Another Arts & Craft Show

[chauncey]

It was juried, as are most of the upper end shows in this area, and was held at an outdoor mall in
Rochester Hills, MI...about 80 exhibitors and six photographers.

The photographers were, IQ wise, on par with our own monthly competitions and...two of them had
metal prints in the $1,000 price range for 20x30 size prints.

It was the first time that I saw metal prints first hand...was very impressed with the dark night scenes
with their dark blues and blacks. Seeing the same image printed on paper, then on metal, IMHO, there
is no comparison and is well worth the extra cost. It causes me to reevaluate the viability of using really
dark backgrounds for my own studio smoke and flower stuff...does not look like the black velvet stuff!

[John 2]

William, were they printing on sensitised metal or metallic paper?

[Shadowman]

I was going to ask if you were still working on your smoke technique. I did a few this weekend and struggle with creating particular shapes, the light setup is pretty standard although I deviate a bit here and there.

Have you had a chance to compare prints on metal as opposed to metal prints on specialty paper?

[chauncey]

Have you had a chance to compare prints on metal as opposed to metal prints on specialty paper

Don't have a clue what type of paper these folks use but, side to side, I liked the metal better.
Shapes are created in PS...various warp tools...ya gotta play around.

One of them got their prints here...http://www.bayphoto.com/metalprints/single/index.htm

[Shadowman]

Don't have a clue what type of paper these folks use but, side to side, I liked the metal better.
Shapes are created in PS...various warp tools...ya gotta play around.

I tend to let the shapes reveal themselves, I'll check out the warp tool.

[IzzieK]

I tend to let the shapes reveal themselves, I'll check out the warp tool.

Maybe the liquify tool will be most helpful, John....just a thought...if it can shape fat ladies's butt, why not smoke?

[Manfred M]

William - I find that choice of printing medium really depends on what you are printing. Some items look great on metal, as you can get a really "punchy", high resolution image. Others look great on canvas, for that painterly look. Others, especially some B&W prints look great on fine art paper.

The display medium is just as important. You wouldn't put a metal print or canvas print into a frame. On the other hand, fine art prints that are well matted and framed can looks stunning too.

In my experience, there is no "one size fits all" answer when it comes to prints and how it is hung. Each image and each "client" (the client can be you the photographer) will have different views and expectations.

[Shadowman]

Maybe the liquify tool will be most helpful, John....just a thought...if it can shape fat ladies's butt, why not smoke?

Hi Izzie,

Good idea, I viewed a tutorial while searching warp tools where they did that very thing.

[chauncey]

You can do some weird stuff using the liquify tool, like...take a catamaran, add some blur and liquify
and voila. It get's funky real fast.