Fine Art Prints: Type of Photo Prints Matters
Updated: May 23, 2020
You may not realize it but every photographic print is not created equal. Put another way, some photographic prints are more quality than others.
The key word when talking about printing images (and framing images- which I will get into another time) is archival. The whole purpose of capturing a beautiful moment or a special stage in life is so that it will last. And if you want it to last, it will depend on the material that is being used to help make that moment last.
There are numerous factors that play a role in this, such as inks, papers, acids, and processing style, so this blog will just touch on a few.
The reason I only offer fine art prints to my customers is because I believe in quality and I want their images to last! In order for them to be considered "fine art prints", they can't be printed on any old type of photo paper using any old type of ink. Instead, archival quality inks on acid free fine art paper must be used (this is the same concept used in the art world with giclee prints in museums and galleries etc.)
Think of "acid free" almost as a buzz word in the paper and art world. Why you ask? Because there is acid content in most papers that make them turn yellow, and the begin to crack and brittle as time passes. One fine art characteristic is that most fine art papers are made of cotton fibers to ensure the paper holds up over a lifetime.
Another key characteristic of fine art prints is the ink. Without getting too technical (becasuse I'm definitely no expert), ideally printers used for fine art printing are considered to be more high end, as they offer more color ranges. Meaning they can produce up to millions of different colors affording to more color ranges, resulting in more accurate colors.
To purchase fine art prints, you normally have to order your prints from a professional photography lab that specializes in the science and technology of photographic printing (eh em...that's where I come in!). And no I don't mean consumer lab such as big box chain stores like Walmart, Costco, Walgreens etc. I mean like professional photographic print labs that professional photographers partner with. And now that you know a professional photographer (eh emm...), I would love to help you create some special images that will last a life time!
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