Documentation 3

Slides can be made from digital images and cost about the same as film and film processing. In order for film processing houses to convert your images to slides you must resize, possibly adjust the gamma, and convert them to the correct size and resolution.
The photo processing house I frequent requests that digital image files be a canvas size of 7.33 inches x 11 inches at 200 dpi. File format is not important. Check the requirements your photo processing house needs to convert your digital image files to slides. The previous house I used asked that digital files for slides be .TIF format, 700 pixels/inch, and at least 1.6 megabytes and be scaled to the correct slide size. Make copies of all your original camera files as well as your re-formated images, and save them if possible to compact disk for safe keeping. The photo house you use should be able to write your images to compact disk. Photo slides as well. Save all your images as RAW or TIFF files. When writing your images to compact disk to send to galleries and venues, save them as JPEG files.

When you receive your slides back from processing you can send them off for shows or what ever. It's a good idea to have duplicates (dupes) made from the original slides. Keep the originals safe and send only the dupes. Always have dupes made from original slides and not from other dupes. The quality of dupes made from dupes degenerates with each succeeding generation, the same as making a copy of a copy of a copy on a photocopier machine.

Preparing and labeling your slides

Label your dupes prior to sending them off for a grant, a juried show, or a gallery. Most show prospectii require the same information, though often in various ways. It is most common to number each slide with a number that correspondes to the same slide as listed on a slide sheet. To the emmediate left of the slide number is the artist's name, followed by the word "TOP". Emmediately below the slide number and the artist's name is usually the title of the work. A red dot is often requested at the lower left corner of the slide to designate the front bottom of the slide, (but not always). The red dot is easily seen in slide trays and makes it easier to place them in the trays. The medium of the work is usually asked for and that is often at the bottom of the slide along with the work's dimensions, and possibly the date the work was executed or finished.

You can hand print this information in ink, but my hand writing is atrocious so I print it on Avery® 1/2" by 1-3/4" ink jet labels #8167. If you use labels make sure they have quality pressure sensitive adhesive and place them evenly on the slides. You do not want your slides to jam juror's slide projectors.