The Darlow Report
by Andrew Darlow
3/03/09
Hi folks!
In this edition of The Darlow Report, I highlight some news from the PMA
show in Las Vegas, mention a few upcoming workshops, and point you
to an article about lighting artwork more efficiently.
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Some highlights from PMA
Though I'm not at the PMA annual trade show in Las Vegas this year,
quite a bit of news has come over the wires that peaked my interest. A
bit of history about the PMA, from the organization's site: In 2006, Photo
Marketing Association International became PMA – The Worldwide
Community of Imaging Associations to reflect the diversity of its membership,
which now includes a range of memory-making entrepreneurs: school
photographers, commercial imaging labs, custom frame shops, scrapbook retailers,
and sports and event photographers.
Here are a few headlines and links to more info:
1. Pictorico's GEKKO Green won the "Best Black and White Print With
a Color Printer" Award.
http://www.pictorico.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=64
Andrew's comments: GEKKO Green is an outstanding high-end art paper, especially
for black and white. It also renders color very nicely with pigment-based inksets. It
is very thick (330gsm), so some printers may not handle it well through the normal
feed slot.
2. "SpyderCube" Announced: Multi-Function Calibration Tool (below) from Colorvision
First to Address Color Balance Needs of Digital Photography with Multi-Source
WhitePoint Checking, Bracketed Highlight and Blacks Adjustment
Press Release:
http://spyder.datacolor.com/news/
news_2009-0302.php
Product Page:
http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-cb-spydercube.php#
Andrew's comments: This looks like a very interesting product, and I look forward to
testing one soon.
3. Unibind, manufacturer of the award-winning Unibind high-quality binding,
lamination and presentation product line, announced today that it has won the DIMA
2009 Innovative Digital Product Award for Photos N Sounds, the first photo book that
allows anyone to record a personalized voice message.
For more info, visit http://www.unibind.com
Andrew's comments: Although many people will use this for family memories and gifts, I
can also see a place for this for artists to use to tell a story about a place or series of work,
much like a slide presentation.
4. HP, together with Magnum Photos, is sponsoring a unique global photo contest
aimed at emerging and professional photographers, emphasizing the value of
storytelling through the use of photographs. A jury of world-famous Magnum photographers
including Alec Soth, Jonas Bendiksen, Paolo Pellegrin and Susan Meiselas, will look for
compelling documentary photography under the inaugural theme of “Communities.”
The overall winner of the Magnum “Expression Photography Award” will receive a
$10,000 grant to continue his or her work, a mentorship from a Magnum photographer
and an HP Designjet Z3200 Photo Printer and supplies. Two honorable mentions and
the remaining 17 finalists will also receive awards to support their photographic work.
Additional information is available at http://expression.magnumphotos.com.
Andrew's comments: This looks like an outstanding opportunity for photographers. I've
seen many images from two of the judges (Alec Soth and Susan Meiselas), and I've
heard them both speak about their projects. A mentorship from a Magnum photographer
also sounds fantastic.
At this year's show I had two 17x22-inch prints hanging on the walls of the Inkpress Paper
booth. They were both printed on an Epson Stylus Pro 3800 on Inkpress Baryta Warm
Tone and Inkpress Rag Warm Tone 300. I like both papers a lot, but Inkpress Baryta
Warm Tone is especially nice for either black and white or color images. The heavyweight
paper renders images with a beautiful richness (with minimal bronzing), and it is available
in 17x25- and 16x20-inch sizes, in addition to the more common 17x22-inch size. And for
some reason, the 17x25-inch size is less expensive than the 17x22-inch size! I am not
sponsored by Inkpress, I just offered to try out some of their papers and they invited me
to have some of my prints on display at the show.
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Professional Photographer Online Article: How to Light Artwork More
Efficiently and Effectively
An article was recently posted on Professional Photographer magazine’s online exclusives
section that includes partially excerpted material from chapter 14 of my book, 301 Inkjet Tips
and Techniques. It is from a section by Guest Artist Jim Benest, and the tips cover
information about how to light a space more efficiently (and effectively). With energy costs
through the roof, there are many ways we can light our prints and overall spaces where we
live and work, hopefully without too big a "carbon footprint."
The article also has some links to information about LED bulbs, which do not contain mercury
(like fluorescent bulbs). LEDs are also extremely efficient.
You can find the article here:
http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/2009/01/lighting-a-space-effectively-a.html
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Upcoming Fine-Art Inkjet Printing Workshops in NJ
On Saturday, April 4, 2009 I'll be conducting a four hour Inkjet "Print-a-Thon" Workshop at
Alfa Art Gallery (above) in New Brunswick, NJ. The workshop is limited to 14, and it will
be packed with info and tips about fine-art printing.
The 13-inch-wide Epson Styus Color R2880, 13-inch-wide HP Designjet Pro B9180,
and 17-inch-wide Epson Stylus Pro 3800 printers will be used during the workshop,
and attendees may choose from a selection of fine art gloss, semi-gloss and matte
papers on which to have their prints made, including: Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper;
Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk; Hahnemühle Fine Art Pearl; Inkpress Baryta Warmtone
290; Inkpress Rag Warmtone 300; Innova FibaPrint Satin High White 300; Moab Entrada
Rag Bright White 300; and Moab Entrada Rag Natural 300 (all prints will be made on
letter-size sheets).
The early registration discount for the Print-a-Thon ends on March 21: For more info, visit
http://darlow44.eventbrite.com/
I also have two upcoming black-and-white full-day inkjet printing workshops and a two-day
portfolio workshop that still have spaces available. The workshops are limited to either
four or five participants, and both will be held in Berkley Heights, NJ.
For more info, visit my workshops page at http://www.imagingbuffet.com/workshops.
To register, call Nancy Ori Studio at (908) 790-8820 or e-mail Nancy Ori at
nancyori@comcast.net.
That's all for now. If you'd like to share any thoughts about my thoughts, feel free to
contact me through the contact form here: http://www.inkjettips.com/contact-us/
About Andrew:
Andrew Darlow is a photographer, author and digital imaging consultant
based in the New York City area. He is editor of The Imaging Buffet, an
online resource with news, reviews and interviews covering the subjects of
digital photography and printing. His new book, "301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques:
An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers" (Course Technology, PTR),
covers tips and techniques for prepping, printing and displaying prints made using
inkjet printers. For more information, and free chapter downloads,
visit http://www.inkjettips.com.
That's all for now. If you'd like to share any thoughts about my thoughts,
feel free to contact me through the contact form here:
http://www.inkjettips.com/contact-us/
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