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DIGITAL PRINTING:
All of the photographs available at Greg Myhra Photography are digitally printed from high resolution scans of the original negatives and transparencies. These professional quality, archival pigment prints have the ability to hold more detail and nuance than many traditional darkroom prints and with proper handling, are as archival - and usually more so. Images are printed using the highest quality, brand-name archival pigment inks on a variety of archival paper stocks.
Why digital and not darkroom?
Well, for one thing, I prefer the added control I get from working in PhotoShop and my array of printers. I can make more fine tuning adjustments - and keep them repeatable - than I could by working in a darkroom. And as far as sending film out to a lab, well I'd rather have the control of producing each print by hand. I have been printing digitally since the late 90s, so I have a wealth of experience in producing professional grade prints. Let me stress that I'm not some dude printing quickie inkjet prints on some cheap generic paper; I'm a commercial and fine art photographer with over 20 years of experience who uses the same ink and printers for Classic Noise prints as I do for my gallery work.
'The other reason to go digital is more ecological. Producing traditional darkroom prints uses a lot of water, and requires a variety of chemicals, almost all of which are dangerous. While I always made a point of reclaiming as many used chemicals as possible, it isn't always feasible to do. And sure, the argument can be made that digital printing also produces waste in the form of empty cartridges, but I always recycle every one of mine. For me, I feel it's truly safer for the environment, and results in a higher quality product.
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Suggested Care & Handling of Prints:
Briefly:
With proper care an archival digital print should survive intact for at least 100 years. Like all works on paper, it is subject to possible adverse effects from mishandling and environmental pollutants. The most common enemies of fine art photographs are prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, excessive handling, indoor smoke (from cigarettes, etc.), prolonged high humidity and direct contact with acidic substances. Common acidic substances to avoid are manila envelopes, most colored mat boards and scrap book papers. It's best to keep your prints framed, or protected in either polyethylene or polypropylene plastic bags or an acid free envelope.
General Guidelines:
• Limit the amount of sunlight or bright light that falls directly on your finished artwork.
• Avoid leaving prints in direct sunlight, enclosed cars, near heaters or hung over fireplaces.
• Prints should be stored and displayed in a comfortable climate-controlled environment.
• Handle prints as little as possible. If you must handle them, do so by the edges of the print, and preferably with cotton gloves on. The oils and salts in the skin can damage and age the print prematurely. Too much handling increases the chance of tearing, creasing or otherwise damaging the paper. Do not allow prints to come in contact with liquids.
Framing Guidelines:
• Use an acid free or museum matboard. Avoid using regular mat boards as they can emit gasses that are detrimental to the print. Using a top window mat keeps the print surface from coming in contact with the glazing.
• Greg prefers glazing with clear acrylic or Plexiglas to glass due to its clarity, light weight and safety (it won't shatter like glass). UV filtered glazing provides additional protection. Avoid using non-glare glass products as the chemical process of the etching may attack the digital print over time.
• DO NOT USE dry mounting tissues to mount digital prints; they may discolor the print, or worse. DO USE archival photo mounting corners, available at many art supply and craft stores.
Storage Guidelines:
• Avoid leaving prints in uncontrolled climate conditions like attics, basements and garages.
• For photo albums, look for one that uses acid free paper pages and photo mounting corners or plastic pages made from stable polypropylene or polyethylene. DO NOT USE any album that uses PVC - polyvinyl chloride - plastic pages. This material is common in many inexpensive albums. Avoid using albums that have adhesive pages.
• For long term safe storage, keep your prints in an envelope or sleeve made of acid free paper, polypropylene or polyethylene. Alternately you may store them in acid free boxes, with the prints separated by archival interleaving papers or tissues.
For More In-depth Information:
Longevity of digital printing at Wilhelm Imaging Research
Preservation of Collections at the Library of Congress
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