, out of the boundaries of your text or design. The trick to avoid this is to make sure you select blended colors, as opposed to purest colors, such as a full red, a full blue or a full black. When selecting colors, do not choose the most extreme color, such as the fullest red, or the fullest blue, but the one that is a tone under. Should you want to fix values for RGB or Hues, select value that are at least 15 below their maximum (i.e. 240 vs. 255).
To Questions
Are black-and-white pictures suited for the Platinum Foto Wire Internet Print Service?
The Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service has been basically designed for color photos - although it is possible to print black-and-white shots: The photofinishing lab will develop your black-and-white pictures in a colour process and print them on colour paper, so that the result consists of more than just gray and black. The finished print will most certainly boast a color cast. The results in Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service have so far always been satisfactory, but there are always exceptions from the rule. We want you to know this in order not to disillusion you.
To Questions
How are the pictures transferred from my digital camera to the lab?
Your digital camera is equipped with software to transfer the pictures from your camera to a PC. Plese remember to select the formats JPEG or FLASHPIX. The Platinum Silver Wire - to be downloaded here free of charge - will then forward the pictures via Internet from your PC to Platinum Photo & Imaging .
To Questions
Can I use the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service to have prints processed from scanned pictures?
Scanned pictures are ideally suited for the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service. We recommend you scan the pictures with a resolution of 800x600 to 1024x768 pixels. An even higher resolution is not recommendable since the size of the file will grow out of proportion. Please remember to use the formats TIFF, JPEG of FLASHPIX.
To Questions
Can I use Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service to have prints done from my camcorder?
Of course, you can have prints done from your camcorder. However, you might need special software and/or hardware (e.g., a video capture card). Please consult the manufacturer of your camcorder. As long as you select one of the formats supported by the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service (TIFF, JPEG or FLASHPIX) the results will be of surpringly good quality.
To Questions
Can I use the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service to have prints done from originally analog, but now digitalized photos?
You are missing the analog versions of your scanned photos? No problem, Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service provides you with regular prints on photographic paper. It might sound complicated, but is usually easier than finding the original photos - if they still exist. The size of the print, however, should not exceed 10x15 cms.
To Questions
How do I order size and quality of the print?
Platinum Silver Wire offers you the opportunity to select size, format, etc. of the final print offline. Platinum Silver Wire suggests various options.
To Questions
What Print size and Print finishing options can I select?
Platinum Silver Wire lets you select the number of prints, the size and the finishing you want. This information will be listed in the the Platinum Silver Wire software.
To Questions
How can I make sure it's a high-quality print?
With Platinum Silver Wire, when you select your images, should they be of insufficient resolution or number of colors, an alert will be displayed on screen. In this manner you will be simply able to delete the selection. You will still be able to send the image to the lab if you wish, but the result will be of inferior quality.
To Questions
Can I check once again which pictures I have chosen?
Sure you can have another look at your digital pictures, offline and at your own convenience, before you send them off. Simply click "view" in Platinum Silver Wire!
To Questions
How long does it take to upload the digital images and transmit them to the lab?
It is not possible to answer this question generally. Too many factors can have an influence here - the baud rate of your modem, the extent of utilization of your Internet server, the size of the picture file... The following guide lines might give you a rough idea though:
| Resolution |
File size |
Baud rate |
Time |
| 640x480 |
41 KB |
14.4 K |
28 sec |
| 640x480 |
41 KB |
28.8 K |
14 sec |
| 858x614 |
61 KB |
14.4 K |
42 sec |
| 858x614 |
61 KB |
28.8 K |
21 sec |
| 1536x1024 |
161 KB |
14.4 K |
1 min, 52 sec |
| 1536x1024 |
161 KB |
28.8 K |
56 sec |
To Questions
When will I receive the finished prints?
As soon as you have sent off your order, the Platinum Imaging team will start processing your order. The photos will be shipped to you immediately afterwards. How long this will take depends on the U.S. Postal Service - usually within 4 days and always overnight with DHL Overnight Service. However, it might take longer around Christmas time.
To Questions
Can I have photos sent to other people as well?
Of course, you can heve the photos mailed to any address of your choice. Just enter the details in Platinum Silver Wire - under delivery address.
To Questions
Can I have digital images printed on mugs or T-shirts?
Platinum Imaging already offers those fantastic gift ideas. We also offer Photo Puzzles and other novelties.
To Questions
How much does the Platinum Silver Wire Internet Print Service cost, and how do I pay?
Platinum Imaging provides Platinum Silver Wire free of charge - simply click download. Prices for development and printing of your photos, delivery within 4 days, etc. are presented and fully disclosed as you make your selections. We accept major credit cards and the transaction is conducted on our secure connection.
To Questions
I have a question but it is not here. How do I get an answer?
Go to our Online Request for Information Form and fill it out as completely as possible and we will respond in the manner requested and as soon as possible.
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