Frequently Asked Questions
Web Design
Scanning Services
Web Design
Why do I need a website?
In recent years, the Internet and World Wide Web has become an integral part of everyday life for individuals and businesses alike. Nearly three-quarters of the entire U.S. population accesses the Internet on a regular basis for business or personal use.
Leading consumer research indicates that customers expect the companies they do business with to have at least a basic website containing descriptions products and services, company background, contact information, and an email address or other means of electronic communication. We believe that a professional website has become a baseline, required component for any business.
Additionally, if you are a retailer with a product catalog that can be shipped or downloaded online -- your market becomes almost limitless when you sell online via an E-Commerce Website. Many new businesses use the web as their primary sales channel, while established retailers often use it as a new sales channel to expand and reach new markets.
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How do I reserve a domain name, like www.mycompany.com?
Registering and reserving your domain name is the first step in establishing your online presence. This is the address that visitors will type into web browsers to access your site.
Domain registration and website development/hosting are related - but separate components and services. Normally, you would check for the availability of a domain name (that it is not reserved or in use by another company) and pay an annual fee to an approved "Registrar" to keep the domain licensed in your name and for the exclusive use of your business.
We assist you in name registration and renewals free of charge - for as long as your website is managed by us.
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How long does it take to create a new website?
We recommend allowing for 4-6 business weeks from the start of the project to completion seeing your fully-functional website "live" on the Internet. This does vary from project to project, but represents a conservative estimate for planning purposes. As the design and development of your site is an interactive, collaborative process between your staff and us, this provides sufficient time for feedback, revisions, and your final approval of the site.
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How does the website design and development process work?
Our online systems and electronic communications allow us to facilitate the development process and ongoing management of your website "virtually" from our location to yours. This results in savings of time, costs, and resources that would otherwise be required for coordinating and traveling for in-person meetings. Jon Holmquist personally manages and works with you one-on-one. The development time is different for each project. Read more about the steps involved in creating a website.
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How will my site get listed in major search engines like Google and Yahoo?
Search engines are by far the most frequent method that web users employ to find websites related to their interests. As a result, every business or organization wants to their website to by readily returned when users type in certain search terms on the major search engines like Google, Yahoo, AOL, or MSN.
There is no simple approach or answer to getting your site listed on the major search engines. We estimate that there are well over 1000 firms nationwide that specialize solely in helping companies get their websites listed. We choose to focus on our core area of expertise, technical aspects of design and development of websites and systems, and not to offer online marketing services.
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How do I update my website or get technical support?
Jon personally supports each website he develops. He provides ongoing support and content updates to your website whenever required.
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How does the email service work?
A professional email solution is important to communicate with customers, suppliers, and partners. The email services included with all of our website hosting and management plans includes full POP/SMTP email accounts for you and your employees, compatibility with email clients like Microsoft Outlook, Macintosh Mail, or Lotus Notes, as well as the ability to check your email via the web when you are traveling or out of the office.
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Do you host my site?
No. We manage all of the details of getting you set up to use established and reputable hosting companies. We are your site manager and once your site is live, we can continue to manage and update your site as you request, or train you on how to do as much of it as you wish.
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What if I cancel my service or want to move to another hosting company?
Because we don't host your site, we have no "ownership" whatsoever about where you want to be hosted. As a client, you or your business owns all of the design, code, and content associated with your website. If at any point you would like to change hosting providers or manage your site(s) internally, we will provide you with all necessary files and elements for you to efficiently migrate your system.
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Scanning Services
What are your Standard Quality and Premium Quality (maximum) scanning resolutions?
The standard quality scanning resolution is 4000 DPI,2400 x 3600 pixels, 8" x 12" which results in files that average 25MB uncompressed/15MB (LZW) compressed TIFF's. The premium quality scanning resolution is 4000 DPI, 5350 x 3627 pixels, 12" x 18" which results in files that average 55MB uncompressed/35MB (LZW) compressed TIFF's. You can specify custom resolutions and output sizes smaller than these.
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If I choose an additional custom resolution/output size add on, what output sizes can I expect, for example, for a JPEG file from a standard 25MB TIFF?
JPEGs have a selectable output quality setting. At maximum quality, a 25MB TIFF only compresses to about 7MB. At high quality (which is completely acceptable for your purposes) it would be around 1 MB. But even this is quite variable depending on the subject. An image taken in the fog, for instance, with lots of compressible white color, would be smaller. An image of an intricate Persian rug, with lots of different colors, would be larger. We recommend the high setting, which is acceptable for most JPEG quality output purposes.
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What scanning color depth do you use - 8 bits or 16 bits?
We scan at 8 bits which has become a general standard. Many Photoshop features don't even work with 16 bits. 16 bit scans also double the filesize. Using 16 bits was once argued in order to overcome the a possibility of "posterization" (banding problems caused by overlapping "dots") in some extreme exposure conditions. This has become much less of an issue as scanner technology has matured.
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What parts of Digital ICE Technology do you use (ICE, ROC, GEM, DEE) on each scan?
We generally use all of them except for some Kodachromes. Kodachrome film has a custom "coating" on the film that tends to confuse parts of the Digital ICE4 technology (which uses some infrared). Specifically, we turn down the effects of the ROC and the DEE, depending on how close to normal the exposure and colors of the original is.
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Do you recommend ordering a backup CD or DVD?
Yes. CD and DVD technology is becoming more robust. But even though we use the highest quality media, there is still a possibly of media damage after delivery. It only takes one scratch to make a DVD unreadable. We recommend ordering backups of everything.
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What are the input and output DPI's of your scans?
Both our standard and premium quality options are scanned at an input resolution of 4000 DPI - unless you request someless less. Their output DPI is 300.
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Do you recommend storing TIFF files as LZW compressed?
The JPEG file format is "lossy". Each time you save it, the compression algorithms that allow it to be stored in a smaller file, "lose" a little more original information. by comparison, the TIFF format is "lossless", meaning that it can be edited, saved, compressed, etc. with virtually no loss in original information. Lossless guarantees that you always read back exactly what you saved, bit for bit, without any data corruption. The LZW is from the Israeli researchers, Abraham Lempel and Jacob Zif, who researched compression in the late '70's., and Terry Welch, who built on their work and patented the technology.
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