Who still prints? Digital-only users

[Jamie Pillers]

I occasionally make large prints for Home walls. Smaller ‘work prints’ to discuss at my critique group. And now I’m working on handmade photo books.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

There have been almost no stores locally that carried any photographic inkjet paper since Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto closed a couple of years ago. But there seems no drought of materials available. I have been ordering my inkjet paper and ink supplies from on-line vendors for at least a decade and a half.

Even us old folks know how to use a website, eh? 🙂

G

Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley has a pretty decent selection of inkjet paper from several manufacturers.

 

[gnuyork]

Oops. Not fully digital, but I haven't done any darkroom printing in over 20 years. I actually hope to change that.

But as far as digital printing, I do print from digital camera files and scans of film images. In all honesty it's been a while since I have printed anything, mainly due to one of my my printers needing a very expensive service.

I do have a stockpile of inkjet and darkroom paper. Though I am mostly out of my LF roll paper (from the printer that needs the service).

 

[robert blu]

I love to print my photos. Editing (selection), processing and printing.
robert
PS: because of space limitation and cost I do not print everything, but most of what I consider important yes, I print. I also like to make books out of my photos, printed (blurb) or hand made...

 

[cz23]

I have an Epson P800 and print a fair amount. But it gets so expensive that, as I near retirement, I'm considering making Blurb books instead. Not as nice in some ways, but appealing in others.

John

 

[willie_901]

I love to print my photos. Editing (selection), processing and printing.
...

I don't print very often.

I mostly print for editing (selection and sequencing).

I also print for galley shows and for friends and relatives.

I don't own a printer. I typically use MPIX. They do good work and offer the processes and paper choice I prefer. For important prints (larger gallery shows) I used a local specialized lab. I relocated to a new city I have not yet tried to locate a similar service.

When summer ends I want to try photozines and photo newspapers for B&W – would that count?

 

[Mcary]

Order about 5-10 digital prints a year usually 10x15" on 16x20 paper and than rotate the new prints with one I have hanging on the walls of our home.

 

[Canyongazer]

Since retiring a dozen years ago I've been shooting, printing and exhibiting work in half a dozen different galleries, in half dozen different cities, hundreds of miles apart.
17x22 or 13x19 paper exclusively. These prints, framed and matted, were hung year round, usually 5 or 6 in each gallery.
Additionally, most galleries (and other venues) had available matted but unframed limited editions of my prints in the same two sizes

Last year I withdrew all my work from the galleries and "retired" from the exhibiting career. Printing, matting, framing and delivering had become tedious and expensive as I would periodically visit each gallery to replace unsold pics (which was most of them 🙂 ) with different work.

Today, I am grateful to be relieved of these not inconsiderable chores....BUT there then appeared an unanticipated and significant downside :

My energy and enthusiasm for shooting and printing new images declined in the face of "to what purpose?" I had suspected but did not realize how much the exhibition side of the photographic train had been fueling the creative engine at the front. Indeed, it is almost as if the caboose were the engine.

I am in that >65 age group and with the "it ain't a photograph until it's printed" school as well. Starting to make smaller prints for domestic use but am running out of wall space,,,may need to buy a bigger home ;-)

Blurb books are nice and I've made a lot of them but to me, a matted and framed 14 x 20 inch print is more satisfying.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

I print constantly, since I am fortunate enough to be included in group and solo exhibits on a fairly consistent basis. For home use I have an Epson 4880 and a Canon Pro-1, and have access to wide format (44" & 24") Epson and Canon printers as needed. I have begun having some of my work printed as large prints (24x36, 30x40) on metal and plexiglass, as well as some mounted on Gator Board, all done by large print houses in my area.

I still have a wet lab, and enjoy making alternative work - Van Dyke Brown, Salt, etc - but digital printing has improved dramatically, to the point where I garner great satisfaction from the final product.

For many years I taught wet lab photography courses at a local junior college - my degree is in black and white film photography - so to me printing has always been a part of the process.

Unlike the work of Vivian Maier, found in boxes after her death, I'm fairly certain no one will find a pile of unedited pixels in my closet after my passing and say "Hey, these pixels look promising, let's see if we can print some."

Hence the prints...

Namaste,

Mark

 

[LCSmith]

wow! RFF is a lot older than I thought!

 

[maggieo]

It's not a photo if it isn't printed. OK, I'm exaggerating, but I do print quite a bit and then take the prints to the gallery that reps me.

I had a show of my Cuba photos last year and seeing the prints on the wall made me feel like a "real" photographer. There is something magic about seeing prints on a wall. Something tangible.

 

[Red Rock Bill]

I'm 75 ....I scan and print from neg files as well as files from digital cameras.....in fact getting ready for the RFF Post Card Project......need more to participate....regards,Bill

 

[Big Ursus]

Hi Rich,
In my film days, I always made contacts and at least 8" x 10" work prints. For shows, I'd make 11" x 14"s and 16"x20"s.

Now that I shoot digital, at least once every week I make 4" x 6" prints at a local London Drugs (a Canadian chain) photo kiosk, where I can do some cropping, and I have some limited control over colour and contrast.

I use these prints for critiques, and regularly mail some to friends & family. These little prints are also very useful when I make selections for book projects.

I think printing this way is very economical, and avoids problems with ink and paper, cleaning print heads, etc.

 

[LCSmith]

There is something magic about seeing prints on a wall. Something tangible.

Digital files are fleeting and frail. Prints will last hundreds of years. I think a sense of impermanence and permanence, respectively, can affect and has affected how and why people make photographs. There is much difference in the mindset between taking a picture to accumulate "likes" on social media (only to be replaced and forgotten) and taking a picture to be printed and witnessed daily in your physical presence.

 

[LCSmith]

In my opinion it is not a finished photograph until it is printed.

It's a cliche we've all heard, but I think it's well-said. The digital media are ephemeral by nature and design. They are only pixels and numbers, the choreographed vomit of electricity. There's nothing "graph" about a photograph on a screen. The "graph" part comes when a photograph is printed.

 

[rfaspen]

In my opinion it is not a finished photograph until it is printed.

I think there's a reason we've heard this statement so often -- 😎

Count me among "the printers". I'm not convinced the age poll will shed any light on the actual age distribution of printers. Just the age distribution of RFF members -- which is apparently skewed toward older. Is there anything we can do about that? The young are our great hope.

 

[rhl-oregon]

I print because I exhibit. And because I have friends and family and colleagues who appreciate prints.

 

[Calzone]

I love to print my photos. Editing (selection), processing and printing.
robert
PS: because of space limitation and cost I do not print everything, but most of what I consider important yes, I print. I also like to make books out of my photos, printed (blurb) or hand made...

Robert,

I only have 650 square feet in my one bedroom apartment, and I have a 7800 and a 3880. Also I like printing 20x30 images on 24x36 sheet. Only 15 prints on a 50 foot roll.

Most of my printing is 12x18 images on 17x22 for editing and proofing. These proofs are being assembled into a "Monster Workbook." The reverse is annotated with the file number, Lightroom settings, and info on the paper and inkset so that these images are ready to be produced into limited editions. I used binding posts and linen tape to create a hinge for the pages

Also know my gal a celeb fashion blogger has our space filled with shoes and clothes. This is Madhattan living. I hear all these people say they have no space for a printer, and I laugh. I have limited space for prints to dry. LOL.

A few times a year Jon Cone has sales, and that is when I load up the truck with Jon Cone Type 5 (A Crane's Silver Rag optimized for Piezography) and ink. For me it pays to stockpile. I bulk up to save money.

Also know I want another additional 24 inch printer.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Rich,

How can you NOT print. As said above, if it's not printed, it does not really exist...

I have two Epson 3880's, and like Cal a stock of paper, well maybe not as much as Cal.

I think mail order is the way to go, you know people on this forum are in their own 1% club, in the general population, as far as needs and wants.

BTW I'm an somewhat old guy.

Joe

Joe,

I have 4 rolls of 24 inch wide JC Type 5 for the prints I owe you. I'll let you know when I fill the 7800.

Inkjet mall was suppose to have 17x22 cut sheets available in May. They were out for a while.

Rolls are the most cost effective BTW.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

You are correct Cal, small medium or large you can always find place to display your prints!

And a printer is a very useful tool for a photographer...

robert
PS: of course a darkroom as well 🙂

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