Speed up Post-production

One glance at the PWD editing department and it’s clear we’re in the busy season.  Turn-around times are currently running about 7-9 business days, but there are a number of things you can do to help your files sail smoothly and quickly through post-production:

1. Submit an order form
We’ve been lenient in the past, but no more!  Nah, we’re not  gonna be mean about it, but a completed order form is now necessary for every post-production order submitted.  Keep in mind that orders received without a form or with incomplete information will not be placed into the editing queue until we we can get all the necessary info.

Don’t worry, it’s a quick and easy form to fill out, and there are a few places you can find it:

• On our website – Click here for a form you can fill out online, print and send in with your disc.
• Included with a pre-paid envelope – Whenever you request a PWD pre-paid envelope or PWD hard drive, we include a paper version of the form for you to fill in and mail back.
• Within PWD ROES – Did you know you can send post-production orders via PWD ROES?  Open up ROES, navigate to the Post-Production Services catalog, drop your images into the virtual box, and you can then choose your options and services during checkout.  Cool, huh?

2. Fill out a Style Survey
We just released a new version of the Style Survey, so be sure to fill yours out.  The editors use this info to match your own personal style, and not having the form filled out will delay your order.  Click here to fill out your Style Survey today (you will be required to login to your PWD account).

3. Prepare your images correctly
We’ve got a great guide for file submission within our price list.  By setting your files up correctly on the disc or hard drive you send, we’ll be able to quickly grab them and begin working.

4. Deliver you images faster
Our estimated turn-arounds start from the time we receive your order and files in our office, so it makes sense that sending the images earlier and faster means getting them back quicker as well.  While PWD offers USPS pre-paid envelopes as a free convenience, they are certainly not the fastest way to submit files.  Our pre-paid envelopes generally take a minimum of eight days to reach us, so if time is tight, we highly encourage using an alternative shipping method such as FedEx or UPS.

Another delivery method, as we mentioned earlier, is PWD ROES.  ROES is especially suitable when sending smaller numbers of JPGs, though we still recommend having a high-speed internet connection.

5. Request rush processing
For a 50% increase in the order total, we will get your order done in half the normal time.  Also, to ensure you receive your images as quickly as possible, we’ll both upload them to FTP for you and send a disc.  Be sure to contact us directly when requesting rush service.

6. Order proofs at the same time
Why wait for us to finish and return the images, then send back out for proofs?  If you order proof prints at the same time as the post-production work, we can get the prints out immediately after finishing with the images!  The same goes for online hosting.  We can upload to ImageQuix or any website of your choosing with no time lost.

7. Use a PWD hard drive
Sending a lot of files?  Request the loan of a PWD hard drive for simplified file copying.  You won’t have to worry about burning and labeling multiple discs any more.

Armed with these tips, you’ll be able to save your own valuable time and quickly get images back to your clients so you can begin selling.  Thanks so much for making our post-production services such a success.  We design them for you, so please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments.