Digital Prints

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Mastering Digital Printing
Alternative Media
I’ve concentrated on normal paper because it’s the most common type of media. However,
there are many alternatives to paper for inkjet printing. Wood veneer? Sandpaper?
Aluminum foil? Open your mind to the possibilities—but at the same time, be forewarned
about the possible fatal dangers to your printer whenever you put non-recommended
media through it. (See more about special printing techniques in Chapter 11.)
Canvas: One of the primary media choices for both portrait photographers and artists
working with canvas originals and printing giclée reproductions is canvas. Canvas, of
course, has been around for hundreds of years as an artist medium, but now, specially
treated canvas is also available for inkjet printing. Different canvases have different coatings,
different weaves or textures, and they come either on rolls for wide-format printers
or in cut sheets for desktops. For example, Fredrix, the oldest (since 1868) and largest
maker of artist canvas in the U.S., also has a line of Print Canvas products. These are 100%
cotton or Polyflax/cotton blends, and they come in either cut sheets or bulk rolls. Other
inkjet canvas suppliers (of their own or rebranded canvas) include: Breathing Color,
Bulldog Products, Hahnemuhle, Hawk Mountain, HP, Legion Paper, LexJet Direct,
Luminos, MediaStreet, PremierArt, and Moab. Epson also carries a 100-percent cotton
canvas, but it only comes in 24-, 36-, and 44-inch rolls.
Photographer and print-service
provider David Saffir frequently uses
canvas for printing client portraits.
Using LexJet’s Instant Dry Satin
Canvas printed with UltraChromes
and an Epson 9600, he either
stretches the prints or mounts to
board. In the example shown, his
clients chose a traditional frame for
the 20 × 24-inch print.
Courtesy of David Saffir
www.davidsaffir.com