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Fort Worth Camera ClubSept. 5, 2019
Making and Enjoying Prints
Drew Hendrix
Making and Enjoying Prints
Making and Enjoying Prints
• Types of Photo Paper• Picking the Right Paper• Paper Specs • Printer Technology• Cost of Inkjet Printing• Inkjet Printers
Types of Photo Papers
• Photobase RC• Matte• Fine Art• Baryta• Specialty
Photo inkjet paper can be broken into five categories.Knowing the different paper options helps when considering new print projects
Photobase “RC” PaperResin Coated papers look and feel like the typical
photo lab print. They are a paper core coated on top and bottom with plastic.
Sub-types:
Glossy – Smooth reflective surface
Luster / Satin – Lightly textured (pebbled) surface
Photo Metallic – The look of Kodak Endura metallic for inkjet
Matte Photo PapersNon-reflective surface
Capable of high quality photo reproduction and saturated colors
Excellent when you want viewer to concentrate on the detail of an image
Available in many weights and double sided versions
Fine Photographic Art PapersUsually 100% cotton rag paper coated
with inkjet receptive chemicalsArt papers are designed to offer an
elegant look, feel, and higher perceived value
Surface can be matte or slightly reflective
• Vellum / Hot Press – smooth surface• Velvet / Cold Press – textured surface
Baryta PapersDesigned to mimic air-
dried fibre papersExcellent for those looking
to mimic darkroom prints
Sophisticated coating technology that uses Barium Sulfate to add a lustrous white shade to the media
Specialty• A wide variety of products– Canvas–Metallic silver– Transparency– Vellum– Tattoo kits–Metals
Selecting the Right Paper
Think about your image
• Subject• Mood• Color pallet• Details
Selecting the Right PaperNow consider the paper.How can it enhance or
detract from your work?
• Surface reflectance• Surface texture• Tone• Weight & thickness
Selecting the Right PaperPaper Tone – Warm or Cool?• Choice between warm and cool is subjective• Depends on the emotion of your image or the
subject matter• Tone sets the white point of the print. • You can warm up a image but you really cannot
cool one down.• Cooler papers cause a perceived increase in
contrast
Paper Type NotesGlossy
PROS• Pop• Deep blacks and saturation• Higher perceived sharpness
CONS• Harsh reflections
Paper Type NotesSatin & Luster
PROS• The “universal” paper surface• Saturated color and deep blacks• Minimal reflections
CONS• Unless you are printing artwork, I cannot think
of one.
Paper Type NotesMatte
PROS• More subtle look and feel• Middle ground “artistic” between pure photo papers
and cotton art papers• No reflections. Details easily perceived
CONS• Lower saturation and black density compared to
glossy or satin photo papers• Less resistance to wear and tear
Paper Type NotesCotton Fine Photo Art Papers
PROS• True artistic look and feel• Higher perceived value of the image • Base paper is typically museum grade• Typically available in cooler and warmer tones
CONS• Lower saturation and black density compared to glossy
or satin photo papers• Less resistance to wear and tear• More difficult to use in general
Paper Type NotesFine Photo Art Papers –
Ones with reflective properties
Typically warmer tone papers
PROS• The look and feel of wet darkroom• High performance coatings comparable to glossy and
satin• Higher perceived value of the image
CONS• Can be more difficult to use in general
Selecting the Right Paper
RRP has an easy to use way of narrowing down your choices!
Paper Specs
Thickness• Referred to terms of MIL• A MIL is a thousandth of an inch• Copy paper = 5mil• Typical photo paper = 10.4mil• Typical cotton art paper = 15mil
Brightness vs. Whiteness• Brightness – A paper�s ability to reflect light• Whiteness – The quality of reflected light. Refers to
the shade of the paper
Photographers should be more concerned with WHITENESS.
The shade of the paper (warm, neutral, cool) makes a much bigger impact on the final image than brightness.
Optical Brighteners & Whiteners
Optical brighteners are added to paper to help the paper look �whiter�. Also called OBAs
Pros – OBAs make the paper look clean, bright, and bluer white.
Cons – OBAs �burn out� over time when exposed to UV light. This causes the paper to return to its natural warmer shade
Optical Brighteners & WhitenersOBAs are in the majority of photo inkjet papers.
These papers will yellow slightly over time like traditional photo prints.
NO OBA Papers – Most Fine Art cotton papers have no OBAs for maximum archival rating.
***OBA content is NOT RELATED TO INK FADE! Only changes in the shade of the paper
Top Tips for Printers
Rule One:
Avoid IRS
INKJETRELATEDSTRESS
Avoiding IRS
•Monitor • Printer Settings• Printer Care and Feeding• Editing for Print
The Monitor
The Monitor• Critical to your digital photography output
and editing
• If the monitor is not displaying your image data properly, you will never get truly accurate images
• Calibrate Your Monitor!
What is Monitor Calibration?• The process of creating a color profile
specific to your monitor
• Sets brightness
• Sets contrast
• Can take ambient light into account
Prints Too Dark – Monitor Too Bright?
• A monitor that is too bright results in prints that are �too dark�.
• Excess brightness gives you a false impression of the exposure and shadow details in an image.
• When you make a print, the problem becomes visible
How to Calibrate Use a monitor calibration product
– Datacolor• Spyder5
– Xrite• ColorMunki• I1 Display
Why Is This Important?• Monitor profile connects editing software with
your display.
• A color decoder ring that showsyou the real color values of your image on the screen
• Brightness and contrast settings - CRITICAL. The profiling hardware measures these variables and sets them properly.
Summing Up Monitor Calibration
• Tells the monitor HOW to display your colors and tones properly and you will get to view and then edit the real ones and zeros of your file.
• Correct the brightness and the most common printing problem is solved!
Printer SetupGet the settings correct and you will
save time, money, paper, and frustration.
Key Settings
• Media (Paper) Type• Print Quality• Paper Size• Color Management
Media (Paper) Type
Media (Paper) Type
Media (Paper) Type
Use the logical setting – choose glossy for a glossy paper, etc.
Follow the instructions that come with the paper you’re using.
An incorrect setting can cause poor colors, inconsistent results, too much or too little ink.
Print Quality
Print QualityCANON – Choose the highest setting
EPSON – Choose Photo or 1440dpiHigher settings do not make noticeably better results
HP – Best Photo
Lower quality settings are available when you are doing basic printing or proofing.
Paper SizePaper size option is important to avoid wasting paper and ink. Double check it before you print.
Other controls found here:
•Borderless option•Custom paper size setup
Color Controls
Printer Manage Colors or Application Manage Colors
Color Controls
QUICK & SIMPLE – Use the printer driver color management and get good to great results.
MORE CONTROL – Turn off driver color management and let your application do with work.
This is when a paper profile is used
You can let the printer driver manage colors
OR
Let your application manage colors via a profile
Color Controls
Printer Maintenance
Printer MaintenanceMany print quality issues can be corrected with maintenance.
Most printers have:
•Nozzle check•Nozzle clean•Head alignment
White lines or areas of missing ink in your print?Nozzle check then clean if needed
Jagged lines or blurry details?Run a head alignment
Paper FeedPaper types will feed with varying consistency
RC Papers - Easiest to use
Matte Papers•Leave coating behind•Clean rollers after every few boxes.
Fine Photo Art Papers •Heavier and thicker. •Will require setting your printer’s thick paper options. •Some printers have specialty feed path
www.redriverpaper.com/feed for more tips and tricks
Editing for Print
Editing for Print
In terms of data and fidelity, the process from image capture to print is downhill.
The nature of printing constrains your color gamut, reflectivity, luminance, and sharpness.
Photography has always been this way.
Editing for Print
Today we see stunning detail, luminance, depth, and saturation more than ever.
Technology at the capture & edit stages drive the improvements:
•The 24mb sensor in your camera•The HD monitor on your desktop
Editing for Print
Printer tech has come a long way in 20 years but the improvement curve has flattened.
To get the best possible print…and to meet our expectations driven the capture and editing technology….
Editing for Print
The KEY is to EDIT your image, optimizing it for print
Three important and quick edits:
CONTRAST | SATURATION | SHARPNESS
Editing for Print
ADD MID-TONE CONTRASTLightroom
Quickly add “Medium Contrast” in the Point Curve dialog - creates a gentle S-curve in the levels, representing more contrast around the mid-point. You can adjust the contrast by moving the curve – put your mouse on the line and drag.
Mid-Tone Constrast Lightroom
Editing for PrintADD MID-TONE CONTRASTPhotoshop
Use the Curves dialog. Choose the “Medium Contrast” option that creates a gentle S-curve in the levels, representing more contrast around the mid-point. You can adjust the contrast by moving the curve – put your mouse on the line and drag.
Mid-Tone Contrast Photoshop
Editing for PrintADD A TOUCH OF SATURATION
Add 5-10% more saturation or vibranceusing your editing app’s sliders. You will soon determine the right number for your typical photo.
A Touch of Saturation - Photoshop
A Touch of Saturation - Lightroom
Editing for PrintMAKE IT SHARP
This is more esoteric so here’s the idea.
Add sharpness until you say “Ouch, that’s crunchy and gross”.
Now, back up 10% and stop. Print. You will be surprised by the improvement.
Sharpening
Inkjet Printer
Technology
Inkjet Printer Technology• Most printers, from $99 to
$5999 offer similar print quality and media compatibility.
• Yes there are differences but most people would be hard pressed pick the “expensive”print.
With more expensive models you are paying for fade resistance, size, and expanded color gamut, specialty media feed options.
Pigment or Dye?• Pigment inks designed to resist fade for the
long term – 50+ years when displayed or stored properly
• Dye inks exist for biggest color gamut, maximum media compatibility, and to some degree expense.
• Today – pigment and dye inks cost about the same so pigment has become an “upsell”feature
Enthusiast & Pro Models
Canon• PRO-10 / PRO-1 • PRO-1000• PRO-2000• PRO-4000
HP• Z series
Epson• All SureColor• Most XP Series• Any C series printer
Current printers with pigment inks
Choosing an Inkjet Printer
• A printer for just about any need
• Simplify your decision by asking 4 questions
What is your budget?What is the max size you really need?Do prints need to resist fade 20+ years or 50+ years?Is Black & White output critical?
Choosing an Inkjet Printer
• We’re here to help
• Email or call us for a recommendation once you answer the questions.
• Have a printer? We’ll help you pick media that will work best.
Cost of Inkjet Printing
Red River conducted tests todetermine the cost per printof a typical photo
Focus on the cost per print – not cost for a certain amount of ink
In general, inkjet printers are more cost effective than a photo lab for 5x7 and larger
Cost of Inkjet PrintingInkjets also offer an intangible savings of
time and flexibility. You choose when you print and how many you need.
THANK YOU!Contact Me with Questions
214-637-0029
www.redriverpaper.com
