My first commissioned DA - printing question

Unbelievable. I did that Distortion study for Zo, and it took off running! Tracy printed it for me. From that, a co-worker asked if I could change the colors in it to match her decor (mauves, roses, cadet blues, and moss greens, etc.) Sure!

I printed a proof for her. One matte and one glossy. We originally thought matte, but am now leaning the other way. Stewart, you mentioned using pearlized paper once - would that be a good compromise? Mpix (and Ritz) hates my resolution (that original sizing issue is still biting me on the butt!) Tracy, if I can't get that program we talked about, can you resize upward and sell me the CD version of the image? Or... can you print on that paper that Stewart mentioned if it's the best choice?

I added a double border to reduce the impact of the black background, and plan on matting it in a mauve/rose family with an inner off white bevel. Looking at a 16 x 20 overall size including the frame (or at least the matte.)

Any suggestions on anything having to do with this piece is really welcomed. Thanks, kat

I have Blowup, by Alien Skin - it'll give up to 800% without much detecable distortion, if you want me to try it for you, Kathy... I can upsize, and drop the file on elflett.com for you to pick up... just send me the biggest resolution file you have, and what size you need it at - Blowup is our software of choice at work, and it's brilliant at what it does...

Pearl, or Satin papers are an excellent compromise - if it's going to be framed under glass though, just stick with the matte - it'll look glossy under glass, and having a matte print means less reflections in the long run...

As a 'give it a try' suggestion, try adding a one pixel black stroke between the two colours of your borders... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't... I've been known to give a virtual bevel to make images look matted rather than printed with a matte, too...

The type of paper used is dependant on the type of glass being used when framing.

If non reflective is used (expensive) then the Pearl paper would be OK.

I use Ilford Galerie paper, Classic pearl, but they do a range of others.

Getting this printed properly is of the utmost importance.
The permenance of the inks is an issue you need to take into account because if the pic is hung in an area where daylight can get to it you don't want it fading to soon.

Congrats on the commission, I am sure there will be plenty more.

:)

Thanks S&S - you both taught me something new (the glass issue) and the fading thing. Stuart, I'll take you up on your offer gladly! As soon as Lynn decides she's happy with the proof and decides on her size, I'll send the file off to you. I'll play with that border a bit too. It took some real talking to get her to keep the black background, and not adding one more mauve/rose area. It's already pushing "flat".

Stewart, I don't know what it was about that pearlized paper you wrote about, but it just caught my imagination. After reading the extra info I can see planning taking the right picture and making hanging plans to justify its usage! lollllllllllllllll

Thanks, again. Decisions and actions should take place by end of week.

Kathy

If you want 7 years with 10% fading in full sunlight, and pretty much an infinite life indoors, get it printed on MD7 vinyl with a solvent based printer - Our Seiko would happily equal the resolution of any Epson/Canon etc printer... :)

I learned a good lesson today. "Listen to the Customer!" After trying Stuart's border line suggestion, I got to thinking that a white background might work after all (I would have sworn it would be truly icky.) Lynn was as stunned at the results as I was! So, we're proofing one more time - and hopefully, then resizing for the perfect printing. I'll upload at home tonight to see what you guys think, too. Thanks, k

Thin black line and white border works for me every time Kat. :)

Radical change. Background changed to white - who would have thought! So I changed the added skinny black line to white, and am thrilled with the look. So, the final is a combination of the old, the suggestions, and the new. I uploaded to another thread. The job is only half over - still ahead is the printing and matting (and framing.) And, it's feeling a lot easier knowing you guys are holding my hand.

Sorry I missed this thread.........have been computerless for about 3 days.....

Yes Kat....I can upsize it WHEN I get my computer back from Apple.... I don't have that paper Stuart mentioned, but would print it on enhanced matte for you if you want....once that computer comes back ..... (As long as you are not in a hurry! ) It hopefully will be back in about a week.

I am so brain-dead today. I read this hours ago, and never answered. Thanks, Tracy. Lynn and I already talked about having you do the printing. Kathy