Zapp Preparation with Zapp-Only Scan

If you feel that you have no need for high resolution Tif files, ArtSmart can create Zapp-only files from your slides, negs or prints. We will scan your images at an appropriate resolution then perform the Zapp conversion. Price is $10.00 per image.


**If you would like your files burned to a CD, this will be an additional $10.00 for the CD, plus actual shipping costs. If you have multiple images converted through our service, this CD cost includes up to 20 files. If you would like us to upload your images for you to the juried exhibition, we offer this service for an additional $2.50 per image.

Remember: Not all digital file conversions are equal! This is a somewhat interpretive process to accurately reproduce the artist's original work through digital means. We have years of experience in digital imaging working with artists.

How to Prepare your Digital Files for Art Exhibition Juried Entries, including Zapp

To submit your images for juried exhibition consideration, certain criteria are required. The following tutorial walks you through the steps to convert your image with Photoshop to the required specifications set forth by the main online submission program. All images must be 1920x1920 pixels in dimension, and 72ppi (pixels per inch). File size must be no larger than 1.8 megabytes, saved as a baseline JPEG file.

Step 1:
Open your image, and if it isn't already, save it as a TIF file. If you plan on making corrections to your image in the JPEG format, loss of quality will result each time the file is resaved.

Step 2:
If your image is not in the SRGB Colorspace, convert it at this time. If you convert it after making adjustments, the change in colorspace will require more adjustments.

Step 3:
Make any adjustments necessary, until you feel the image looks as close to the original as possible.

Step 4:
Resize your image. In the 'image size' function, (Photoshop), check the 'constrain proportions' box, as well as the 'resample image' box. Change the resolution to 72 pixels per inch, then change the larger pixel dimension to 1920, and click 'OK'.

Step 5:
Now change your canvas size to make the smaller dimension 1920. The canvas size should now be 1920x1920. Click 'OK'. Your image should now have white borders on 2 sides, unless the original image is perfectly square.

Step 6:
Fill the white borders with black. You can usually use the 'Paint Bucket' tool (Photoshop) with 100% black to fill the white areas. Be careful! If there are white areas along the edge of your image, some of the black may 'leak' into your image. In this case, you should use the 'marquee' tool, and select the white areas , and then fill with black. You may have to create new layers for this procedure. If so, make sure you 'flatten' the layers when you are done.

Step 7:
Save Your Image: The best way to save your image is to use the 'Save for Web' function. In the 'Image Ready Window, set the '2 Up' view. The image in the right-hand window will be the new resized image. The new size is indicated in the bottom left-hand corner of the right-hand image. Make sure the file type is set for JPEG. Uncheck the 'Progressive' box, and check the 'ICC Profile' box. You can change the size of your file by adjusting the 'Quality' (up or down) until it reaches the target size of no more than 1.8 mb. Save your image to the appropriate area.

You have just completed your image preparation for submission to digital juried exhibitions!

The process of converting images to these specifications may seem a bit confusing, and certain steps are crucial in order to achieve the exact image size and format.

If you do not want to do this process yourself, we can do it for you, as well as uploading your images to the appropriate site, if you choose.

Find out first-hand what sets us apart--FOR FREE! For a limited time, ArtSmart is offering one free "comparison" Zapp image prep file for artists.*

How to apply:
Send us one original image previously submitted for Zapp preparation, and we'll send you our best representation of your original art prepped to Zapp specs.

*Offer good towards previously submitted images only. Limit one image per artist. Artist must supply full size digital image, slide, or photo that was used for original Zapp preparation. Free Zapp prep offer does not include any shipping of materials to or from the artist, if applicable. Uploading of image to Zapp or image burned to CD available at additional charge (see above pricing). This is a limited time offer. Other restrictions may apply. To take advantage of this limited time offer, Email us with "Dare to Compare" in the subject line here.