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What is your printing process?
All of my prints are made using Epson professional grade printers and archival pigment inks on thick, matte finish, fine art papers. These types of papers impart a unique appearance to the image that is more reminiscent of a lithograph or painting than a traditional photograph.
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How much do prints cost and how can I purchase one? The cost of the print is dependent on its size as well as if it is an open or limited edition print. There are generally three sizes available for each photograph. The specific price can be determined by clicking on the "$ Purchase" link next to any enlarged image. Alternatively the contact form can be used for any inquiry regarding purchase, or, for that matter, for any questions you might have regarding my photography. I answer all inquiries in a timely fashion.
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What size prints are available for purchase?
There are generally three sizes available for each image. For the two largest print sizes, the stated dimensions are approximate to the nearest inch and includes a 1 inch border around the image which is meant to be displayed and contains the handwritten title, edition number, and artist signature. To allow for framing, the paper itself extends 2 inches around the image. The smallest print size is signed and numbered on the back and has a 1/2 inch border.
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Wait a second, aren't inkjet prints cheap?
To many, the notion of an inkjet print evokes poor quality. Several years ago this may well have been the case. And while one can still produce "cheap", low quality inkjet prints, it is now possible to produce exceedingly high quality prints that are at least as sharp, detailed, and colorful as those produced in the traditional photographic darkroom.
Needless to say, this ability has occurred because of advances in inkjet technology. Professional quality inkjet printers can now generate ink "dots" that are so small as to be totally invisible to the human eye. The newest series of such printers utilize seven separate ink colors which allow for exceptionally smooth color gradations. There are even different black ink formulations that are tailored to specific paper types in order to ensure the deepest, richest colors possible. It is now generally accepted that the current generation of inkjet printers are capable of producing prints that are of even higher quality than those produced by traditional photographic processes.
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Do you offer any type of guarantee?
Purchasing artwork over the internet can be a difficult proposition, as a print can not be fully appreciated until it is seen with one's own eyes. It is for that reason that I offer the following guarantee:
If, for any reason, you are not totally delighted with your print simply return it and I will gladly exchange it or refund 100% of the purchase price PLUS the cost of your return shipping. Take up to one month to decide if the print is right for your home or office.
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Do you sign or number my print?
Each print is titled, signed, and numbered in the border below the image, except for the smallest (generally about 8x10 inch) size, which is signed and numbered on the reverse, in order to allow for maximal image size on the paper. A certificate of authenticity is included, as well as an explanation as to where, when, and how the photograph was taken so that you can know 'the story behind the image'.
Open edition prints are numbered sequentially, while limited edition prints have both the print number and edition size written in the border. The edition number includes prints made of that particular image at any size, and once the indicated number of prints have been made the image will no longer be printed.
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What is the expected longevity of my print?
Short answer: A minimum of 60 years or more before any fading occurs. This is based on data from the well known Wilhelm Imaging Research group.
Long answer: There are two general ink types used for photographic printing, pigment based inks and dye based inks. Dye based inks typically have a wider color gamut, meaning that they can produce more brilliant and wider ranges of colors. However, their Achille's heel is longevity and fade resistance. In addition to fading, there have also been problems with some dye based inks undergoing chemical breakdown from environmental factors, which can lead to dramatic color shifts over time.
Pigment based inks, on the other hand, have superb longevity and fade resistance. In the past they typically had a more limited color gamut as well as a problem called metamerism, whereby the coloration of the ink appears to change under different lighting conditions. However, in the last several years pigment ink technology has vastly improved and now one can now have the "best of both worlds". Newer pigment based inks have a much wider color gamut which approaches that of dye based inks. In addition, the problem of metamerism with color images has been eliminated.
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How do I care for my print?
All fine art prints, whether traditional gelatin-silver photographs, inkjet prints, or lithographs should be framed under glass or plexiglass with UV protective coating. In addition, the matting should be acid-free. Optimally, the print should be displayed in an area that does not receive harsh, direct sunlight.
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Why is the color of my print slightly different than it appeared on my computer monitor?
Exact color matching and color management are very difficult processes. There are inherent differences between an image displayed on a computer monitor, which our eyes see directly via transmitted light, and a printed image, which we see via light reflected from the image surface. In addition, color on a computer monitor is produced by mixing three different colors of light, while the colors on a print are composed of seven different colors of ink.
Nonetheless, the colors of a print can match the colors displayed on a computer monitor very closely if both the monitor and the printer are color calibrated. However, exacting color calibration is not something that is done by the average home computer user. It is a time consuming process that requires the use of expensive equipment.
In order to calibrate a monitor, a spectrophotometer is used to measure known color values as they are displayed on the screen. Specialized software is then used to produce a "color profile". This profile then converts color from what the monitor, in its native state, "wants" to display to what the true, measured color values are. A similar process is then used to calibrate the printer. When both monitor and printer are properly calibrated, the color of the printed image will match the image displayed on the computer monitor exceedingly well. I work on a system that is calibrated in this fashion.
Since most computers have not been professionally calibrated, the colors you see on your print will vary a bit from the way they appear on your computer monitor. These differences should be relatively slight.
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Will my print show more detail than I see on my computer monitor?
Yes. In fact, it will show much more detail than the image you see on your computer monitor. The size of the image file that you view on your monitor has been drastically downsized in order to allow it to upload to your computer within a reasonable period of time. The original file is over 100 times larger and will print with much finer detail than seen on your screen.
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