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