title
[ MY DIGITAL JURY SERVICES ]
used by over 2,000 artists
[ THE EQUIPMENT USED TO PREPARE YOUR IMAGES ]
[ HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OWN IMAGES FOR ZAPP ]
[ DIGITAL JURY SEMINAR INFORMATION AND DOWNLOADS ]
[ SLIDE SCANNING TESTIMONIALS ]
[ DIGITAL JURY IMAGE FAQ ]
My Credits include:
ZAPP has me listed (top of the list) as someone who can prepare your images and recommends me to the art shows when they ask for help.
They also have a link to our Photoshop tutorial tips page. It's the same tutorial page most of the participating art shows have linked to in explaining how to prepare digital jury images
Scanning to match artwork for years to create over 150 artist web sites
Juried Art Services had me write an article on the jury system used by the Smithsonian Craft Show
Responsible for the square image format used by ZAPP, which is fair for all artists
Beta tests Adobe Photoshop
Writes for Shutterbug Magazine
I started a digital jury seminar educational program to help artists get up to speed with digital jurying
Answer all the image prep questions on the ZAPP forums
Testimonials from some of the over 2,000 artists I've prepared images for
I believe that nothing is as important as the images you submit for jurying, whether it be 35mm slides or carefully prepared digital files. We can provide you with the highest quality images at the specified file size and resolution that each different jury process requires.

My Services
Send me your slides to scan
Turnaround time is usually 24 hours
I can also upload your images to ZAPP and apply for you
Questions: Larry's Art Show Schedule 412-401-8100 or e-mail

Send your slides to:

(or use my Russellton PO Box address below)

Scanning your slides
I use the top of the line Nikon 35mm film scanner which scans at 4000 pixels per inch and produces a file of approximately 50-60 megabytes. I also have the capability of scanning 4x5 transparencies. What we're offering to do for artists is to provide a set of color matched images that are properly sized and prepared as Jpegs for the any digital jury system. We can also set up your profile with ZAPP and upload your images. I archive the original full size color corrected scans so other size image files, like for other digital jury systems, can be ordered in the future. As we start getting closer to jury deadlines, please call 412-767-8644 or e-mail to make arrangements to send your slides. Calling is preferred because it's a faster way to contact me..
If you're planning on having a local lab scan your slides, make sure that color correction, cropping and specific sizing (with canvas if for ZAPP) is part of the price that they quote you. Just providing you with raw scans is of no value if you don't have the skills to prepare the image files yourself. If you did have the skills, you wouldn't need to have them scan the slides to begin with.
Images prepared for ZAPP, Smithsonian and other similar digital jury systems
$20 per slide/digital file now includes formatting for both ZAPP and JAS
Set up a profile with ZAPP and upload your images
$20 to upload all the images and set up the basic profile if necessary. I provide the instructions for you to add names and descriptions for each image and check the accuracy of the information. I'm only responsible for the image preparation. This is a great time saving factor if you're on a dial up connection or new to ZAPP.
Images prepared for 35mm slides
$20 per slide/digital file, or in conjunction with the ZAPP/JAS for an additional $5 per image. I prepare your digital files, optimizing them for 35mm slides and upload the images to
IPrintFromHome.com
Digital Projection
Test projection of your own digital images  I have the same system that the art shows use for projection jurying. A Dell 4100MP digital projector and the Roku media player that sends the images to the digital projector.
Summary of imaging fees
$20 for each image prepared for both plus ZAPP and JAS and $5 per image additional to format for 35mm slides. $20 one time fee to process the order which includes archiving the image files, creating a CD for you and return shipping. $20 optional to set up your profile and upload your images. $20 to apply for you, if I have the necessary information in advance.
I can photograph your artwork digitally for jury slides
Web design for artists
We've built over 150 web sites artists and small businesses.
Check out our client list page and our services page.
What makes my services a good value.
Larry has been involved in beta testing for Adobe Photoshop for more than four years. He's been scanning to match artwork for over six years for the web sites he's built with Chris Maher. All slides are scanned and worked on at full resolution. We give you the properly prepared and sized Jpeg based on the digital jury requirements. We maintain a back up DVD of all work files in the event that the images need to be changed in the future. And lastly, we believe in sharing the information necessary for you to do it yourself if you're capable. In keeping with this theory, Larry also started doing a series of seminars to help educate artists in preparing great digital jury images..
Consulting to both art shows and to artists
In 2000 we created the first experimental digital jury system at www.ArtShowJury.com.

Slide or Digital File Submission Tips

Don't forget to send your booth slide. Please make sure slides are labeled as to top and front. A red dot on the bottom left corner would be fine and prevent confusion. Original slides will produce higher quality scans than duplicates. Please provide a link if you have images on the web that you want me to match. You can also provide material samples for color match.

Digital Jury Image Preparation System
preparing the images on a color calibrated system
and testing them by digital projection

Larry Berman's dual computer dual monitor graphics system
Click here for a detailed list of all the components of my digital imaging office
updated September 2005
I purchased a Sony Artisan monitor (review) for Photoshop. It comes with it's own color calibration system and is considered the reference monitor within the graphics arts industry. Besides the dual 21" monitor computer system for Photoshop, I use the Roku HD1000 and Dell 4100MP digital projector to test project the images I've prepared for the ZAPP digital jury system.

What You Can Do To Prepare Right Now

I'm starting a series of seminars on digital image preparation

There have been numerous discussions about how artists aren't prepared for a digital jury. But they seem to forget that this has been in the works for at least four years. We created an experimental digital jury web site in October 2000, and at the time were informed by the director of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival that a Denver organization (Westaf) was working along similar lines and would be proposing their own variation of a digital jury system. This was posted to the NAIA forum (when it was still an open forum) but a lot of artists chose to ignore it and have kept their heads in the sand hoping it would go away. But the future is here now. What we can do is offer a few guidelines as a starting point for your learning process, understanding that it's not mandatory for you to learn anything new as there will be artists like us, and other professionals, that will be offering to prepare your images for you.
If you're taking slides of your work to submit for jurying, make sure to either shoot multiple in camera originals or save the originals for scanning. This is critical as duplicate transparencies have an increase in contrast which means loss of highlight and shadow detail. If you just received a digital camera for Christmas, now would be the time to learn how to get high resolution digital files from it. A few tips on taking good photographs. Always use a tripod. Be aware of elements in your pictures that don't belong. Keep it simple. Use flattering lighting. Understand that shooting digitally is no less difficult than shooting film and hire a professional if you don't think you can create the best photographs of your work.
If you're shooting digital files, make sure to use the highest resolution setting that your camera is capable of in an uncompressed mode. If you're scanning your original slides, make sure to do high resolution scans. I scan slides at 4000 pixels per inch which creates a 60 megabyte file. Do not use a slide copying attachment for your flatbed scanner as that won't give you enough detail in your image for jurying. Ask questions if you don't understand. All of your image preparation should be at full resolution of the captured file and saved. That way it can be resized in the future based on the requirements of any of the different digital jury processes or any other uses you might have for the images, like catalog reproduction.
Bottom line is that everyone who wants to be proactive in the process needs to learn how to create the best quality images with their native digital camera files or scanned slides. You need to learn how to create 72 pixel per inch Jpegs at the required file size and pixel dimensions of the art show's system that you want to apply for.

Recommended Programs and Links

Purchase a color calibration system for your computer for under $100
For jury slide photography Hap Sakwa
Jury Slide Photography by David Egan
For conversion of digital files to 35mm slides
Most professionals use Photoshop. Elements (under $100) has enough of a similar interface that Photoshop people can answer most of your questions
Adobe Photoshop (Win and Mac) $600
Adobe Photoshop Elements (Win and Mac) $99
Jasc PaintShop Pro (Windows Only)
PhotoImpact (Win only)
Irfanview (Win only)
A free image viewing program so you can see your images on your own computer without any additional expense
Numerous articles on this web site we've written about preparing images, for example:
Preparing Images for the Web
An excellent web site filled with scanning tips

My Credentials

We wrote a description of the Smithsonian Craft Show digital jury system for the Smithsonian web site.
Larry Berman
LarryBerman.com
His career in photography spans 30 years, beginning as a staff photographer for the ABA New York Nets and he has spent 20 years with The Image Bank stock photo agency. His original photographic prints have been exhibited and sold at national fine art shows for over 25 years. Working with Chris Maher, he has created over 100 fine art web sites, built an early working model of an experimental online digital jury system and wrote an article for the Smithsonian web site describing the digital jury system used for the Smithsonian Craft Show. Together they also wrote the book "50 Fast Digital Camera Techniques" (Wiley Publishing) and share a byline writing about photography and imaging technology for Shutterbug Magazine. Active on numerous forums where he answers questions about traditional and digital photography, web design and Photoshop, Larry has been involved in beta testing for major digital imaging software companies including Adobe Photoshop and the ACDSee image viewing program for more than three years. His current photographic work is digital color infrared and has been featured in three books, including the best seller "Mastering Digital Printing" by Harald Johnson.
 

All photos on this site are available for stock or fine art sales
contact Larry Berman for more information

Slide scanning for ZAPP and other digital jury systems

Jury Slide Photography

1970s ABA and NBA Basketball photographs
specializing in Julius Erving (Dr J) photographs

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email Larry Berman - larry@bermanart.com

412-401-8100