Fine Art Inkjet Printing w/ Photoshop by Andrew Darlow

July 10, 2010

Calumet Photographic

Photo© Andrew Darlow

Schedule for workshop

1. Introduction/overview of papers2. Show samples3. Printer info4. Color management/Profiling5. Print attendee images

Questions to Get Started

1. Name2. Main reasons for taking class.3. Which OS do you primarily use?4. Which Printer(s) do you use?5. Which software do you use (Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom)?

Printers about $200

Epson Artisan Line(approx. $200-300US)

• 8.5 inch width • Claria dye-based ink• CD/DVD Printing • 6 individual cartridges• 2 trays – plain paper and 5x7/4x6 glossy/semigloss• WiFi

Printer Info/Tips

1. Prices change - ask about rebates/bundles2. The Inkjet Selector- available via PDF on inkjettips.com3. The best printer in the world is the one (or more ) that are right for you-not someone else. 4. Dye vs. Pigment? Longevity? www.wilhelm-research.com5. We will cover 13-44 inch wide printers 6. Black and White - Multiple black/gray inks + software7. Size (some fit on table, some won’t fit in a home /studio)8. Paper feed options - cassette/roll/sheet/CD (thickness)9. Cartridge size/individual + combination/starter tanks10. Read the manual 11. Print Speed-Find the “Sweet Spot” - quality vs. speed

Printers about $100

Epson Stylus Photo R280

(approx. $100 US)

• 8.5 inch width • Claria dye-based ink• CD/DVD Printing • 6 individual cartridges

The Printers - CANON

CanonPixma Pro9500 Mark II

(approx. $850 US-less rebates)

• 13'' wide (33cm) / Front & top paper feed• 10 ink system (Lucia pigments)• Photo and Matte Black installed • Black and White optimized with MB/PB/gray ink• Initial Longevity Tests: 100+ years (+ wheels)

The Printers - Canon

CanonimagePROGRAF

iPF5100(approx. $2000 US)

Includes roll-feed

• (similar to iPF 5000)17'' wide (43cm) / Borderless (roll only) Built in sensor - allows you to calibrate to a known state-not profiling

• 12 ink system (Lucia pigments) - 2 grey/2 black (new-finer pigments)

• Photo and Matte Black installed - no changeover• Paper feed: Cassette, top feed (front), rear sheet and roll feed • Initial longevity tests: 100+ years

The Printers - CanonCanon

imagePROGRAF iPF6300/8300/9100:

24''/44''/60''(iPF6300: approx $4000

iPF8300: approx $6000iPF9100 approx. $15000 US)

• 24'' /44'' / 60'' wide (152cm) / Borderless (roll only)• 12 ink system (Lucia pigments) - new: 2 gray/2 black• Photo and Matte Black installed - 330/700ml• Software for signage & Photoshop plug-in • Initial longevity tests: 100+ years - Link to Good review• iPF6300 (24'') has a front and top manual feed + roll.

8100/9100 have front manual feed + roll - NEW iPF6350 adds 80gb drive

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus Photo

R1900(approx. $550 US)

• 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet)• 7 UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 pigment inks + GO• Gloss optimizer meant for glossy prints• Photo and Matte Black installed• Prints on CDs / DVDs • Faster than the Epson R1800 - Tip: Use best quality

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus Photo

R2880(approx. $700 US)

Very similar to the R2400(see current rebate)

• 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet)• Front, top and top single sheet paper paths• 8-color UltraChrome K3 inks (new vivid magenta) • CD/DVD Print Capability• LLK ink: Advanced Advanced Black and White mode• Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black• Clogs less than previous model

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus Photo 1400

(approx. $300 US)

• 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet)• Top feed• 6 individual Claria Dye-based inks• USB 2 connectivity• Single black ink (no need to change) • Prints on CDs/DVDs• Photoshop Elements free (about an $80 value)

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus

Pro 3880(approx. $1295 US)

USB 2 and Ethernet connectivity

Professional EditionColorBurst RIP -

(approx. $200 US)

• 17'' (43cm) wide - 43 lbs. -fits on most desks• 2 top load trays + front tray for up to 1.5mm • 9 ink slots: 8-color UltraChrome K3 + Vivid Magenta

inks• Photo/Matte black on-board (uses 1.5 to 4.5ml)• Advanced Black and White mode- 373/8 max. length

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus

Pro 4880(approx. $2000 US)

Portrait EditionHelps with packages-similar to Gemini

(approx. $2200 US)

Professional Edition (ColorBurst RIP) available

• 17'' (43cm) wide - stand is optional - NEW USB2 + FireWire • Tray, front, top and roll paper paths • Faster than 4800• 8-color UltraChrome K3 with new Vivid Magenta ink• SP4880 ink (except new VM) will fit in SP4800• Advanced Black and White mode • Clog-reducing coating• Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black unlike the SP3800

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus Pro 7880: 24''

(approx. $3000 US)Epson Stylus Pro 9880: 44''

(approx. $5000 US)

Professional Editions Available

• Very similar to specs of the 4880 (link to specs) • Up to 1.5mm thickness from front top feed• 8-color UltraChrome K3 inks + Vivid Magenta• Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black• Longevity Tests (certain media): 100-200+ years

The Printers - EpsonEpson Stylus Pro 7900: 24''(approx. $4000 US)

Epson Stylus Pro 9900: 44''(approx. $6000 US)

Rebates - $700 or $1000Professional Editions Available

• Similar to specs of the 7880/9880• Vivid Magenta (10 inks running at a time)• Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black but only 1-3ml ink

waste with a switch , and much less time• Longevity Tests (certain media): 100-200+ years • Very fast- high quality even at less than best resolution

The Printers - HPHP Photosmart

Pro B9180(approx. $600 US)

• 13 inch (33cm) width - Tray- Up to 1.5mm thick• Water-resistant HP Vivera Pigment ink/charged -Initial longevity tests: 120-250+ years• 8 inks -Matte and Photo Black installed + Gray• Built-in Calibration/ Ethernet-USB / Electrostatic Drop

Detection.

HP Photosmart 8750

Product photo

• 13 inch maximum width (borderless)• Unique Black & White mode• Excellent print quality

- www.wilhelm-research.com

The Printers - HPHP Photosmart

Pro B8850(approx. $350 US)

• 13 inch (33cm) width - Tray- Up to .7 mm thick• Water-resistant HP Vivera Pigment ink/charged -Est. longevity tests: 120-250+ years• 8 inks -Matte and Photo Black installed + Gray• Built-in Calibration/ Ethernet-USB / Electrostatic Drop

Detection.• Photoshop plug-in for Mac and Windows- PS CS2 not

CS3

HP Photosmart 8750

Product photo

• 13 inch maximum width (borderless)• Unique Black & White mode• Excellent print quality

- www.wilhelm-research.com

The Printers - HPHP Designjet Z2100

24'': approx. $3,395 US44'': approx. $5,595 US

• Two sizes: 24'' (107cm) & 44'' (152cm)• 8 HP Vivera Pigment inks (include. Gray) - like the

B9180 • Longevity Tests (certain media): 200+ years - .88mm• Built-in GretagMacbeth spectrophotometer• 130ml carts / 40GB hard drive / Ethernet / USB 2.0

The Printers - HPHP Designjet Z3200

24'': approx. $4,095 US44'': approx. $6,295 US

• Two sizes: 24'' (107cm) & 44'' (112cm)• 11 HP Vivera Pigment inks + Gloss Optimizer for 12 total• Includes. 2 blacks and 2 Grays.• Longevity Tests (certain media): 200+ years - .88mm• Built-in GretagMacbeth spectrophotometer• 130ml carts / 80GB hard drive / Ethernet / USB 2.0

Paper/Canvas Tips What are they for? Exhibition, Portfolio, Grandma?

1. Thickness/Strength: some are resistant to scratching, some are double-sided- mil is thickness and gsm is weight2. Gloss/semi-gloss papers - Look like traditional photos RC Micro-porous vs. Swellable papers (Epson1400)3. Outgassing can be a problem -Cover prints for 24hrs. (Lineco’s unbuffered acid-free sheets) - Bronzing/Gloss Differential4. Matte /Watercolor Papers - many, many options/texturesRag (cotton rags) vs. Alpha Cellulose (wood pulp) vs Mix.5. Consider heavyweight papers (over 250gsm) - they sit flatter. An exception are books-190-220gsm are ideal.6. Consider OBAs (Optical Brightening Agents)- Bright white7. Susceptibility to flaking-brush to reduce8. Cut sheets from rolls first, then brush them to avoid dust9. Vacuum papers10. Canvas - Matte/Semi-gloss/gloss - wrapping & coating

Fiber Gloss/Semi-gloss Tips

1. Gorgeous “darkroom feel”2. Thickness/surface (sheen) ranges a lot between brands 3. Black & White vs. Color 4. Some are more resistant to scratching5. Spraying can help protect them6. They can also “outgas”7. Great for portfolio books, cards. 8. Score with a knife or scoring bone tomake cards

Color Management/Profiling

Calibrate and Profile: Especially your monitor(s)

Use a standard image (Like the PhotoDisc target): Link: L2.2 Datacolor (above, left)/X-Rite (above, right) have high quality

products-- Also available: ColorMunki, hueyPRO Test charts help a lot to judge different output devices

Color Management/ ICC Profiling

Use custom profiles for best results: Resources: http://tinyurl.com/2hynss

Supplied company profiles can also be very good (Atkinson profiles) Some paper manufacturers make custom profiles . Plusses/Minuses When printing from a color-management aware application like Photoshop, Use “No color management/Application Managed” when printing

Which Working Space?

Color Management/Profiling

Presentation/Portfolios

• (1) Kolo Cortina Lux Scrapbook; • (2) Kolo Vineyard Paper Album. It has a saddle-stitch binding with two staples; • (3) Pina Zangaro Boro aluminum photo box; • (4) Kolo Toto Accordian Photo Album; • (5) Hand assembled book, bound using white double loop Wire-O wire closures and a

hand-operated binding machine from James Burn International (Model EB-32); • (6) A simple wire bound book from an art supply store. Two pieces of heavy faux-leather

covers with about 50 sheets of heavy black acid-free paper inside give the album a high-end look and feel. A window is cut out to allow the frst photo to show through;

• (7) Pina Zangaro Vista 14x11 Screwpost Cover (Style: Snow). Screwpost books are also called “post-bound.” A Pina Zangaro 14" clear Adhesive Hinge Strip is attached to the left side of the inkjet print shown in the photo, which allows it to be easily bound into the portfolio;

• (8) A small, business-card sized book with black plastic coil binding; • (9) Matchmakers DCWV Mini Album. It has a saddle-stitched binding with one staple.

Black & White / Monochrome

• HP, Canon & Epson all have monochrome options• Dedicated ink sets: Piezography (www.inkjetmall.com)

• Black ink only can work well• Quadtone RIP (especially good for older Epson

printers like the Epson 4000/Epson 2200)

• Check out the DigitalBlackandWhitethePrint Newsgroup on Yahoogroups.com

• Amadou Diallo’s Mastering Digital B&W bookis a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to

makeBetter B&W prints.