Tag: Printing
When I visited the Crayola Factory in Easton, Pa., with my
five-year-old daughter, I had an epiphany about color space. Back when
I was in kindergarten, crayons came in boxes of eight colors. Nowadays,
64 colors is average. I knew all that, but what I didn’t realize was
that Binney & Smith (Crayola) makes hundreds of different colors.
The typical set includes all of the hues kids need to make
refrigerator-ready artwork. But it’s possible to assemble a 64-piece
set that includes some colors that aren’t found in the standard box.
And that’s where color space comes in.
Though discussions about photography in magazines, classrooms, message
boards and camera clubs often focus on the latest photographic
equipment or the hottest Photoshop tip, in the end, it really comes
down to one simple thing: the print. It’s nice to share an image via
e-mail or by allowing a friend to look over your shoulder at the
camera’s LCD, but there’s no better way of sharing your unique vision
of the world than by reproducing it on paper.
Classic—the personification of black-and-white images. Weaving that
classic look of black-and-white printing into the digital realm is
easier than ever today. Software has a range of effects that enables
greater control over your images in a way that traditional
black-and-white film printing never could. In addition, plug-ins,
specialized inks and papers are available that, when combined, produce
beautiful high-quality prints with smooth tonal transitions, depth and
detail.
Getting a good print today has become the norm with the latest digital
cameras and printers. While you still may have some challenges, printer
manufacturers, in particular, have worked hard to give users the
ability to create outstanding prints. Now it’s time to move beyond
simply outputting a good print. I want to help you find ways to make
your prints better express what you saw when you took the picture and
how you felt about the subject.
You probably like the convenience and control of making prints at
home with your inkjet printer. With a little practice, you can get
outstanding results and a good measure of personal satisfaction by
doing your own printing. There are times when it might be a better
option to turn to a professional photofinisher to do the work, however.
In the early days of digital, this usually wasn’t an option, as most
labs weren’t yet capable of printing from digital files. A lot has
changed in a few years, and now even the photo lab at your local
drugstore may be offering prints from your digital images.
