Win-win: For a Good Cause
I donate fifty percent of the proceeds of all online print sales will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a Canadian organization that helps to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa at the grassroots level. It helps to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa by funding community-level projects that provide care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with AIDS.
How to Buy Prints
I use Imagekind to sell giclée prints of my images online. Use my gallery to select an image, then click on the “Buy Prints” button to go to Imagekind for the actual purchase. They take care of payments, printing on a great selection of Epson and Hahnemuhle papers (with a 100% satisfaction guarantee) and shipping. Imagekind uses the same technology as museums and galleries to create top-quality giclée prints. I’ve been told that digital prints, even on less expensive paper, are more archival than the most archival photographic print made from film.
Pricing
The exact pricing depends on the paper you choose over at Imagekind, but the smallest sized image (usually around 10 by 6.6 inches but it depends on the exact dimensions of the particular image) starts around $21 US and goes up from there.
Greeting Cards
Imagekind offers greetings cards on your choice of three fine papers: matte, satin, or ultra high-end Magnolia. Use the same “Buy Prints” button to go to Imagekind, and simply select greeting cards.
Paper
Choosing the type of paper to print on depends on your budget and needs. At the end of this discussion, I’ve included Imagekind’s descriptions of the papers for the more technically-minded buyer, but for the rest of us I offer my own thoughts and preferences first.
At the low end of the budgetary scale, I recommend Premium Photo Glossy. At the upper end of the price scale, I’d recommend Hannemuhle Fine Art Pearl, which is pretty much the most expensive photo paper Imagekind offers. It seems to carry more detail and sharpness than the glossy. If you want a less glossy surface than the glossy paper, go for the Epson Premium Photo Lustre.
I would most definitely not recommend the Epson Enhanced Matte for photos; it’s just too flat. I also wouldn’t bother with the Hannemuhle Photo Rag 308 for the same reason. It feels more like card stock to me than a proper photo.
Imagekind also prints images onto canvas, if you’d like. At first I was skeptical of this option, but I’ve seen pictures online of photos on canvas that looked really great.
From Imagekind, from lowest to highest price:
Enhanced Matte Poster
For artists and photographers seeking a flat matte surface, Epson Enhanced Matte Paper is the ideal choice. This bright white paper is perfect for images that do not require gloss. It yields highly saturated images, while maintaining excellent highlight and shadow detail. Professional photographers, digital artists and amateurs alike will find Epson Enhanced Matte Paper a remarkable choice for any project.
Premium Photo Glossy
Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper offers the highest gloss level of any Epson resin coated photographic paper. Producing vivid life-like images that rival those of traditional silver halide prints, the ultra glossy finish, coupled with a 10 mil thickness and extremely wide color gamut, make this paper a favorite among discerning photographers. Its instant drying and non-cockling characteristics make use, handling, and display of the finished output trouble-free. It creates highly saturated prints by offering maximum ink coverage and high D-Max for true photographic reproductions. This paper can also be easily laminated to provide protection from light and moisture.
Premium Photo Luster
Wedding and portrait photographers have traditionally used luster paper for their photos. This popular surface is now available to digital printmakers via Epson’s Premium Luster Photo Paper. This instant drying paper produces vivid, lifelike images that rival those of traditional silver halide prints. Premium Luster Photo Paper delivers highly saturated prints by offering maximum ink coverage and a high D-Max for true photographic reproductions. Its 10-mil RC base gives prints a photographic feel, and keeps the paper cockle-free. Ideal for use with all Epson Inks.
Somerset Velvet Fine Art
Somerset Velvet is a delicately textured fine art paper engineered to give you the highest resolution and color saturation possible. It has always been the first paper choice among serious artists and printmakers dating back to the 1700’s and the days of handmade paper. Somerset Velvet is 100% cotton, acid-free paper with luxurious weight, texture and finish that truly delivers museum quality appearance.
UltraSmooth Fine Art
Artists and professional photographers require true archival print media in a variety of weights and surface textures for their digital fine art and photography. Epson UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper is a 100% cotton hot press paper that is coated on both sides and is not only acid, lignin, and chlorine free, it is also pH buffered with calcium carbonate for a true archival sheet. This paper is engineered to give you the highest resolution and color saturation possible.
Hahnemuhle Torchon
Torchon by Hahnemuhle, is an acid free cotton rag watercolor paper with a parchment or pastel paper surface. Especially suitable for reproductions of oil, watercolor and pastel paintings. The printed side of this paper has been specially coated for excellent image sharpness and optimum color graduation. The coating also offers a very high level of water resistance. Common applications include fine art reproduction, business cards, greetings cards, post cards, novelty applications, certificates and presentation prints for display purposes.
Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308
A smooth bright white 100% rag based paper specifically designed to meet the need of photographers or artists using digital photographic output. The heavier 308 gsm paper provides the weight of an art paper with a smooth calendared surface, which picks up every detail captured in the photograph. The coated side of this paper provides excellent image sharpness and optimum color graduation. The coating also offers a very high level of water resistance. Common applications include photographic and fine art reproduction, business cards, greeting cards, certificates and bookmaking. It is also ideal for computer generated artwork.
Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl
FineArt Pearl 285gsm is a triple coated, lignin free, 100% alpha-cellulose paper. The result is an age resistant paper with a surface that is remarkably similar to a traditional silver gelatin double-weight photo paper. Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl proved to be significantly superior in D-Max, white point and surface structure.
The Epson system of inks and paper have received lightfast permanence ratings from the Wilhelm Research Institute (no relation to me) that well exceed 100 years (with proper UV protection), so you can be assured that your prints will look just as good in 30 years as they do today.
Epson Print Permanence Ratings
|
Media |
Framed w/ |
Framed |
Unframed |
|
Enhanced Matte |
110 years |
76 years |
45 years |
|
Premium Photo Glossy |
98 years |
85 years |
60 years |
|
Somerset Velvet |
128 years |
62 years |
34 years |
|
Ultra Smooth Fine Art |
175 years |
108 years |
57 years |
|
Premium Photo Lustre |
165 years |
71 years |
48 years |
|
Premier Art Gloss Canvas |
100+ years |
100+ years |
100+ years |
Framing
Imagekind also offers framing services, and while it’s more convenient, it’s also more fragile to ship. You may want to wait until you receive the print and go to a framer near you. That said, if you get your print framed at Imagekind, I get a 15% commission on the framing, which means more money to donate to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Imagekind Mats
If you choose to frame your print at Imagekind, I highly recommend a good mat. Imagekind has this to say about its options for mats:
Rag Mats
When the highest degree of conservation is required, consider only rag matboard. Rag mat is made from cotton fibers which are naturally acid and lignin free. It is the matting and mounting material preferred by museums and preservationists. Affordable and beautiful, rag mat has a smooth surface with solid color from the surface through the core. Bevel cuts on window openings have an uninterrupted flow of color. Eight-ply rag mat has an especially luxurious deep bevel.
This mat is created with technology to slow paper degradation, neutralize acid by-products and protect against damaging pollutants. It is also fade and bleed resistant. Rag mat is recommended for use on original art, fine art prints, historic or valuable documents and photographs.
Conservation Mats
Conservation matboard provides a standard level of conservation quality and is available in a wide range of colors and textures. Each is made from 100% alpha cellulose, and is fade and bleed resistant. Alpha cellulose is produced from buffered wood pulp specially treated to remove acids and lignins.
The conservation mat collection offers an extensive selection of design elements. Fabrics, metallics, patterns, vivid and soft hues add color and textural interest. This range of options allows greater flexibility to create a unique look which complements the art while reflecting your personal style.
Conservation mat is recommended for use on fine art prints, limited edition prints, precious documents or photographs.
Acid Free Paper Mats
Acid Free Paper is an excellent choice when conservation is not an issue. A buffered core keeps bevels on window openings white, and slows damage caused by acids and lignins. Available in a wide range of colors, Acid Free Paper is an attractive and practical mat to use in creating distinctive designs for replaceable, interchangeable or decorative art.
The Acid Free Paper mat collection is only recommended for open edition prints, and posters.
Glazing Options at Imagekind:
Both glass and acrylic are used to glaze (protect) your framed prints. Glass is heavier and more scratch resistant than acrylic and is only available for framed pieces up to 20” x 24”. Glass can be micro-etched to provide anti-glare properties and coated to provide anti-reflective properties and UV protection which keeps your art from fading.
Acrylic is much lighter than glass and is shatter resistant. Standard acrylic also has greater UV blocking capabilities than standard glass. UV coated glass and acrylic have the same UV filtering ability. Acrylic is optimal for art that will be hung in areas where safety is an issue such as children’s rooms, boats, motor homes or public venues.
Glass
Premium clear is a non-conservation glazing that is made from the highest quality grade of regular glass available. It is a standard general purpose glass and blocks 45% of harmful UV ray