Printing For Competition

Jason Becking — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:24:00 GMT

It’s that time of year when everyone is excited about convention season, so I thought I’d offer some information about how we adjust color, density, contrast, and saturation when we print for competition. Digital provides us more opportunities to create outstanding prints, as well as challenges in the printing process!

The first thing that comes to mind is extra density for viewing under the judging lights. There’s no real formula for this because it will vary based on exposure, the style of the print, and subject matter. In adding the necessary amount of density, we need to be careful to keep detail in the highlights and shadows. We also want to add enough contrast to keep the blacks black and highlights clean. Our final printing goal is to make sure we’ve given you the best print quality possible.

Also, keep in mind that just printing darker doesn’t always make the perfect print. A beautiful painting, a portrait of a child, might be presented better with a light and airy feel. You might need the center of interest brighter, with everything else printed down. The color balance could be cooler, or warmer based on your lighting or technique. Additional contrast and saturation might be necessary for a print with bold, bright colors. Any information you can provide for us is very helpful. After all, it’s your creation and you know how you want it presented.

If you have questions about competition printing or any special instructions, you may email customer service. We’re here to serve you, and good luck!

Nema Velia
M. Artist. Cr.

Millers Blog : Competition

Printing For Competition