LexJet Updates Popular Sunset Photo Papers

Print picture-perfect images every time with LexJet's next-generation Sunset photo papers. Photo and framed print: Jeff Bowman, Commonwealth Photography, Chester, Va.

LexJet has improved its award-winning Sunset photo paper line to take advantage of the wider color gamuts provided by the latest inkjet printer and ink technologies from Canon, Epson and HP.

Sunset Photo eSatin, Sunset Photo Gloss and Sunset Photo Semi-Matte are also thicker and heavier to make production and handling smoother and easier. Sunset Photo eSatin and Sunset Photo Gloss weigh in at 300g and 11.5 mils thick; Sunset Semi-Matte is 270g and 10.5 mils thick.

“Sunset photo papers have always been a popular choice for discerning professional photographers and print shops who want to deliver prints to their customers that are more substantial and durable than mass-market inkjet papers,” says Alex Ried, LexJet product manager. “Because they’re delivering a print that not only feels like a high-quality product, but produces super color and excellent contrast, Sunset photo papers are a key component of their customer retention and referrals.”

Ried adds that choosing between the three Sunset photo papers for a given project is subjective. “It depends on what you like, how you would prefer to present your images, and most importantly, what your customers like,” he says.

For a beautiful satin finish similar to the E-surface papers used in traditional darkroom printing, Sunset Photo eSatin Paper has been the go-to photo paper for wedding, portrait, outdoor and exhibition photography, as well as high-end display graphics projects. Sunset Photo Semi-Matte has a similar gloss level to eSatin, but with a smoother finish. Sunset Photo Gloss, as the name implies, provides a smooth, high-gloss finish for maximum impact.

“First of all, I love the weight of the Sunset Photo eSatin. Compared to any other paper, it just screams quality, plus the colors are perfectly accurate and the saturation is gorgeous,” says Jeff Bowman of Commonwealth Photography in Chester, Va. “It is superior to lab prints, hands-down. I’ve used it for competitions and have had other photographers come to us for prints because the quality is so good.”

All three of the next-generation Sunset photo papers are available from LexJet’s nationwide network of distribution centers in a variety of sizes, from 8 1/2 in. x 11 in. sheets to 60 in. x 100 ft. rolls.

Photographer Rick Cruz Leads Eco Photo Safaris of the Everglades

If you have always wanted to shoot images in the Everglades but have feared some of the snakes, gators, and other unknown dangers that might be lurking in the muck, consider joining one of the new eco photo safaris being offered by Swamp Exploreres, a new company operated by LexJet customer Rick Cruz.

Nature photographer/preservationist Rick Cruz and Master Naturalist Julie Cardenas founded Swamp Explorers to help more people experience the beauty of the Everglades environment in a way that will motivate them to join the fight to preserve it. In addition to photo safaris, they offer educational swamp walks and kayak tours to members of the general public. They both know enough about the environment that they can help you overcome your fears and see the Everglades in a whole new light.

The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., the Everglades includes both freshwater and salt-water habitats and is home to a rich diversity of rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Although the Everglades once covered almost 11,000 square miles in South Florida, it is only half that size today because many of the marshlands have been drained for agriculture, development, and flood control.  Every time a developer claims another five acres, Rick says they may inadvertently be removing a rare plant species that exists nowhere else on Earth.

Wildlife Photographer Applauds LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic as ‘Best of Both Worlds’

We appreciate all of the feedback we get from customers who try different products. LexJet uses these insights to continually develop new and improved products.

For example, we recently received a nice note from Brian Hampton, the nature and wildlife photographer who was featured in Vol. 4, No. 1 of LexJet’s In Focus newsletter for a 5 x 8 ft. print he produced on LexJet Sunset Photo eSatin 300g paper for a special exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. (The print showcased Brian’s image of a lioness that was the grand-prize winner in the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards.)  In the note Brian tells us why he is so impressed with LexJet’s new Sunset Photo Metallic paper. 

ASP Fellow Joe Campanellie Tells How His Passion for Photography Was Reborn

Being recognized as an ASP Fellow is a high honor. Since the American Society for Photographers inaugurated the program 40 years ago, only 104 photographers have qualified for the distinction. One photographer who earned the honor this year is LexJet customer Joe Campanellie, who runs Campanellie’s Portraits in Damascus, MD.

ASP Fellow Joe Campanellie

He proudly reports that all 25 of the original images he presented to the ASP judges were 20 x 20 in. prints that he output himself using LexJet Sunset Photo Gloss Paper 300g on his 24-in. Epson Stylus Pro 7800. “Attendees who viewed these images at a special ASP exhibit at PPA’s Imaging USA Show in Nasvhille in January were amazed at the color saturation and quality of the prints,” says Joe. “Many people were amazed that these were not traditional lab prints.”

Use Coupons in LexJet’s Digital Printing Catalog for Pro Photographers and Artists

LexJet has released its 2010 Digital Printing Catalog for the Professional Photographer and the Fine-Art Printmaker. The 32-page publication lists just some of the hundreds of products LexJet sells for photographic and fine-art printing, including photo papers, fine-art papers, fiber-based papers, canvas and coatings, stretcher bars, banner materials, specialty films, and adhesive-backed materials for photo murals, promotional signs, and other creative applications.

The catalog also shows some of the creative ways LexJet customers are using the materials and includes an article explaining why Eric Wordal of Masterpiece Portraits decided to take a fresh look at in-house printing and how he’s reaping the benefits.

On p. 25 of the catalog, you’ll find coupons that can save you hundreds of dollars on orders that you place by calling at LexJet account representative at 800-453-9538.

For example, if you buy a 24-in. (or bigger) roll of Sunset Select Matte Canvas or Instant-Dry Satin Canvas, you can get a free Sunset Stretcher Kit, with everything you need to convert one of your canvas prints into a sturdy, professional-quality 16 x 20 in. gallery wrap.  Other coupons offer discounts on Sunset Photo Metallic paper, I-Banner display stands, and any two boxes or rolls of LexJet-branded media.

If you haven’t yet received your copy the 2010 Digital Printing Catalog for the Professional Photographer and the Fine Art Printmaker by mail (or if you’ve misplaced it), you always download the catalog from LexJet’s website.

Award-Winning Self-Portrait Shows What It Means to Have a Photographic Eye

Photography is a form of creative visual expression.  So when photographer Taylor Horne wanted to visually express how he views himself, he created this strikingly original self-portrait of the artist as a young man. In fact, his self-portrait is so eye-catching, that it won first place in the student print competition conducted by Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography near Philadelphia. One of the prizes Horne received was a $500 gift certificate from LexJet.
“The story behind my self-portrait is simple,” says Taylor. “It is a more physical representation of my logo, which is an eye with the aperture replacing the iris.”

“This is what I will be doing for the rest of my life and it is what truly brings me the most joy,” Taylor continues. “So the photo is to capture that story, literally as if I took a lens and shoved it into my eye. It is about how this is not a dream anymore, it is a reality and how there is no going back now.”

One goal was to give viewers a better idea of his passion for photography and my dedication: “I wanted it to be realistic but not over-the-top bloody. The blood is more beautiful, it’s more about the sacrifices you make to be strong in your craft.”

He chose the suspenders and styling of the photo to represent the ‘30s and ‘40s because he regards that era as a pivotal turning point for photographic technology: “Cameras started becoming more portable and handheld, and I think that the modern portrait was reborn.”