A picture can be worth a thousand words, except when the picture doesn't do justice to original art or photography it represents.
As the owner of
Reed Consulting Partners, also known as RCP, Mark Reed helps artists and photographers share and catalog their works by offering high-end digital imaging services.
"The only real answer was to invest in the highest quality scanner," says Reed. "The business evolved from there."
Reed purchased a large format Cruse Sycron Scanner—a piece of equipment he says is among the best in the nation when it comes to fine art scanning and printing. Most of these particular scanners, he says, reside in government installations, the Smithsonian, and European museums.
"The artists we have met to date are very impressed with the quality of the scan and what it can do for their career," says Reed.
The scanner's unique abilities enable the creation of digital images without ever touching the art. Images can be output onto most any medium including canvas, matte, archival paper, and vinyl, with stitch-less, large format pieces among RCP's specialties.
Reed works primarily with Michigan artists who come to him to create digital files for use in portfolios, copyright applications, catalogs, Web and magazine images, and reproduction prints for sale. He has scanned and reproduced fine art pieces up to 60- by 72-inches, including a large South American hymnal from the 1600s, pieces for a sports artist licensed by the National Football League, and large format photographs for display at Jackson National Life and Michigan State University. Another recent job involved scanning cherished watercolor paintings created by a family's deceased mother.
"She had spent years painting all these pieces and when she passed, all her kids wanted them," says Reed. "They split them up, but were also able to get scans and prints created if they didn't received the original."
RCP printing recently dove into the quilt market. Scanning quilts rather than photographing allows each stitch to stand out and highlights techniques used by the artist. Reed anticipates scanning for art quilters worldwide since quilts can be easily shipped.
Reed opened RCP in early 2014 in Portland. Six people work at the 5,500-square foot facility at 1301 E.Grand River Ave. shop, with plans to bring more on board in 2015.
Source: Mark Reed, Owner, RCP
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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