photography printingTag:

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products, Tips & Tricks
Leave a comment

See Why Canon Printers are a Top Choice for Professionals

Canon offers state-of-the-art large-format printing solutions designed with exceptional speed, flexibility, and quality. The product line includes models for professional photography and fine art, production signage, infographics and posters, technical documents, and general use markets.

Tune in Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. ET, as Canon technical specialist and award-winning photographer Pete Wright takes you through the features and benefits of the imagePROGRAF PRO-Series family.

All attendees are eligible to receive 5% – up to $599 – off MSRP as well as 0% financing through Canon. Partner your webinar discount with Canon’s instant rebates for total savings of up to $1399*. If you are considering the new 12-color PRO-2100, PRO-4100, or PRO-6100 or the new 8-color PRO-4100S or PRO-6100S, register for our live event.

Afterward, if you are still unsure about which printer is right for you, Pete will be there to answer your questions.

The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-Series printers include breakthrough technology for professionals who demand perfection. Canon sets the bar by delivering rich, detailed, brilliant colors for graphics in 24-, 44-, and 60- inch widths.

Sign up online or call one of our printer specialists at 800-453-9538 for additional information.

*Webinar promotion can only be combined with monthly instant rebate. Not valid with any other promotions or programs.

60 Minutes Photo Adds a Personal Touch to Photo Reproduction
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
Leave a comment

60 Minutes Photo Adds a Personal Touch to Photo Reproduction

In the 1970s, 60 Minutes Photo was the first one-hour photo development lab in West Palm Beach, Fla. Today, its ability to continue to offer innovative solutions with top-notch, in-person customer service has helped keep it in business during a time when online competition keeps heating up.

“Photo labs are becoming a dying breed,” says Renea Hutchings, who owns 60 Minutes Photo with her husband, Harold. “We’re more of a custom lab. People walk in and we have consulting where we can pull up their image and show them how it will look at a certain size. We work with both professionals and amateur photographers. Today, we’re one of the only all-around labs in Palm Beach County.”

The team pairs that customer-intimate approach with photo restoration work as well as up-to-the-minute photo reproduction trends, such as acrylic glass art, photo books, t-shirts, puzzles and metal prints, utilizing a variety of print technologies and substrates, based on their customers’ preferences.

The metal prints are particularly popular these days, Hutchings says, because of their sleek look and color reproduction. “If you have a really good shot, and we sublimate it on metal, we can get a really good print,” she says.

Her production team opts for Chromaluxe Photo Panels and LexJet InFuze Rigid Substrate Dye-Sub Paper for transferring the image to the metal. “Our guys like the InFuze better than the others they’ve used — it feels thicker and it’s more  porous, so it holds more ink when we sublimate it — it heats better and works better, especially with the photo panels,” Hutchings says.

When finishing the panels, the 60 Minutes team adds customized hanging fixtures with stainless steel buttons and sticks that are adhered to the back and can hold panels as large as 30-by-40 inches — and they deliver the final product within just a few days.

“We have some interior designer customers in Wellington, which is a huge horse-show world,” she says. “Their photos can be sublimated onto metal and hung outside on patios or in these multi-million-dollar horse barns. You can pretty much just squirt them with a hose and wipe them off. They’re pretty indestructible”

Another popular wall art item the team produces is photos printed Sunset Photo Metallic Paper and adhered to acrylic. “The image just pops,” Hutchings says. “It’s not like looking at a regular print.” She says portrait photographers, restaurants, sports bars and healthcare facilities are just a few of the types of customers opting for these two dynamic options.

To learn more about photo reproduction options, connect with a LexJet print specialist to day at 800-453-9538.

New Prices on Sunset Papers: Another Reason to Switch
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends
Leave a comment

New Prices on Sunset Papers: Another Reason to Switch

Earlier this year, LexJet launched the all new Sunset Cold Press Textured Bright White 300g and Sunset Hot Press Smooth Bright White 300g to give photographers more options for bringing their vision to the finished print.

Now, we’ve lowered the prices of both of these new products to give you another reason to make the switch to Sunset.

These two new papers are compatible with aqueous inks, and are acid-free for long print life. They’re ideal for photography, art reproductions, unframed cards or high-end, customized home décor. And now they are even more competitively priced.

To learn more about the new pricing structure for these papers and how to create high-end visual impact with Sunset products, call a LexJet print specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

Get to Know the Installation Location Before Shooting for Large-Format
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, Tips & Tricks
Leave a comment

Get to Know the Installation Location Before Shooting for Large-Format

Guest blog by Billy Elkins

Billy Elkins

In my last blog, I wrote about communication and went over the five-part process for photographing for large-format printing. Let’s look more specifically at scouting the final installation location. This is the part that is usually the most intimidating for photographers who are not used to photographing for large-format.

Often it is not a simple single surface. In fact, most of the time, the location is more complicated. As the photographer, we normally do not have access to the location of the installation so knowing as many details about the location as possible is important when capturing the image. The previous example from the Sarasota International Airport illustrates that perfectly.

Riverwalk image after final installation at the Sarasota Airport

The image for the airport had to be installed on the back wall directly behind the baggage claim area. This presented a few challenges because of the actual baggage claim window, a large advertising display screen, a column in the middle of the wall and the actual baggage claim conveyor belt system.

Like any other large format photography project, having a photograph of the installation location is useful for conceptually trying to decide how to capture the right image and from the right angle and the right size.

Understanding the location of the final image applies to all large-format photography projects. If you consider vehicle wraps, wall murals or trade show displays, they all have their own installation challenges that, as the image maker, we need to be aware of for the best results.

For this next example project, I was commissioned by LexJet to create an image for their “Carnival” themed trade show booth. The booth itself was 50-feet wide, and they wanted the photo to be the whole backdrop. The installation would be printed on LexJet Simple Flo Wrap Vinyl, and then installed on the back wall of the trade show exhibition floor.

The final image size ended up being 50-feet wide by 25-feet high. This was huge! When you entered the trade show floor, you could see the “Carnival” in the background and could smell the popcorn from the booth. I worked directly with the marketing team to create different versions of the background so they could integrate the best option with the rest of the booth design.

The fair image installed behind the LexJet trade show booth.

So how did we do it? We visited the Florida State Fair and spent most of the day capturing different scenes that were potential backdrops. I brought my full bag of lenses, and we decided on a focal length of 50mm, it is the closest focal length to what we actually see. I made very tight overlapping images so that we had as much resolution as possible knowing that final image size needed to be so big.

And because the marketing team was going to experiment with the concepts after the fact, we had to capture as many different scenes and as large as possible. The idea was to give the feel of walking right up to the carnival. In addition, we crafted images to be used for the rest of the booth and to be used for sample material give-aways.

Technical Details:

  • Camera – Nikon D800
  • Lens- Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8
  • Focal Length – 50mm
  • F-Stop – f/9
  • Shutter – 1/650
  • ISO – 200
  • Frames – 20 overlapping NEF files

The image was merged using Adobe Photoshop CC Automate > Photomerge. I provided a final layered PSD file to the marketing team so they could make any adjustments for layout and for printing.

NEW BLOG SERIES: Good, Better & Best eSatin Photo Papers
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
Leave a comment

NEW BLOG SERIES: Good, Better & Best eSatin Photo Papers

When comparing photo papers, canvas and other media options, we know it’s not always easy to determine what the best option is for your production volume, output expectations and price point considerations.

That’s why we’re starting our “Good, Better, Best” series to look at some ideal products for your needs. We’re kicking off with one of our most popular categories: eSatin Photo Papers.

These papers are in high demand for professional photographers and reproduction studios who want classic photographic results without excessive gloss and glare. eSatin Photo Papers look great in a frame or on their own, whether you’re producing larger-than-life prints or handy 8x10s. Take a look at our Good, Better and Best options before you buy your next roll:

GOOD: LexJet 8 Mil Production Satin Photo Paper — This all-around high-performing photo paper is a lightweight option for everyday use in large-production volume printing.

Posters fine art inkjet printing
Posters printed on LexJet 8 mil Production Satin Photo Paper

It’s ideal for high-volume thanks to a microporous inkjet coating that dries fast, so you don’t have to wait to handle and finish your graphics. Plus, it’s resistant to smudges and fingerprints — an excellent choice for high-traffic environments. Starting at $0.34 per square foot, it has a subtle satin finish for a natural look, and many users choose to finish it with a film laminate for extra protection.

What users say: “It’s similar in look and feel to Sunset Photo eSatin, but it’s less expensive and thinner. In other words, it’s a good alternative for more economical photo products like posters or even test prints.”

BETTER:  LexJet Sunset Production eSatin 250g — Great results paired with an excellent price point make this photo paper our “Better” choice. Professional photographers turn to this resin-coated option when they need a slightly lighter-weight version that works for both portraits and commercial graphics. At $0.45 per square foot, this paper delivers a larger color gamut with pin-sharp detail.

What users say: “On our initial trials it held its own when we did our side-by-side comparisons with a similar photo paper, and we like the Sunset Production eSatin better. The paper is brighter and just as durable and so far has proven to be a winner.”

Portraits printed on LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g

BEST: LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g — This professional-grade, heavy-weight paper sets the industry standard as the ideal product for photo printing for portrait work to museum exhibits that can last for years. Its consistency has made it the go-to option for years for single prints or framed photos in black-and-white or full-blown color. Some customers have had great success face-mounting it to plex-glass. Starting at $0.61 per square foot (and available in sheets) Sunset Photo eSatin provides excellent ink retention for realistic and accurate colors.

What users say: “The heavier weight and wide color gamut of eSatin is exactly what I’m after in a print; I just love how that print medium presents.”

Guest Blog Part II: 5 Steps to Large-format Photography
Posted on by LexJet Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, Tips & Tricks
Leave a comment

Guest Blog Part II: 5 Steps to Large-format Photography

Billy Elkins

Guest blog by Billy Elkins

Large-format photography is a five-part process. In the last blog, I talked about communication being key. We will cover the five-part process and then walk through a real-world scenario that will show just how important that is.

1. Communication with the client. Ask the client how and where the photos will be used. Try to visit the location, if possible. What is their vision? Are there any restrictions to size or are there any obstacles in the way? It is our job as the photographer to gather this information.

2. Communication with the printer. Ask the printer to go over the specifications that they need from the images. Will they be building the final file? What size and type of files do they prefer? Will they be providing proofs to client before printing?

3. Create the image. You need to satisfy the clients needs, but within the specifications of the printer. Any time that all three — you, client and printer — can be together to discuss the details of the project the better.

4. Printing. My background is in large-format printing and I have seen and worked with many types of output devices and media. It has helped to give me more insight into what my photo will ultimately turn into. Having an understanding of the printing devices helps in not only image capture but preparation of the final files may differ depending on the type of output device. This part is just as important as understanding the camera, lens, and software used to create the image. Often this part is overlooked by many photographers.

5. Installation. You may wonder why that part is important to the photographer? It does several things that are beneficial. If you have never seen an installation go up, it is pretty amazing to watch. This is where all the technical parts come together. To see an image that is merged from many images on a computer screen to see being installed at full size (over 40 feet) is incredible. Seeing how the installers work and put the image together helps me envision the final product as I work on the various steps along the way.

The example below was for a large format installation at the Sarasota International Airport. The client was advertising on the back wall directly behind the baggage claim area. The final installation included wall graphics and 3-dimensional cutouts, as well as 360-degree image wraps around columns. The full wall area was 971” x 103.5”, and the image I needed to create was 415”x 103.5”.

The scope of the job was not very difficult, but I was brought in after the original photographer was not able to provide large enough files. In this case, I was contacted by the printer to see if I could create the image at the size they needed. We went over all of the details and I was given the exact location of what needed to be photographed.

Technical details:

  • Camera – Nikon D800
  • Lens – Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8
  • Focal Length – 24mm
  • F-Stop – f/11
  • Shutter – 1/160
  • ISO – 200
  • Frames – 7 overlapping NEF files
  • Final image size – 10830ppi x 5200ppi

The image was merged using Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Merge and then brought into Adobe Photoshop to add some minor effects that the client requested.

I provided a final layered PSD file to the printer so they could make any further adjustments, if needed, for printing. The final print resolution was 32dpi. Yep, 32dpi! Click on the photos below to see how the project came together.