Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in the Red River Paper Certified Studio Program. This site provides all the information you need to understand the program, its benefits, and the certification process. We are excited to partner with print shops like yours that are dedicated to delivering exceptional quality and service in the photo, fine art, and graphic arts printing sectors.
Program Overview
The Red River Paper Certified Studio Program is designed to recognize and support print shops that consistently deliver outstanding print quality using Red River Paper products. By becoming a certified studio, you gain access to a range of benefits, including enhanced marketing opportunities, technical support, and offers. Our program aims to create a community of like-minded professionals who are committed to excellence in printing.
Benefits Overview
- Enhanced Marketing: Display the official Red River Paper Certified Studio badge on your website and marketing materials.
- Priority Listing: Featured listing on the Red River Paper website's Print Service Provider locator.
- Technical Support: Access to dedicated technical support from Red River Paper experts.
- Co-Marketing Opportunities: Collaboration on joint marketing campaigns and promotional activities.
Certification Requirements
To become a Red River Paper Certified Studio, you must meet the following requirements:
- Print Service Provider: The first step is to get listed as a Print Service Provider - if your shop is not already listed, you can apply here.
- Paper Usage: Use (and keep in stock) at least three Red River Paper products for your photo, fine art, and graphic arts printing.
- Quality Standards: Maintain consistent print quality that meets or exceeds Red River Paper's standards.
- Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate an understanding of color management and printing techniques.
- Equipment: Utilize professional-grade printers.
- Application: Email the program manager, Katrina, at [email protected]
- Verification: Successfully complete the color accuracy verification process.
What You Need to Prepare
Before starting the certification process, ensure you have the following:
- A selection of at least three Red River Paper products you regularly use.
- Custom ICC profiles for our media, if you have the tools and skills you can create these yourself or you can take advantage of our free custom ICC profiles for Print Service Providers and we can make them for you.
- Your company's logo and a couple sentence blurb about your shop (for the online directory).
ICC Verification Instructions
Once you have custom profiles for media (either created by you or by us), the process of color verification is as follows:
1. Download the Red River Paper ICC verification target from the link that we will send you.
2. Print the target on your chosen Red River Paper using your ICC profile with Rendering Intent set to Absolute Colorimetric and Blackpoint Compensation set to OFF.
3. Either mail the printed target to us or (if you have the equipment) measure the printed target with your spectrophotometer and send us the measurements.
5. Our team will review the data and provide feedback on your ICC profile accuracy.
Technical Questionnaire
1. What printer(s) do you use for photo, fine art, and graphic arts printing?
2. Do you calibirate your monitor(s)?
3. Do you currently create your own ICC profiles, our profiles, or custom ones made by a 3rd party?
4. What steps do you take to ensure consistent print quality?
5. What type of lighting do you use when viewing prints in your shop?
6. Are you familiar with LAB colors?
7. Do you know how to convert files between different color spaces?
8. Are you familiar with the various Rendering Intents when printing?
We will likely have some additional questions as well based on your individual shop. There are not really any right or wrong answers - we expect that most shops will need some assistance getting up to standard and we want to help you get there.
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Last updated: March 12, 2026
