Living Color: Hawaii’s Chromaco Finds a Perfect Match for its Island Art

Craig Ellenwood, Chromaco's general manager with some of the captures printed on LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic Paper from his work documenting the Kilauea lava flow on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Chromaco, based in Honolulu, sells its fine art reproductions both east and west across the Pacific, as well as throughout its home base in the Hawaiian Islands. Much of the artwork Chromaco prints has a unique island flair, often requiring an equally unique medium in which to produce it.

When Chromaco’s general manager, Craig Ellenwood, found out that LexJet was introducing Sunset Photo Metallic Paper he made sure to pre-order the pearlescent paper. Ellenwood is also a photographer whose recent work chronicling the spectacular Kilauea lava flow on Hawaii’s Big Island was a perfect fit for Sunset Photo Metallic Paper.

“With the metallic paper, the fiery reds in the images just pop,” says Ellenwood. “When I’m in the editing process and working with the raw images I definitely think about how it will look on the paper, and I’ll adjust the image saturation based on the type of paper I’m using.”

Ellenwood adds that Sunset Photo Metallic Paper has been a boon to business. Chromaco’s artist and photographer clientele, including 3D artists, have been clamoring to have their work printed on the paper. Dennis Mathewson, well-known for years in the automotive art market, uses metal as his medium almost exclusively.

Dennis Mathewson's ultra-vibrant work is a perfect match for Sunset Photo Metallic Paper.

“We’ve started printing editions of his work on the Sunset Photo Metallic Paper. Recently we had to rush a proof to a gallery on Maui and there was no time to make and coat a canvas print, so I chose the metallic paper. People were blown away with how well it replicated the qualities of the original painting and someone bought the proof,” says Ellenwood. “I use the highest resolution setting, 2880, and it looks great, particularly with real saturated colors and high contrast. Black and white prints also look amazing.”

To find out more about Ellenwood’s work documenting the devastation of a small community on the Big Island of Hawaii, go to:

http://www.ellenwoodphotography.com/royal_gardens/intro.html

http://news.motionx.com/motionx-gps/2009/08/12/motionx-gps-assists-photographer-in-kilauea-volcano-expedition/

3D animator and illustrator Erik Flint uses Sunset Photo Metallic Paper to give his other-worldly art another dimension.