Are my photographs shared with anyone else?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
We will never share any personal information (e.g., name, address, telephone number, etc.) that you provide us with any other entity.

We reserve the right to use your photographs in our portfolio or advertising. However we will not use them if you explicitly state you would prefer they not be used. We respect your privacy 100%.

Can any picture be restored or retouched?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
While we do our best to rescue or retouch your photo, not all images can be fully restored. If the damage to a picture is very extensive, such as if the majority of facial or other details are missing or severely damaged, the ability to restore a face to the likeness of the individual is not possible unless another photograph of the person(s) that is not severely damaged is available. Facial features from the good photograph can then be used to recreate the facial features on the severely damaged photograph.

Can I scan my own pictures?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
Absolutely. Here is a quick scanning guide:

1. It is important to remember that the quality of the restoration of your photo is directly related to the quality of the scan.
2. Clean the scanner glass and make sure it is as debris or dust free as possible before scanning. You can generally use Windex and a soft, non lint leaving cloth. A chamois is best.
3. Do not adjust your scanner's settings (ex. brightness/contrast, gamma, intensity, etc.)
4. Scan your original photo between 300 and 400 DPI (preferred)
5. Save your scanned image in one of the following formats .JPG (or .JPEG), .TIF (or .TIFF), Photoshop .PSD, or Adobe Acrobat .PDF

If you are not able to scan your own images, we can provide this service to you free of charge for each retouch/restoration job you book with us for images up to 8 x 10. For images larger than 8 x 10, the fee is greater. This scanning fee will be quoted before you approve your order.

Do you take International Orders?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
Yes we do! Generally it takes a bit longer to get prints to places outside Canada or the US. Please email us for a shipping quote if you want prints mailed to you internationally.

How do I make Payments?

Written by MBSTIA Admin

We accept Paypal and Cashier's Checks and Money Orders.
If you wish to pay via Paypal, we will give you our Paypal address for payment once we have started your job.

How do I send my Photographs?

Written by MBSTIA Admin

You can upload your file to us using the free service provided by You Send It.com. The address to use at You Send It to send us files is: retouch AT mbstia DOT com

Please ensure that your photo is at least 150dpi (300+ is appreciated) and that it is in one of the following formats:
JPG/JPEG
BMP
TIFF
PSD
RAW

If you are looking to have your image blown up, please contact us before you send your digital file so we can let you know what the optimal resolution will be for us to properly enlarge your image.
For more information on resolution and DPI, please read this web page .

or

You may mail your print or slide to us for scanning. If you are concerned about the image becoming lost in the mail, send the image with delivery confirmation and insurance or use a carrier like Fed Ex, or UPS.
Our mailing address is as follows:
M.B.S.T.I.A.
Attn: Retouch & Restore
554 North Frederick Avenue #218
Gaithersburg, MD 20877 USA
PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS

• If you are sending 1 image, please put a piece of plain white paper in front, and in the back of the image and mail it in a cardboard mailer.
• If you are sending multiple images to us, please make sure you put a plain piece of white paper in between all the photos to make sure they do not stick together in transit. Please also make use of a cardboard mailer for shipping.
• Please mark your envelope: "Do not bend or fold, photographs inside".
• DO NOT PUT YOUR PHOTOS IN PLASTIC SLEEVES FOR SHIPPING. This will damage your photos! Never use plastic on any image!

How long do CD-ROMS last?

Written by MBSTIA Admin

Since many scanned original and restored photographs are being stored on CD-ROM, an important question to ask is how long will CD-ROMs last. While there is no universal answer to this question, there area number of areas of consensus. These include:

1. Longevity is directly effected by Manufacturing quality, Condition of the disc before recording, Quality of the disc recording, Handling and maintenance, and Environmental conditions.
2. Among the manufacturers that tested CD longevity, there is a consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more.
3. Other reports have claimed that CD-R expectancy was in the range of 10 to 50 years.
4. Few, if any, life expectancy reports for these discs have been published by independent laboratories.
5. It is best to keep CD-ROMs in a dry, cool environment to promote longevity.
6. Proper care and handling is also important to promote longevity

For more information on CD longevity you can visit the National Institute of Standards and Technology at (http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/disc_care/longevity.html) and the CD FAQ Web Site at (http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq07.html#S7-5)

How long does a restoration or retouch take?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
Most restorations or retouchings are completed within a few days to a week, depending on our backlog of images to work on. If you have a tight deadline, we will do everything to meet your deadline short of sacrificing quality.

How long will the restored prints last?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
There is no exact answer as to how long a photograph will last before it begins to show signs of aging or damage because it depends on the environment. Sun, humidity, water, etc. are all factors that can damage a photograph.

Once your original and restored images are placed on a CD-ROM, you can reprint your pictures anytime in the future without any deterioration to the images on the CD-ROM.

What if I do not own a photograph I send you for restoration or retouching?

Written by MBSTIA Admin
You must have the rights for all copyrighted photographs you submit to us. If you are not the owner of the photograph, you must have the approval of the copyright owner.