How do professionals print their photos?

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Permalink Reply by tressillian on October 9, 2008 at 5:08am

For small images (i.e. A4 size) I print my own. The quality very much depends on the quality of the paper and ink - so buy the right ink for your printer and buy the best paper you can get. I use Kodak super-duper ultra-glossy paper. The calibration is a bit of a pain - so I do some test prints first and then adjust the photo to suit.

For larger sizes, I take them to a high-street print and reproduction shop - but choose wisely, as often they franchises and the quality of the printers and staff is variable.

Happy to let you know how I do framing as well - on the cheap - to good effect. Let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Herbert Originals on October 9, 2008 at 1:25pm

the problem with using printers and printing your own is the colorfastness of the ink used. even the highest quality ink or laser printers will not give you near the detail and longevity of an actual developed photograph. Your lighter colors always fade first, then contrast starts to go, till eventually you are left with a print that looks like its been sun bleached. You get one to three years with a "printed" photo.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/121752/lack_of_standards_spark_inkje...



in contrast a black and white photograph can last a hundred years or more, if properly cared for:

http://www.hanselmannphotography.com/nTarge_newsletters/Newsletters...

I use a local developer and color 8x10s only cost $3.00. they can develop up to 24" x 36" if I ever find a need for a poster size.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cossack on October 9, 2008 at 8:07pm

Just about every print that I have seen in competitions and local exhibitions was printed by the photographer on a high quality inkjet printer like the Canon ImagePROGRAF series or the Epson Sylus Pro printers, using archival grade paper and ink. But award winning photographers don't start out with such expensive equipment. The best thing for you to do is to send your digital files to a professional print lab for printing, and for you to become good at matting and mounting. The worst thing for you to do is to send your prints to Kodak from your nearby drug store. There are many print labs that are very good, but the one I recommend is MPIX.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Nahabedian on October 9, 2008 at 8:22pm

Thank you everyone for the tips :)

I guess buying a good printer is out of question right now, too expensive I guess but will be a good investment as soon as I figure if my photos would sell well ;)

I'll try to find a good print lab then, better put the money on quality which will make people happy I guess.

Thanks!

Any more tips are welcome!

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