Fine art
printing is a good source of income - and pleasure.
More business for professional photographers and amateurs is important. There are professional photographic printers and printing bureaux using wide format inkjet
printers. Some are OPUSalbums.com’s
customers as we supply some of the finest digital art papers available
(Exclusively from Innova Art - see-www.opusalbums.com/paper)
.
However most people cannot justify the investment in wide format printing. But there is a lot you
can do yourself. This is
especially true if you wish to give fast turnaround service and your customers
want pictures of size up to A3 (or the somewhat larger A3 plus – which gives you
binding or faming margins).
1. Get yourself
a good printer. I recommend the Epson
R2400. Epson lists it at £539 – but you
will be able to shop around for a better deal.
2. Use first
class ink. Of course you can’t go wrong
with Epson Ultrachrome™ K3 inks. But
they are expensive. I was in that
business for 20 years. There are
excellent inks that are less expensive than Epson’s. There is also some awful ink. I am working on a project in this area and
will update you with advice.
3. Use the
right paper – and paper is probably the most important element in the whole
question. That is where we do
come in.
For art
printing here are some suggestions – click on the links:
Innova Textile Effect Canvas
Paper – looks like a canvas but you can feed cut sheets.
Innova Polycotton canvas –
excellent gloss and matte- especially the IFA35 - 340gsm Polycotton Matte
Digital Fine Art Canvas – we are working on sheet feed – but currently roll
feed 17” upwards. (And for that you need
a wider printer).
Innova Textured Digital Art Art Paper – a range
of excellent digital art papers used by many art printers
- Innova Soft Textured Natural
White Paper - 190gsm
- Innova Soft Textured Natural
White Paper - 315gsm
- Soft Textured Nat White Paper
Double Side 200gsm – for albums and
art books
- Innova Cold Press Rough
Textured Nat White -315gsm
Innova White cotton Digital
Photo Art Papers – ideal for digital photo art applications
-
Innova
Smooth 100% Cotton High White Paper- 215gsm
-
Innova
Smooth 100% Cotton High White Paper - 315g
-
Innova
Smooth 100% Cotton High White Paper - 450g
-
Innova
Smooth 100% Cotton Natural White - 315g
-
Innova
Cotton High White Paper Double Side- 225gsm – ideal photo photo art albums and
books – look at our PhotoArt
albums and the Pics Books
range.
- Innova Soft
White Cotton Paper 280gsm
4. Use the ICC
profiles appropriate to your printer, ink and paper. Profiles for paper sold by OPUSalbums are
available – see http://www.opusalbums.com/iccprofiles
For other
tips and ideas from OPUSalbums look at our ‘tips and ideas section’ of the
website
Or go to the
OctOPUS blogs on Wordpress – where you can add your own comments,
OctOPUS blogs – main page
OctOPUS Digital Art Paper Blog