Digital Prints

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Mastering Digital Printing
I Have a Printer, Therefore I Am a Printmaker
There are printmakers, and there are printmakers. Having the equipment doesn’t make you
a printmaker, just like having a camera doesn’t necessarily make you a photographer. There
is no push-button solution to high-quality digital output; it takes time and experience.
Los Angeles fine-art printing consultant, printmaker, and UCLA digital printmaking
instructor Andrew Behla (see Figure 10.4) explains it like this: “An eye for color, a
knowledge of color theory, and an understanding of the digital imaging process are the
foundation blocks for making successful prints. In addition, utilizing color management
and developing Photoshop wizardry are two other important resources needed
in the printmaker’s toolbox. So, what is the most useful tool to have? Ultimately, it is
your eye. Developing your own visual sensibility and effectively using your printmaking
tools to facilitate the process are crucial. A music producer once summed it up for
me like this: ’It’s not the gear, it’s the ear.’ The art of digital printmaking is found in
the eyes of the printmaker.”
Ask questions and investigate everything to satisfy yourself that a printmaker does, in fact,
have the eyes and the experience.
The Artist as Printmaker
Many artists take in work to print for others. One reason they do this is to help pay for
the expensive printmaking equipment. One problem with artist-printmakers is that they
sometimes don’t have the well-rounded experience of doing work for many different people.
Many will have printed only their own work, which may or may not be anything like
yours. As I’ve said before, printing is a craft, and what you ideally want is an experienced
craftsperson, not necessarily an artist, as your printmaker.
Figure 10.4 Andrew Behla reviews
client prints from his Epson 7600.
Courtesy of Andrew Behla
www.behladesign.com