Frequently Asked Questions

What photos are available for purchase from this service?
At this time, we are posting all the photos we have available for purchase. More images will be posted as they become available.


When are photos available for purchase from this service?
Photos are available online the day after they publish in the newspaper.


How long are photos available for purchase from this service?
Photos are available for purchase online for 4 weeks and are removed from the system after that.


How soon will my prints arrive?
Unframed prints ship within five days. Allow up to five additional days for shipping. Framed prints ship within two weeks. Allow up to five additional days for shipping.


What do the final prints look like?
Prints from Pictopia are made on archival paper, which makes them sharper and more realistic than inkjet prints. The printer used by Pictopia uses matte-finish photographic paper on huge rolls, which allows us to offer large size prints. All photographs larger than 11x14 are rolled and shipped in mailing tubes. Prints DO NOT necessarily fit the full sheet of paper at the size you request, since they are reproduced as the full frame image the photographer recorded. This means that if you order an 8x10 image, the image will usually be 6.5 inches by 10 inches. This photograph would fill the paper edge-to-edge on the 10 inch side, with two margins of 3/4 inch of white along the 8-inch side. If the photo you select is extremely horizontal or vertical, there will be larger white borders on two of the sides.


What makes Pictopia archival photo prints so good?
Pictopia archival prints are true photographic prints made on Fuji Crystal Archive® paper. As silver halide photographs, these images yield an extraordinary color range as well as sharp detail in a predictable, repeatable, digitally controlled process.
Our state-of-the art digital enlarger exposes 180 million pixels onto the paper when making a 40" x 50" print. By comparison, digital cameras capture up to 1 to 6 million pixels.

The digitized image is transferred to the paper via lasers in the LightJet printer, a color enlarger that uses extremely precise controls to 'paint' the image onto photographic paper, resulting in the highest quality conventional photographic print.
These continuous tone photographs, made without dots, either ink jet or lithographic, render details and subtle graduations smoothly and naturally. The colors are extraordinarily deep and rich with a full range of detail that is sharp and clear, seen even in a large print under close inspection.
Our LightJet prints are rated at up to 60 to 70 years of display life under standard, fully illuminated gallery light conditions. This color durability is more than double that of dye transfer and Ilfochrome® prints, which previously set the stability standards for color photographic prints.


How do Pictopia prints compare to large format inkjet prints?
Pictopia produces true photographic prints. Since we print on photographic paper exposed by light (LightJet printer), rather than ink sprayed on paper (Inkjet printer), our prints will look sharper and more realistic. Our LightJet printer prints at 300 ppi continuous tone, which is equal to a resolution of 4000 dpi on an inkjet. In addition, photographic paper is more archival and durable (less likely to crease or wrinkle) than most inkjet papers.


What is the print finish?
Prints are made with a matte finish.


How are prints shipped?
Pictopia typically ships smaller prints by US Mail and larger prints by FedEx Ground. Larger sizes must be shipped to a street address, not a P.O. Box. 8x10 and 11x14 prints are shipped flat. All larger prints are rolled, and shipped in mailing tubes.


Is framing available?
To provide the greatest longevity and most stable environment for your photographs, Pictopia provides museum-grade matting and framing at a reasonable price to help you enjoy and protect your investment. We use high-quality metal and wood frames, acid-free museum board for the mat window and archival materials for corners, hinges and backing.

The assortment of materials and finishes has been selected for a perfect presentation. The look of 100% rag museum board provides a striking border for the photograph, and plexiglass glazing has been selected for lightness, safety in shipping, and its brilliant clarity. Only the finest materials and craftsmanship are provided.

Frames and mats are custom cut to match the original photograph. The photograph will entirely fill the mat window. The photograph will always match the print size in one dimension and fill in the other dimension depending on the ratio of its height and width.
The mat for an 8x10 print is 2 inches on each side, with an extra one half inch added at the bottom to provide a natural "centered" look. Borders are increased by .25 inch for each successive print size.

Depending on its type, the frame will add between one-quarter inch and an inch and three-quarters on each side to the total dimension of the final framed print.


Can I order a digital copy of the photo instead?
No, digital reproduction is not available at this time.


Can I use a photo for commercial purposes?
No, these photos are for personal use only. Commercial use is any use that brings value to the person or organization displaying the photograph to the public. Commercial usage includes publication in magazines, newspapers, newsletters, brochures, flyers, photocopied handouts and any Web site or e-mail distribution. Commercial usage also applies to non-profit organizations or individuals who use a photograph in this manner.

How do I pay for the photos?
All payments are by credit card. A charge by Pictopia.com will appear on your credit card statement.


Can I check on the status of my orders?
At any time, you can go to the Pictopia.com web site at http://www.pictopia.com, login using the same login and password and you can see what you've ordered and review its status.