It's back - (in)famous "Virtual" FAQ of questions that need answers even if they never get asked! We've gotten a few questions on the show and have thought of several more. Here are the answers. And, if your question isn't covered here, jump on over to the forums and post it in the Q&A section.

Q: I noticed checkbox on the uploader page and a button to view the submission agreement. What's that all about?

A: We've had a few occasions in the past where people submitted images, had them accepted by the jury and then failed to deliver them for the exhibit when the time came. This reflects poorly on the club as we've arranged with the exhibitor to provide a certain number of images. The submission agreement, which can be found in the rules document as well as on the uploader page, spells out the arrangement you agree to when you submit images for a Club exhibit. You agree that you will deliver all of the images selected for the exhibit. It's simple and fair - you're agreeing to do what you said you'd do. 

Q: I heard about a new way to display images called a "Standout". What's that?

A: A "Standout" is a mounting technique for what is essentially a frameless print. It's a print mounted on special foam-board so, like a standard framed piece, it's printed on paper, but, like a canvas, it has no mat or frame. It can work well for smaller pieces because there's no frame and the entire size is taken up by the image. A couple of sources for Standouts are MPix.com and White House Custom Color (whcc.com).

Note: this is not an endorsement of any of the services mentioned above. It is only a list of possible options, and there are many others available as well.

Q: You say all the processing must be done before the digital image is submitted to the jury. What does that mean?

A: You need to do all of the preparation before submitting the images to be reviewed by the jury so the print you make matches the digital image as closely as possible. While the color may vary slightly due to the differences in viewing a digital image and making a print on paper, the composition must be the same for both. No cropping or other changes are to be made after the image is submitted to the jury.

This means all post-processing needs to be done to the image before it is submitted digitally. This includes RAW conversion, cropping, color balance adjustments, contrast adjustments like Levels and Curves, Shadow/Highlight adjustments, Hue/Saturation adjustments, resizing/resampling and sharpening. Basically, process the image all the way so it's completely ready to be printed. Then make a copy of the image and resize it for digital submission to the jury. That way, when your image is selected, all you have to do is print the master file.

Q: I'm planning to do an 8" x 10" print, but my digital SLR takes pictures with a ratio of 3:2. Can I send in the full size image for the jury and crop it later for the show?

A: No. See the answer to question above.

Q: The rules say the only post-processing I can use corresponds to what could have been done in a wet darkroom. What about digital conversion to black-an-white? Is that acceptable?

A: Absolutely! This could be done in a wet darkroom if the photographer wanted to. In any case, the goal is to keep a clearly photographic look. We're not looking for images that have been processed with exotic software filters for a "painterly" or graphic design appearance.

Q: How do I price my finished work?

A: This one's difficult to handle as pricing art work is difficult. One good approach is to visit galleries that sell photographs, particularly the Bluewood Gallery, and see what other photographers are doing.

Q: Where can I get the bubble-bags?

A: In the past, the club has offered 24" x 24" bags for sale. As many members have already purchased bags for previous shows, it's not clear if more are needed. If there is sufficient demand, the club can have bubble-bags available for $1.00 each by special arrangement. If you need bubble-bags, contact the image coordinator with the Images link on the Contact Us page of the Web site. Keep in mind that it will take some time to have the bags delivered so the sooner you let us know, the better.

Q: Can I make an 8x10 or 11x14 print with my X megapixel camera?

A: This is an important question. How many megapixels do you need for an 8x10 or an 11x14? There are many things to consider beyond just the number of megapixels. The quality of the capture is key - proper exposure, sharp focus with no camera-shake from a slow shutter speed and good post-processing. How you crop the image is also important. If you crop away half of an 8 megapixel image you're left with a 4 megapixel image. At that point it doesn't matter how the image was created, it's a 4 megapixel image. The final thing to think about is the output resolution for printing, the number of pixels- or dots-per-inch. 300 pixels-per-inch is the ideal print resolution, but 240 or even 200 can give good results with a high quality image. Here are some basic guidelines:

Also, the megapixel numbers in the chart are the resolution for printing, not what you need in your camera. Part of the print preparation process can be "upsizing" (sounds like a fast food burger joint) or enlarging the image in the computer. If done carefully, this allows you to take a 4 or 5 megapixel image and enlarge it to 6, 8 or even 10 megapixels for a larger print. The quality of the final result depends on the quality of the initial image. Sharp, well captured and processed images can be upsized without significant loss in quality.

The bottom line is you can make good 8x10's with a 4 or 5 megapixel camera so everyone can be part of the show!

Q: Where can I get my images printed?

A: Locally, there's CVS, Wal*Mart and K-Mart, and Sam's Club in Hendersonville is reported to do good work at a reasonable price. The photo labs in Asheville, Ball Photo and IRIS Photo*Graphics, may give better service and results, and files can be sent in online. Or, use one of the online services such as Mpix or Adoramapix. All can provide the sizes needed at reasonable prices. For canvas, you may want to look at CanvasOnDemand.com. And, several club members offer printing services. Post a question on the forum for more info.

Note: this is not an endorsement of any of the services mentioned above. It is only a list of possible options, and there are many others available as well.

Q: Where can I get my prints matted and framed?

A: Several places come to mind (in no particular order):

Framing Supplies in Hendersonville

The Frugal Framer / Chop Shop in Asheville

The Bluewood Gallery in Brevard

The Brush & Palette in Brevard

The Gallery on Main in Brevard

Note: this is not an endorsement of any of the services mentioned above. It is only a list of possible options, and there are many others available as well.

Q: What happens when my picture sells?

A: It depends on whether the purchaser is willing to leave the piece on the wall until the end of the show or not. If the purchaser takes immediate delivery, you will need to quickly supply a replacement.