Digital photography has changed the way people take and share pictures around the world. In a lot of ways the advent and proliferation of digital photography have made taking images and sharing and storing them has made photography more accessible to more people. It is one thing to have photos online or on Facebook but what if you want to create something you can touch and feel? That is possible today, too. If you are looking to get more than quick prints of your images at the local pharmacy, there other decisions to make, such as what material you want to print them on. There are more options than ever ranging from white cardstock to other cardstock paper, glassine sheets, and even more nontraditional materials such as fabric. Here are some things to think about when you move your images from the digital realm to a more tangible one.
Make a budget and stick to it.
There are also many options when it comes to printing your photos. That also means that the sky is really the limit in terms of what you can expect to pay. Before you look at your options, you need to think about what you plan to do with your images after they have been printed as that can have a big impact on the kind of material you will use. If you are planning to print your images and sell them, you will need to spend a little more to get the best quality, though white cardstock can work well for images that will be sold and hung up.
If you are printing your images for your own use, your decision here is more based on what you want. Maybe you can scrimp a little if you are planning to put the pictures in a photo binder rather than mounting photographs on the wall. The kind of finish you have will make the difference abut the price of the job.
The important point that if you are cost conscious, you need to set a budget before you start working on the project. If you go into any project with no budget, you will spend more.
Work on the material you want.
There are a lot of options available here. Many images you see or can buy are printed on white cardstock, which is great for mounting and displaying images. That does not mean you have to go that route. Images can be displayed in a host of ways. You can put them on pillows, all kind of attire, rugs, and more.
If you are planning on a more traditional showing of your images, after you picked out a paper like white cardstock, you need to pick the right finishing. If you are planning to print on some less traditional material, this is not as important.
As with the materials, there are a lot of finishes for you to look at. When it comes to these questions, there are no wrong answers, just pick what you like and what fits in your budget. To wrap your head around this choice, the finish is a coating that is put on the material while it is being produced. You can get gloss, semi-gloss, or a matte finish. This is a matter of your personal preference and the images can look great with any finish.
Find a good place to print your images.
You have options here as well.
- Go with a local shop. There are still photography shops around the country and you can have your images printed there. There are some real advantages to going this route. You support local businesses, which is often something people like to do. You can develop a relationship with the staff there and if you plan to do this a lot, that may make a difference. The main thing is to find a print shop in your area that has experience doing what you want to do.
- Go with online services. This is less personal but can be cost-effective if you are looking for convenience. These are called “print on demand” (POD) and you can place your orders from the comfort of your home. You will get your images within a few days.
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