| Author | Thread |
|
|
02/13/2007 07:32:46 AM · #1 |
hello!
could someone please tell me how I should print my photo for an exhibition?
maybe there are some tutorials/sites where I can read about different types of paper, how photos would look like printed on different materials and everything about this.
I need to print this photo:
what are "mats"? in the mail I got from the fine art center which holds the exhibition they say I must have "bright white single, double or triple mat" - what is it?? I have no idea.
what are archival/acid free mats? why is archival paper better?
why is plexiglass better?
what about canvas? are there different types of canvas? do I really miss the details when I print on canvas?
I am sorry for asking so many questions, but I have never printed anything before and now all of a sudden I have to make an "archival and exhibition quality" print
:)
I would really appreciate your help!
thank you!!
Svetlana |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 07:37:16 AM · #2 |
Oh my, what stress you must be in not knowing what the hell they're talking about. I don't know either, but can't you ask a proffesional printerservice for some advice?
|
|
|
|
02/13/2007 07:50:37 AM · #3 |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 07:58:54 AM · #4 |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 08:48:31 AM · #5 |
| thank you so much Judi!!! |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 09:23:28 AM · #6 |
Hi Silverfoxx
I have just spent the last weekend hanging my own exhibition (at a local photography center here in Chicago), I can try and help a little bit.
Archival quality prints mean normally that there is at least a 1.5 inch border around the image - you can have more than that, but it should be at least 1.5 in. Paper tends to deteriorate from the outside edge inwards, so if you have a border you reduce the likelihood of the image itself from being destroyed over time.
Using acid free/archival mats is also to protect the image from deteriorating, other mats can actually cause the paper to deteriorate.
I can't help you about the Plexiglass question - we used actual glass on all of our show prints.
Judi has given you some good links on the framing and matting techniques available. Don't underestimate how long it takes to do it and be prepared to screw it up a couple of times first. You can of course get pre-cut mats, but it is probably better to cut your own as the pre-cut sizes may not work for your print size. Make sure you have a few copies of your final print available. I used Premium Luster for my show prints and scratched one of them when I was framing it. I had to start all over again.
We also dry mounted our pictures prior to the matting and framing process. This involved using a blank piece of the same paper used for printing the original image and using dry mount adhesive Dry Mount. You stick the blank piece to the back of the print. It definitely makes a difference, but may not be 100% necessary!
OK, I'm sorry if this is all a double up of what you have read on the internet, but having spent the whole of this last weekend framing and hanging prints myself, this information was very fresh for me. I didn't know any of this until the gallery director showed me.
Hope this helps a little bit.
Message edited by author 2007-02-13 09:25:16. |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 09:27:28 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
could someone please tell me how I should print my photo for an exhibition?
|
First is to make sure that you and the printer are seeing the same thing when you look at the file. Is your display calibrated? Is theirs? If you choose a good local place, ask if you can look at your image on their display.
If the place is good, they will say their process is archival. That's what you want.
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
what are "mats"? in the mail I got from the fine art center which holds the exhibition they say I must have "bright white single, double or triple mat" - what is it?? I have no idea.
|
Mats are the thick paper border that, in addition to providing a visual border, put a space between the glass and the work. Double and triple mats simply mean that there are two or three mats instead of one. bright white mean that you can only use bright white mats, they don't want any variations.
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
what are archival/acid free mats? why is archival paper better?
|
Acid is the enemy of your work. It will cause it to discolor, fade, age prematurely or otherwise deteriorate prematurely. Archival mats and paper are non-acidic and do not attack your work.
Maybe DPC needs some "archival" critics, hmmmmmmmmmm.
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
why is plexiglass better?
|
It doesn't break as easily as glass, so, it's much better if you need to ship your work. Personally, unless work needs to be shipped, I don't like it because it's not as clear as glass and it scratches much easier. If you do use glass, don't use common window glass because it will give a green tint to your work. You want to use "clear" or "conservation clear" glass it's not green. I spend about $30 for a piece of clear 18in x 22in clear glass. If you want to get fancy, you can get museum glass, which has a non-glare coating on it and is just over twice as expensive as the clear glass, but is harder to handle because it's fairly easy to scratch the non-glare coating
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
what about canvas? are there different types of canvas? do I really miss the details when I print on canvas?
|
Honestly, I don't know for sure.
I hope I've been of some help to you.
|
|
|
|
02/13/2007 09:52:03 AM · #8 |
oh, thank you so much Sarah and Spazmo!
everyhting is really really helpful!
I have found ONE place in Oslo where they can help me to print and with advice, only one, hehe...
I hope it will be fine.
thank you for your help!! |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 10:19:57 AM · #9 |
Wauw those are really good explanations!
Just learned some new stuff I didn't know! Thnx from me as well :-D
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/12/2025 05:38:16 PM EDT.
