Print & DPI Competition

Introduction

Join us on the Tuesday before the Second Saturday of each month during the club year for our exciting in-house competitions at the Washington Park Camera Club. While we typically hold a monthly in-person print competition, please note that the schedule is subject to physical space availability at this time. Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your photography skills and connect with fellow enthusiasts at our club events!

Print Competition Procedures

  • Entrants may submit 2 small color and 2 small monochrome prints each month, entrants may also submit 2 large color and 2 large monochrome prints each month.
  • Toned prints are eligible in the “Monochrome Print” category.
  • “Small Print” area shall not exceed 11 by 14 inches. All “Small Prints” are to be mounted on an 11 by 14-inch mounting board.
  • “Large Print” area shall not exceed 16 by 20 inches. All “Large Prints” are to be mounted on a 16 by 20-inch mounting board.
  • A label containing the title of the print, maker’s name must appear legibly on the back of the mount in the upper left-hand corner.
  • Prints must be submitted by 6:30 pm on the day of competition.

Print Boards

  • Mat boards will be available from the print committee on a first-come, first serve basis.
  • Boards can also be purchased from various art supply stores, like Golden State Art:
  • Boards should be matte black on the front side and preferably a white on the back.
  • If you purchase boards that are black on both the front and back, please include 1 or 2 additional blank-white stickers on the back. These areas will be used for scoring at WPCC and CACCA competitions.

Member-recommended Printing Locations

In light of the recent closures of numerous local print houses, finding accessible and affordable printing options has become increasingly crucial. To assist you, we have compiled a list of recommended print houses, as suggested by the members of the Washington Park Camera Club (WPCC). It’s important to remember that product availability and lead times can differ significantly between companies. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about their services, we advise visiting their respective websites or reaching out to them directly.

BusinessLocationRecommending Member(s)Product DeliverySizes OfferedPrice Range1Notes
Latitude Printers2https://www.latitudechicago.org
2003 W Fulton St, #211, Chicago, IL 60612
Sheila, Yvonne, VanessaSee their website for more detailsSee their website for more detailsSee their website for more detailsThey maintain a digital lab with high-end printing and scanning equipment, process 35mm and 120 color negative film, operate an artist in residence program, and organize ongoing arts programming. 

They gladly welcome all members of the public, including artists, photographers, students, educators, and enthusiasts.
ShutterflyNew Users: https://www.shutterfly.com/prints/

Former Costco Members: https://accounts.shutterfly.com/welcomeCostco
Shipping Only11×14, 16×20, and more$10 – @20Shutterfly is offering 51% discount to Costco Members (see the website for details). Photos can be uploaded from your computer, phone, tablet, Google Photos, Facebook and Instagram. A matte finish is recommended.
Walgreenshttps://photo.walgreens.com/store/homeShipping, Local Pick up (sizes offered and same day pick up vary from location to location)11×14, 16×20, and more$12 to $16Competition sizes are listed as posters; it’s recommended to use a matte finish; same day pick up may be available at some locations. At an additional cost, they do have an adhesive option — Self-adhesive backing lets you display your photos anywhere, then peel off and re-apply as many times as you like.
Walmarthttps://photos3.walmart.com/about/printsTedShipping, Local Pickup (varies by location)11×14, 16×20, and more$7 to $14Standard delivery times are 3-5 business days; expedited are 2 to 3 business days. Pick up options may be available, but check be sure that the location you plan to use offers that service.

Digital Competition Procedure

  • Entrants may submit 2 color and 2 monochrome images each month in the DPI competition.
  • Please email your digital competition entries to the DPI Committee at wpccdpi@comcast.net or dpi@washingtonparkcameraclub.org by the Saturday before the competition. Both the sizing and naming protocol for the images should be followed.
  • The file naming protocol for digital submissions is {Image Title} ~ {Makers Name}. For instance, if the image is “Nice Picture” by Jane Doe, then name for the image should be Nice Picture ~ Jane Doe.
  • Send the images as JPEG files attached to the email submitted.

Digital File Size & Format

  • Each image must have a maximum size of 1400 pixels on the horizontal side and 1050 pixels on the vertical side.
  • If your image is not in the exact ratio of 4 to 3, one of these dimensions will be less than the maximum.
  • The preferred color space is sRBD, but it’s not required.
  • Images should be submitted as JPEG attachments to the email.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your images are within the allowed size limits and submitted in the correct format for the competition.


Best Practices & Recommendations

Maintaining the Correct Aspect Ratios

Maintaining the correct aspect ratio when resizing a photo is crucial. Changing it can distort the image and affect its quality and visual appeal. It’s important to maintain the original aspect ratio for a natural and realistic look, especially for specific purposes like social media and print publications that have size and ratio guidelines. Resizing without maintaining aspect ratio can also disrupt the photo’s intended meaning or message. Always pay attention to aspect ratio to ensure quality, visual appeal, and message of the photo are preserved.

Free Image Resizing tool from Adobe

To help resize your photos check out Adobe’s Free Resizing tool: https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/resize (you will need to register for a free Adobe account OR use your existing one if you subscribe to any of their services).

  1. Information as of January 31, 2024. ↩︎
  2. Latitudes Printing has moved to a new location. Details coming soon. ↩︎
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