File Format

We support files in the JPEG or TIFF format only.  RAW files should be processed and converted by you before delivering to Kimbo color.  Do not save layers, channels, etc. Flatten all files before saving.  All files should be 8bit and use the sRGB color space.  Files that do not conform to these formats can cause a delay and additional charges.

Crop all files to the correct ratio.  The approx. file and print sizes are:

Print     Pixel Dimensions     TIFF                JPEG

4x5       1200x1500             5.5  MB         350 kb

4x6       1400x1800             6.18 MB        463 kb

5x7       1500x2100             9.01 MB        2.0 MB

8x10     2400x3000             20.6 MB        3.8 MB

11x14   3300x4200             39.7 MB        6.0 MB

16x20   4800x6000             123.6MB     10.6 MB

24x30   7200x9000             185.4MB     20.2 MB

30x40   9000x12000           309  MB      31.6 MB

COLOR MANAGEMENT

• It is important that the colors you see on your monitor match as closely as possible those of the print.  The gamut of the color monitor and the color of the paper are different so it is not possible to have a print the exactly matched your monitor.

• With calibration you can minimize these differences and get a close approximation.

• Color management provides a workspace where you can evaluate your images accurately for final output.  Color management is not color correction it will not correct a image with tone or color problems.

• Color Management Tips

• Use photoshop 6.x and up.  Adobe has improved the color management in photoshop versions from 6.x up

• Use software and colormeter for monitor calibration.  The following companies offer monitor calibration solutions.   Gretag-Macbeth, X-rite, Colorvision, etc.

• Set your monitor to 5000k white point and gamma 2.2

• Shield your monitor from ambient reflections and glare.

• Try to keep your studio viewing conditions constant

• Allow CRT monitors at least 30 min warm up before evaluating colors

• Compare your calibrated image on screen to your lb print

• Recalibrate on a monthly basis monitors drift over time

What is the resolution I should use for my images?
 We recommend a resolution of 300ppi  (pixels per inch).

What color space should I use?
Files should be submitted in the sRGB color space.


What color temperature should I set my monitor to?
The color temperature affects the white point of your monitor. The higher the value the cooler the color of white and the lower the value the warmer the color.  Daylight is around 5400k. Kimbo Color Lab uses 5000k as the standard.  This has been a industry standard for offset print shops, museums, commercial photo labs and others for many years.  When setting up a viewing station, the lamps that you install should also be the same color temperature.  All of the lamps in our lab are of the same value to ensure consistent color viewing conditions.  You can get a inexpensive color temperature checker to check unknown light sources.  This consists of two square color patches side by side that when viewed under the lighting temperature that they were calibrated for will both appear the same color.

The following FTP client products are suggested.

FTP Software
There are many versions of FTP software available. Listed here are links to a couple or you can do a search on Google.com for example for more.
For PC : CuteFTP,  WS-FTP
For Apple : FETCH, Cyberduck, Transmitz

Online Order Help

Information for Placing ORDER

SIGN-UP

ALBUM
■ Storage
■ Create an album
■ Upload Image
■ Delete an album

Placing Order
■ PRINT Order
■ Album Selection
■ Picture Selection
■ Sizes and quantities
■ Select recipients ? Single address
■ Review order
■ Promotional Codes
■ Checkout

                                                                                                                                               
ORDER STATUS
■ Order status messages
■ Cancellation or change an order

Processing orders
■ Delivery Method
■ UPS Standard and US Postal Service
■ 2-day and next day service
■ Tracking information for my order

Online Sharing
■ Selecting the pictures you want to share
■ Choosing your share recipients
■ Performing a Kimbo Color Lab share
■ Confirming the share

Sign-Up and Registration:

Consumer:
Enter in the required information (email address, and password),
check the box to show that you accept the terms and conditions of use,
　

Photographer:

ALBUM:
An album is a collection of pictures that you have added to your Kimbo Color Lab account. When you initially add pictures to Kimbo Color Lab, you must either create a new album or add to an existing album. After your pictures are included in an album, you have many options for copying, moving, arranging, organizing, deleting, or searching. Albums allow you to organize pictures according to your needs.

Storage
Kimbo Color Lab offers free unlimited storage for your pictures.
All uploaded pictures will be kept in your account until you delete them yourself. Please note that Kimbo Color Lab reserves the right to change this policy in the future

Create an album
When you add pictures to Kimbo Color Lab, you can create an album to place your pictures in by selecting the 'New Album' option.   Or you can create an album before you load pictures into it from the 'My albums' page. To create an album from the 'My albums' page:

Click View & enhance on the My Kimbo Color Lab page.
On the 'My albums' page, click the Create a new album link on the right side. On that page, enter the new album name (up to 24 characters) in the Album Name field. (Today's date is the default album title.) You'll see items that automatically list the number of pictures, the album's creation date, and any modification dates. These are non-editable items and some may be empty when you first create an album.
On the 'My albums' page, you'll see your new album listed. It will appear as an empty album until you add (or move or copy) pictures to it.

Upload Image
Select images you want to upload using your browse, and click ‘Upload ‘ onto the Album you select

Delete an album:
Click View & enhance on the My Album page.
On the 'My albums' page, select the album you want to delete by clicking the spot underneath it. Then click the Delete album link on the right.

PLACING ORDER

PRINT Order
If you have previously-saved items in your shopping cart, you can simply sign in, or click 'My Cart' button, and finish placing your order. To create a new order, click Prints Order on the tab bar, and follow the steps.

Album Selection
On the Album page, select the album that contains the pictures you wish to order. This can be done by clicking on the checkbox below the album.

Picture Selection
On the Pictures Selection, click on the checkbox under each picture of which you want to order prints. Click on the picture if you want to see a larger view or read details.

Sizes and quantities
This page will display recommended size based on  image resolution.   You can change the quantity and/or size of the prints in your order. To change the quantity and size , simply use the pulldown boxes.

Also located at the right pane is an option to select which type of finish you would like. . You can select which type of finish you would like for each size prints by using the pulldown boxes provided.
To remove a picture from your order, you can either change the quantity in the box to zero  or click Remove.

By default, the file name of each picture will be printed on the back of each print. You can instead choose to type in your own custom text up to 20 characters. This text will be printed on the prints in this order but will not be saved to your account.

Review order
On the My Account , select Order status.

Promotional Codes
On the Order page, you can enter a special offer code, if you have one, by clicking on the Enter a special offer code link or the Review my discounts link.

When you are finished reviewing your order, click the Proceed to Checkout button.

Checkout
Review your billing info (and edit if necessary); enter a promotion code if you have one; then choose a payment method (credit card type) and click Place my order now.
A confirmation and thank you appears letting you know your order has been placed. An order number and further instructions are provided (for instance, instructions on how to cancel your order within the first hour of placing it, or instructions on sending a check for payment). You may want to print this page in order to have a record of your confirmation number. (You will also receive an email containing this confirmation number.)
From the Order Confirmation page, you can order more prints, share the pictures, enhance the pictures, add more pictures, or create cards and more.

ORDER STATUS:
To check your order history, sign in to your Kimbo Color Lab account.  Under my account, select 'view my order history'.

Order status messages
■ WAITING (IN PROCESS):
This means that we've received your order and are in the process of printing it. You should have received an order-confirmation email from us with a summary of your order.

■ COMPLETE:
This means that we have completed your order. The time in transit depends upon the shipping method chosen for your order. As our shipping carriers do not pick up on weekends, orders printed over the weekend are generally shipped out on Monday

■ FAILED:
This means that your order failed, either to a declined credit card, or an invalid credit card number. Please check the credit card number.

■ Cancellation or change an order
Placed orders cannot be changed; if you notice an error (e.g. in the shipping address, or the wrong amount of prints) then you can cancel the order and place the order again.

PROCESSING ORDERS
Except for certain holidays, print orders are typically shipped 2-3 business days of when the order is placed. After that, time in transit depends upon the shipping method you've chosen for your order.

For our various other products, processing times are as follows:
For orders containing large format prints (sizes 11x14 and up), cards, and CDs, please allow 3 business days for processing.
Each type of product will incur its own shipping and handling charge based on the shipping type selected for the order (US Mail, 2-Day, or Next Day). For customer convenience or to expedite your order, we may at no additional cost consolidate products when possible or ship in multiple packages.
Once we ship all parts of your order, you are automatically sent an email confirming shipment. If you receive this message in the evening or on a weekend, your order may not be postmarked until the next business day.
Kimbo Color Lab is not responsible for shipping delays due to weather, natural disaster, or causes beyond our shipping carriers control.

Delivery Method
Kimbo Color Lab currently offers UPS ground as standard and  four shipping options: US Postal Service (USPS) regular mail; USPS Priority mail; 2-day; and next day. When an order is shipped, time in transit depends upon which of these shipping methods is selected.

US Postal Service regular and Priority mail
Although most US Postal Service (USPS) orders typically take 3 to 5 mailing days to arrive (and generally 2 to 3 mailing days for Priority mail), these estimates are not guaranteed and USPS mailing times of up to 10 days can occur. If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, we recommend upgrading to 2-day or next day shipping. Please allow up to 10 mailing days before contacting us about the status of your order.

Tracking information for my order

• You can click the link provided in the shipment confirmation email you received

• You can sign in and go to your Order History page; from there, click on the order in question to view the details of that order. There you will find a link that you can click to view the tracking information.

• Please note that once your order is shipped, it is in the hands of the shipping carrier, and any inquiries as to the status of its delivery should be directed to them. Please see the shipping carrier's website for more information.

ONLINE SHARING
You can use our free online share service to share the pictures in your Kimbo Color Lab account with friends and family. You can share selected pictures or entire online albums.
When you use our online share service, a link (URL) to your selected pictures is created. You can have Kimbo Color Lab email this URL to the email addresses you enter and/or select from your online address book. You can also share without entering any email addresses by copying and pasting the URL into your own email or posting it on a website.

When your recipients click on the URL, they will be able to view the shared pictures. They do not need to be Kimbo Color Lab members in order to view the pictures or order prints. However, they will have the option to save the pictures to a new or existing Kimbo Color Lab account. If they save the pictures to an account, they will have the same options you have, including ordering prints and other products, and sharing the pictures with others.
Shared pictures are not password protected, so anyone with access to the URL will be able to view them. This includes anyone to whom your recipients forward the URL.

Selecting the pictures you want to share
On the My album page, click on ‘Share to a friend’ button
Select the picture you want to share by clicking on the checkbox below the picture
If you wish to share every picture in the album, choose ‘Select all’ from the menu on the right of the page. Alternately, you can use the check-boxes underneath each picture to only select certain ones to share.
If there are pictures in an album that you don’t want to share, you can remove them by clicking on the ‘Remove’ below the thumbnail image shown on the bottom of the Enter Message page.

Choosing your share recipients
On the Enter Message page, you can add new addresses. You can enter as many recipients as you like.

Enter a message to be included in the email that is sent to invite your recipients to view the pictures.

Performing a Kimbo Color Lab share
Anyone with the appropriate Share link (URL) can access the pictures, can order prints, and can save them into an account.
During a share creation, the ‘Enter message’ page appears please enter email addresses, and message. Friends and family will be able to go directly to the pictures by just clicking the link in the email they receive.

Confirming the share
After entering and reviewing your list of recipients, click on ‘Send’. A confirmation page appears letting you know that your share emails are on their way.