The Darlow Report
by Andrew Darlow

Hi folks!
 
The weather's warming up in the Northeast and the spring colors have been fantastic 
(especially in the rain/fog/drizzle). In this edition, I share an "Inkjet FAQ," link to a recent 
podcast to which I contributed some inkjet-related answers, and mention some upcoming 
workshops.

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Q: What Long-Lasting Pen Should I Sign My Glossy/Semi-Gloss Prints 
(Photo Prints, Inkjet Prints, etc) With? A pencil won't work.
 
A: My top pick for a pen for semi-gloss or glossy print signing is the Sakura Pigma Micron Pen
I'd recommend getting the set of 3 Point Sizes so that you can test them on different 
papers — One each of 01 (0.25 mm), 03 (0.35 mm), and 05 (0.45 mm). Black ink. I've been 
using them on all of my fiber semi-gloss and fiber-gloss prints.


You can find the three pack of black pens here.
 
You can also find them at many craft stores such as Michaels. They also have a 005 which 
is .20mm. I would not recommend it because it is so thin that the tip can easily get damaged 
(at least that's been my experience).
 
Thinner point sizes will appear less dark in case you want to retain the look of pencil. And 
in case you were wondering, I would not use a Sharpie brand for signing artwork that you 
want to last for many decades. The ink will fade at a faster rate compared with the Sakura  
Pigmas.



 
For more info about the pens from the company's website (including a video overview-see 
screen shot), visit http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Archival.


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Recent Interview on Photofocus.com
I recently had the honor of being interviewed for a segment of Photofocus, a podcast and 
website run by Scott Bourne. Most of the show is a collection of questions from readers/listeners 
of the show, and I think that the information presented is excellent. The site is filled with a lot 
of photo tips and info, and I believe it is well worth a look. Visit the site here to listen to the show 
and read the show notes http://tinyurl.com/chvefm or you can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes 
on their site.





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Quick Website Suggestion: The Big Picture (BigPicture.net) BigPicture.net is the online part 
of Big Picture Magazine, an outstanding magazine that primarily caters to companies that 
produce large-format graphics, including fine-art photography. If you do a lot of large format printing, 
you may qualify for a free subscription to the printed version of the magazine (check the site 
for more info). The case studies they feature are outstanding, and I've written some articles for 
them over the years, including a review of the HP Designjet Z3100 Printer. 
http://bigpicture.net/content/review-hp-designjet-z3100-printer.


Visit them at http://www.BigPicture.net
 
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Upcoming Fine-Art Black-and-White Inkjet Printing Workshops in NJ:
On July 18 and July 25, 2009 from 10AM-5PM, I'll be conducting two separate one-day fine-art 
black-and-white workshops. The workshops are limited to just six participants, and both will be 
held in Berkley Heights, NJ. For more info, visit my workshops page here. 




 
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.


Andrew Darlow Archives

5/6/09