The fine art of fine art printing

The Art and Science of Fine Art Printing

Fine art printing is one of my favorite aspects of this business.

Printing is a nuanced science. By this, I mean that while printing can be defined in technical terms, it is the final perception by the viewer that defines the print's impact.

But it isn't rocket science, and it isn't brain surgery.

The first thing a fine art print shop needs to accomplish is having all of the devices interpret color the same way. This is achieved through closed loop calibration, which normalizes the environment. Outside the loop, colors might shift unless the device outside the loop is given the same calibration specifications. Color calibration requires regular re-calibration due to temperature and humidity changes.

That solves the issue of repeatability. The next step is accuracy.

Accuracy requires understanding the personality of the devices and the media. Every media has unique characteristics. We create about 1,200 color patches for each media we use. These patches are read back into the computer with a photospectrometer (a device that reads color) and a compensation file is created based on the expected versus the actual color values. This color profile is used by the printer to compensate for any color shifts.

However, there is an infinite number of color frequencies between each of the 1,200 patches, and this is where the media personalities come into play. Does the media like blue frequencies? How well does it contrast? How bright is the base material? Stuff like that.

Fine art printing can be somewhat iterative, but it isn't 'black magic'. I smile every time I hear a printer try to make the process sound so mysterious.

So anyway, lots of variables, and each project is unique.

Good times, and Save the Chief.

Catching Up: The Move, Hometime, and Other Business Updates

Catching Up: The Move, Hometime, and New Beginnings

This will be a humble attempt to get you up to speed in one entry.

The Move: It deserves capital letters to convey its impact. I have a habit of thinking that if I live long enough (say, 200 years), I'll find a use for nearly everything. Consequently, I don't throw much out. This isn't an issue if you have the space to stash all your stuff, but when moving into a space that requires storage discipline, life can get, well, stressful.

The bottom line is that we have moved, and the new space is awesome (photos coming soon). I think my thumbs are only sprained, not broken. I'm still renting half of my old space (saw room, portrait studio, and more stored items), which is my way of not throwing things out.

The photo above was taken last Sunday from Barn Bluff. It gives you an idea of where we are located among the other buildings in Red Wing. The people waving in the inset (squint hard) are my wife and my older brother (who is celebrating his birthday today).

Hometime Summary: 'Amazing' seems like an appropriate adjective.

The Hometime show was originally broadcast a month ago and is typically shown at different PBS affiliates across the US every Saturday or Sunday, moving from East Coast to West Coast. I think some of the major markets in California will broadcast it this weekend.

We've made a lot of new friends from all over the country, and the added business has been very nice. I feel very fortunate to have had this level of visibility, and there are several interesting opportunities and partnerships that have emerged from the Hometime project. I should have something more concrete to share soon. Good stuff.

I want to thank Dean Johnson and his entire crew for thinking of us.

Other Business-Related Updates: We are fully operational in the new location. We're still straddling two locations, so that requires a bit more forethought and planning. The new neighborhood is fantastic—much more jogger and baby-buggy friendly. The intention is to use the outside of the building itself as a gallery. This will make more sense when we do it, rather than trying to explain it.

And finally: A video study group is forming in Red Wing, with the eventual goal of showcasing independent video projects. The AV Club of Red Wing. Every member will be required to have white tape on the bridge of their glasses. Email me if you need more information. In the meantime, "Save the Chief."

Hometime

Hometime Episode Recap

Last year, the PBS television show Hometime came to our shop to film an episode. This episode is part of a season-long project that involved completely building out a luxury townhome. Our job was to scan, print, stretch, and install custom-designed art. Hometime has been broadcast nationwide for 22 years and has a very loyal following.

It wasn't until the last month that we received final confirmation of the Hometime episode we participated in. PBS has a unique way of scheduling compared to other networks, allowing local affiliates to schedule at will, often around fundraising activities they might have going on.

So, the bottom line is that our episode (#2206, Townhome: Finale) will be broadcast nationwide on March 8th and in the Red Wing area (TPT, Channel 2) on March 15th at 9 am.

What can we expect? I have no idea. Hometime is carried by 240 PBS stations and is broadcast 340 times per week. The typical episode is seen by about 1 million households and 1.2 million viewers.

Bill Gibb, the producer/director for our episode, mentioned that it typically takes 8 hours of filmed tape to produce 8 minutes of on-air footage. I saw our episode, and there are about 7 minutes of dedicated air-time discussing our portion, with the art visible in the background throughout most of the show. One of the best parts for me was the shots taken of the Red Wing community at large. Bill followed up on a suggestion to take some footage from Memorial Park and captured some terrific footage of Downtown Red Wing.

I have several tools in place to try and measure the impact the show will have, and I promise to share the results as they unfold.