Fine Art PrintsTag:

Introducing: Sunset Hot Press & Cold Press 100% Cotton Papers
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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Introducing: Sunset Hot Press & Cold Press 100% Cotton Papers

When a photographer captures a particular image, there’s a moment when the vision becomes reality – and it’s in that instant when the photograph is printed. Before that, it’s just a concept. It’s the print that matters.

Sunset Hot Press Smooth Bright White 300g

To help the artist’s story come to life, we’re introducing two new 100% cotton papers to create that final desired effect.

Both of these 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 while the quality of these papers can go head-to-head with other fine art options on the market, they are priced very competitively.

“We’re addressing the high-demand for papers like these while also addressing the highest quality concerns at a very attractive price,” says LexJet VP of Sales, Justin Lehman. “These are the finest options for photographers or artists who are putting a lot of emotion into their work. These are for anyone who’s printing because it truly matters.”

To learn more about how to create high-end visual impact using these new Sunset papers, call a LexJet print specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Top Tip: Flatten Curly Prints in a Flash

Using high-end photo or fine-art papers like LexJet’s Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g or Sunset Hot Press Rag 310g delivers the premium, darkroom-style results that photographers and fine art reproduction printers demand. However, the thicker papers have one side effect: They curl as they come off the printer.

As we demonstrate in the video above, getting the curl out of your finished photo prints can be simple with a few items you already have in your facility. You’ll just need:

  • A printed photo
  • An empty media roll
  • Some scrap canvas
  • Tape
  • Velcro media wrap (optional)

Watch the video above, which will walk you through the quick steps. The whole process only takes a few minutes. Once your print is de-curled, you’ll be able to make a much nicer final presentation to your customer.

Like this tip? Share it with your friends and comment below to let us know what other tips and tricks you’d like to see on the LexJet blog.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Technology & Products
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Next-Generation Fredrix Gloss Canvas for Solvent and Latex Printers

Fredrix GSJ Encore Gloss CanvasBuilt to maximize canvas output with solvent, low-solvent and latex printers, the updated Fredrix 901 GSJ Encore Gloss Canvas is ideal for photo reproductions and high-end, high-production art and décor printing.

Available exclusively at LexJet, it’s the highest gloss canvas made by Fredrix and when combined with solvent, low-solvent or latex inks, no top coat is necessary.

Improvements to the canvas include better ink saturation and adhesion with low-solvent inks, and a higher color gamut and Dmax.

The durable 35/65 poly/cotton blend canvas, at 19 mils thick and 380 gsm, has a medium texture that’s subtle and consistent, a two-over-one weave and a bright white base.

For more information and to order Fredrix 901 GSJ Encore Gloss Canvas, call a LexJet printing expert at 800-453-9538.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Tips & Tricks
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A Simple Method to Flatten Curly Art and Photo Prints

Curled Art Prints
Photo 1: The curled print and the de-curler.

It’s convenient to roll up inkjet art and photo prints for storage before they’re delivered, but not so convenient when they won’t roll back out nice and flat for final delivery to the customer.

Mastercolor Professional Labs, Greensboro, N.C., came up with a simple “de-curler” system that has the dual purpose of flattening out prints while re-using the cores of the inkjet media rolls the company uses.

Print De-curler
Photo 2: The de-curler unwound. Canvas is taped or glued to a used inkjet media roll core.

“We save the empty cores when we finish printing a roll of media and save different-width cores so that we can de-curl a variety of widths,” says Chip Wright of Mastercolor Professional Labs. “We’ll usually tape scrap canvas to it to help protect the print when we roll it back up print-side down to de-curl it. You just roll it against the curl. Some papers will flatten out in 15 seconds; others in a minute or two. You can just hold it in place with Velcro if you don’t want to sit there and wait for a couple of minutes, but you don’t want it to sit there too long or it will start curling in the other direction.”

Un-curling Art Prints
Photo 3: The print is rolled onto the de-curler.

Wright adds that thinner papers will flatten out faster than thicker papers, and that smaller cores (2″) will do it faster than thicker cores (3″).

“When someone’s paying a lot for a fine art print, we don’t want to hand them something with curl. It makes it more difficult to command that higher price you’ve set because of all the other things you do in the print process to ensure quality,” adds Wright.

Rolling Art Prints
Photo 4: The de-curler is secured after rolling. The time to hold it in place ranges from 10 seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the thickness of the paper and the amount of curl.

Here’s how it works…

Photo 1: The curled print and the “de-curler”.

Photo 2: The de-curler unwound. Canvas is taped or glued to a used inkjet media roll core.

Photo 3: The print is rolled onto the de-curler.

Photo 4: The de-curler is secured after rolling. The time can range from 10 seconds to whatever is required to de-curl, depending on the thickness and amount of curl. Practice will help determine the length of time required.

Thanks for the tip, Chip!

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Where They Are Now: Dimpled Rock and the Fine Art of Golf

Valhalla Golf Club Photography by Dimpled Rock
Gary Kellner of Dimpled Rock photographed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for the PGA Championship, which returns to the club in 2014.

When you focus on a specific market you’re subject to its whims and cycles. In order to weather whatever storms that may batter that particular market you have to be flexible and creative.

Dimpled Rock, a company that specializes in golf course photography, has done just that. We first profiled Dimpled Rock about five years ago in the In Focus eNewsletter as the business was first starting to take off.

Dimpled Rock Canvas Print
Dimpled Rock uses Sunset Select Matte Canvas to create a painterly feel for golf club prints that are either framed or gallery wrapped.

With figurative economic storms and literal storms, like Hurricane Sandy, Dimpled Rock’s Gary Kellner says the photography side of the business has been stagnant as of late.

“The general economic conditions at some of the golf clubs have had an impact on our photography. We had also focused our efforts on New England and Sandy pretty much devastated the landscape in a lot of areas. They’re losing trees and having to re-do their bunkers, so they’re not ready to have their courses photographed until they can get them back in shape,” explains Kellner.

Fine Art Prints of Golf Courses
Dimpled Rock also produces black and white images of golf clubs, like this shot from Ravenna, that are printed on LexJet Sunset Velvet Rag or LexJet Premium Archival Matte.

However, the print production side has been growing steadily. With its comprehensive imaging program for golf clubs, Dimpled Rock elevates the way golf clubs present themselves and provides them with high-end photography that can be used in a variety of media, both online and in print.

“The clubs are fully engaged in using the prints as awards instead of glass trophies. Now they’re doing really nice framed photographs with plaques on them for club championships and event prizes. That has provided a huge influx of work into our basic production. It’s not just wall art anymore,” says Kellner.

Barrington Golf Club Photos by Dimpled Rock
Barrington Golf Club in Aurora, Ohio, photographed by Gary Kellner, Dimpled Rock.

Dimpled Rock typically prints on LexJet Premium Archival Matte Paper and LexJet Sunset Velvet Rag 315g for framed fine art prints, and LexJet Sunset Select Matte Canvas, either framed or gallery wrapped, for canvas reproductions.

“The business is definitely morphing into something more than what we started,” says Kellner. “We’ve been doing some pretty large prints. The biggest one we did recently was eight feet long for someone’s house.”

Dimpled Rock’s value is in the company’s ability to photograph, design and produce an all-encompassing visual program for a golf club.

Photo by Dimpled Rock“I’ve had several projects where I was shooting everything from the golf course to the interiors, including staff, food service, and so forth. They can have everything they need without having to hassle with 15 different people,” says Kellner.

The word about Dimpled Rock is getting around the golf market. Kellner recently photographed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for all of the club’s promotional materials leading up to the 2014 PGA Championship.

“We’re in the infancy part of our relationship with the PGA. They’re blown away because they’re not used to getting the quality of files I’m giving them,” says Kellner.