| 1. How do I request a photosim? | |
| 2. How do I request a modification to a photosim? | |
| 3. What is the difference between a modification and a correction? | |
| 4. What do you need in order to do my photosim? | |
| 5. I only have a full size set of plans. Will that do? | |
| 6. Can I e-mail you the plans? | |
| 7. Is it cheaper if I provide the photos? | |
| 8. If I provide a digital image, what size should it be? | |
| 9. Do I have to meet you at the site when you photograph it? | |
| 10. Why does it cost more for a site meeting? | |
| 11. Can you photograph it from a particular viewpoint? | |
| 12. What is your turnaround time? | |
| 13. Do I have to pay beforehand, or will you bill me? | |
| 14. Do you take credit cards? | |
| 15. Do I get to proof the photosimulation before you print it? | |
| 16. Can you e-mail me a JPEG image of my photosim? | |
| 17. How many copies do I get with my order? | |
| 18. Can I get a poster of my photosim? | |
| 19. What is the best quality print I can get? How much is it? | |
| 20. Can I get copies of a past photosim? How much do they cost? | |
| 21. Why are you guys so expensive? | |
| 22. Why are you guys so cheap? | |
| 23. How do I know the photosimulation is accurate? | |
| 24. Can I get an explanation or methodology with my photosims? | |
| 25. What is a photosurvey? | |
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| 1. How do I request a photosim? Fill out our photosim request form, send us the form by fax, then send us the supporting drawings, photos or text by overnight courier. Or you may just e-mail us with all the information that is requested on the form. It's that simple. We will photograph the site, if needed, complete the work and overnight you the photosims as quickly and accurately as possible. |
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| 2. How do I request a modification to a photosim? Submit to us a photosim request form, and check the box at the upper right that says "modification". Briefly describe what the change is, and send any needed documentation (drawings, letters, whatever). Also send a copy of our photosim (with any notations or arrows or circles drawn on it) to show us what you would like changed. |
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| 3. What is the difference between a modification and a correction? A correction is required if there was a mistake by Previsualists on a photosimulation. If we overlooked something, or read the plans wrong (yes, it actually happened a couple of times) then we will fix it at no cost whatsoever. A modification is when the design of the project has been changed, or the plans have been changed. If we did the photosimulation the way we were told, but now you want it changed, then it is a modification. NOTE: A modification is only for modifying a photosim... Not when they are modifying a site. |
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| 4. What do you need in order to do my photosim? Most importantly, the photosim request form. We need an 11x17 set of plans. Please include the T, A, C and LS pages. (Title, Architectural, Civil survey, and Landscape). Please make any notes of issues we should be aware of - important viewpoints, angry neighbors, views requested by the jurisdiction, etc. The information you provide will tell us where the site is and what is proposed to be built. Remember, we are creating a photograph of what you are proposing. In order for us to create an accurate representation, you need to clearly communicate your project to us. Provide any information you have that will help us understand your project. |
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| 5. I only have a full size set of plans. Will that do? In rare cases, we can accept a full size set, but we cannot return that set to you. Basically, we cut it up and photocopy the important parts. We would much prefer a reduced set of plans (11x17). |
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| 6. Can I e-mail you the plans? Yes, but we need the files in PDF or DWF format. There are too many different versions of software out there to keep up with them all, and PDF seems to be emerging as an industry standard. Photographs are best sent in JPEG format. |
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| 7. Is it cheaper if I provide the photos? Simply, no. When we photograph the site, we also survey the site and establish scale and check the plans for any inaccuracies. We also measure adjacent structures that may not be called out on the plans. We include scale poles and markers in our photographs. The time we spend at the site saves us hours of research to set scale using someone else's photographs. It takes so much more work for us to use provided photos, that the cost to you is the same either way. |
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| 8. If I provide a digital image, what size should it be? The digital camera should be 3 Megapixels or greater, and the settings should be at the highest quality. There are two settings for every camera - resolution and compression. Resolution is the number of pixels height and width. Compression is the software "shrinking" the file to allow you to store more images on your card - the smaller the file the lower the quality and blurrier the image becomes. You really want the original file size to be about one megabyte or larger for the best results. |
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| 9. Do I have to meet you at the site when you photograph it? No. In fact, it is preferred that you do not meet us at the site. The reasons are simple: #1. We need everything documented, and all instructions must be in writing. In our experience at site meetings, many of the clients want to verbally describe the photosim project. All our photosimulations go through a double-check process to ensure accuracy. If verbal instructions are given, for example, the person double-checking may not know all of the details discussed, which could lead to a "he said/she said" discrepancy. #2. The other important reason is scheduling. Because of our very fast turnaround times, it is difficult plan photography sessions more than a couple of days in advance. It is best to photograph a site when the lighting and weather are optimal, and in conjunction with other photo sessions in the area. |
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| 10. Why does it cost more for a site meeting? In most cases, a site meeting will take much more time to shoot. In addition, our schedule would be dictated not by the best lighting or conditions, but by someone else's availability. In some past cases, we had passed the site several times in the days preceding the meeting, but could not shoot because we had to wait for the meeting, which ended up to be just the person handing us the plans. Other factors that we cannot control are traffic or weather, or other variables that could make us late for the meeting. Also, part of the rationale behind charging for site meetings is to discourage them. We can shoot sites much more efficiently without stopping to have a meeting. |
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| 11. Can you photograph it from a particular viewpoint? Yes, of course. We can shoot the photosim from any place you choose, with one caveat. We will not do a photosimulation if its only purpose is to be deceitful. There is a fine line between "selling" a project and being deceitful. For instance, there is the "one tree syndrome" - where the photographer takes a picture so that the only tree around is directly in line with, and blocks the view of, the proposed tower. This does not represent the project well. On the other hand, if the site is completely surrounded with trees, and not visible from anywhere except one little spot, it would not be fair to the project proponent to show only that one view. We try to select viewpoints that are representative of the site, and strike a balance between showing the most information and detail (worst case scenario) and illustrating how invisible the site will be. |
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| 12. What is your turnaround time? Our turnaround time varies with the current workload. The number of current projects varies, so the turn around time can be between 2 and 10 business days. Of course, the average is under one week. You can keep current on our turnaround time by checking our constantly updated page: Click here |
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| 13. Do I have to pay beforehand, or will you bill me? We always send an invoice along with the photosimulations. Invoices are due and payable on receipt. We understand that most telecommunication companies take 30 to 45 days to pay. But if it takes much longer we will contact you by phone |
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| 14. Do you take credit cards? Yes! VISA, Mastercard, and others. Ask about our discount for paying your telecommunications bill by credit card. |
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| 15. Do I get to proof the photosimulation before you print it? Actually, it has been our experience that printing the sim and sending it to you is faster than getting an answer back on a proof. While it would be nice as a triple-check, our process is actually faster without proofing. Many times we are finishing the site while the overnight courier is standing by. If you want us to send out a proof and delay the shipping by a whole day, then it still makes us look bad by increasing our turnaround times. |
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| 16. Can you e-mail me a JPEG image of my photosim? Yes. We understand that many offices are going purely digital, and Previsualists is happy to assist in that transition. However, there have been abuses of our photosims so we watch for copyright infringement. We have had cases where people have taken photosims and changed them using image manipulation software. You can imagine the legal problems with allowing our photosims to be changed by others and presented as though the newly manipulated photosim has our stamp of approval on it. |
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| 17. How many copies do I get with my order? The standard amount is for 5 prints, although we usually include a few extras, just for good measure. If you need more than 5 copies, just write-in the number needed in the appropriate section of the photosim request form. |
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| 18. Can I get a poster of my photosim? Yes. We are very proud of our in-house poster printing facilities. We can provide next day delivery of any photosimulation in sizes up to 36 x 48 inches. We also do all our mounting and laminating in-house. The price of each poster includes the mounting and laminating. |
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| 19. What is the best quality print I can get? How much is it? The absolutely best print on the market today is the Fuji Pictrograph. These direct digital prints are perfectly photographic and are as archival as a regular custom lab photograph. We print these at near cost, yet the cost is $10 for a letter size print, and $20 for tabloid. Our standard digital prints are $0.92 each. Quite a difference in price, but the quality really is that great. Some of our clients request a Fuji with every photosim. |
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| 20. Can I get copies of a past photosim? How much do they cost? Yes. We keep every photosimulation backed up on archive disks, and duplicated off-site. No matter which photosimulation, we can get you a print within 24 hrs at a cost of $0.92 each, plus shipping. There will be a small charge for pulling old files out of archives; usually $7.50. |
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| 21. Why are you guys so expensive? Because we are the best. We believe in the philosophy that "you get what you pay for". At Previsualists, we provide absolutely the most accurate and realistic high quality photosimulations in the industry. We spend hours researching each site to make sure it is done as accurately as possible. While other firms may simply "cut and paste", we make sure that the photosimulation that you are taking into that jurisdiction is exactly what is being shown on the plans, with proper scale and representative viewpoints. |
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| 22. Why are you guys so cheap? We have had clients ask that we raise our prices. We feel that our prices are fair enough. Geographically, our prices are much less than half of the cost of photosimulations in the New England area. They are slightly higher than the Los Angeles area. Previsualists set the standard for the prices in the Bay area back in 1997, and we have not raised our prices since then. We do all our printing in-house, so we don't depend on outside vendors to get our photosims printed. We use the latest computers and digital cameras to eliminate film costs and down time. |
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| 23. How do I know the photosimulation is accurate? Accuracy is the most important aspect of our photosimulations. We have developed methodology over the past nine years that ensure the highest level of accuracy in the industry. We use aerial photographs, GPS readings, scale poles, calibrated digital cameras, and a host of other tricks to achieve a high level of confidence in our photosims. We also perform post-construction evaluation of most of the sites we do, to double check that the information we are given matches what the construction crew builds. Our photosimulations are supported by our experience in the industry, backed by an aresenal of equipment and methodology, and our drive to achieve the highest quality product. If you need an explanation of the methodology used on your photosim, simply request an Explanation page, and for a small fee you will get a copy of the supporting documentation. |
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| 24. Can I get an explanation or methodology with my photosims? Sure. An explanation graphic is only $75, and is a letter sized page that explains how we ensured the accuracy of your photosim. |
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| 25. What is a photosurvey? A photosurvey is used when there is much controversy over the site, and you want to show numerous viewpoints without paying for each individual photosim. A photosurvey will provide at least 8 viewpoints, from all surrounding areas, at a very reasonable package rate. A photosurvey costs $899, which often works out to less than $100 per view. |
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