Randy Hufford Tips and Techniques » How To

Celebrating 25 Years of Art Reproduction Experience

Randy — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:38:35 +0000

I am celebrating 25 years of Art Reproduction. That’s right, I know I do not look old enough but it has been 25 years of being on the cutting edge of reproducing art. My first experiences were capturing art with 35mm film on transparency film. Than on to a Hasselblad capturing 2 1/4 transparencies. The next major step was a Sinar 8×10, capturing 8×10 transparencies. I still use this Sinar today as a 4×5 camera coupled with Super 6k BetterLight Scan Back. www.betterlight.com The quality exceeds what I use to capture with 8×10 film. The key to accurate capture is the combination of the BetterLight sacnning software “View Finder” and a custom Camera ICC Profile that I build using X-Rite’s ProfileMaker 5 and the X-Rite’s ColorChecker Digital SG

I also do some capturing with my DSLR which is a Canon 5D markII. I use this camera with a Canon 50mm Macro f2.5. I shoot in RAW and make a custom camera profile using X-Rite’s ColorChecker Passport. I mostly use this for web scans and smaller reproductions. It works great for impressionist art. The color accuracy is TOTALLY Amazing!!

To complete my copy set up I utilize a Copy wall and Copy Lights built by R and R Copy Systems http://randrcopysystems.com/ This was designed and engineered by my Dad, utilizing my trials and experience copying art. This is a great solution for Hanging and Lighting Art.

The canvas output (shown in Photo) was done on a Canon IPF9100 60″ printer using Canon’s Lucia Ink set. Final output size was 66×54 which made a 60×48 final sized Gallery wrap. Link To Ink Longevity

Link to Canon IPF 9100

The Canvas is Matte Canvas from Premier Imaging Products using Eco Print Shield for canvas Protection and Longevity.

Premier Matte Canvas

Eco Print Shield

I managed the printer profile by making a custom RGB profile using X-Rite’s ProfileMaker 5 Platinum Pro Bundle and X-Rite’s i1iO table.

"Garden of Eden" 60x48 Original Art and Canvas Reproduction with Randy holding a BetterLight Scan Back

Canon releases 3 new printers

Randy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:41:07 +0000

March 6 2010 Canon releases 3 new printers. 8300, 6300, 6350 with a new Lucia EX ink set. Henry Wilhelm, from www.wilhelm-reasearch.com, says that it is the biggest breakthrough since the introduction of ink jet printing. The New Lucia EX ink set with virtually no color bronzing, larger color gamut, improved scratch resistance, smoother color graduation, greater detail in the blacks, precision dot placement for even greater detail and a new media configuration that allows use of any manufacturer media. Eddie Tapp, http://eddietapp.com/blog/ Director of Education at Institute of Visual Arts Maui says: this printer and new ink set are AMAZING, it even features a account manager that allows you to know exact cost for ink and media used for any job that you print! Uncompromised Creative Expression!

New Canon Printer

File Preperation for Large Prints

Randy — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:49:48 +0000

I recently installed a Canon IPF9100 60″ printer. My workflow up until now was to use the native file that came out of my Canon 5D mark 2. But I have found noticeably better output when interpolating file to a larger DPI than the native file. I have tried all of the algorithms in photoshop (under image size) and found that Bi-cubic Smoother (best for enlargements) works best from the 5 choices in Photoshop. But today I also tried Alien Skin software titled Blow Up 2. http://www.alienskin.com/ It is a little hard to see in my jpegs since I had to down sample files to make viewable on the web. But Blowup does have an advantage. First it comes with a large selection of presets where the programmer has taken out the guess work. These presets work great! I used 40×60 gloss inkjet for this example. It also comes with some other controls that really make it nice: Sharpen edges, Add grain, preserve natural texture, Remove Compression artifacts and a tool for sharpening for your output device. I really like this software and would recommend using it if you do any large prints. It really does a better job in detailed areas and highlights. Notice how much smoother surfers arm is using Blowup. It does make a difference.

Big Blow ups of Big Waves: Native file from a Canon 5D mark2

Here are examples of differnt interpolation results

West Coast Art and Frame Show Las Vegas

Randy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:37:16 +0000

We are returning to WCAF show in Las Vegas:

For more info go to www.wcafshow.com
T900 Introduction to Adobe® Photoshop® for Framers
Monday, January 25, 2010 : 9am - 11:30am

T905A The Perfect Print: Session A: Equipment and Scanning
Sunday, January 24, 2010 : 1pm - 2pm

T905B The Perfect Print: Session B: Ink Jet Media and Finishing
Sunday, January 24, 2010 : 2:15pm - 4:45pm
T905C The Perfect Print: Session C: Marketing Your Digital Printing
Sunday, January 24, 2010 : 5pm - 6pm

Photo is from last year with Randy Hufford and Jennifer Barut (my daughter) teaching canvas finishing and how to increase your Inkjet print sales. This is a fun class!!!

Teaching Inkjet Finishing and Opportunities

Show Large Prints= Sell Large Prints

Randy — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:10:32 +0000

Check out a few of my new releases Printed large!!! It is a known fact that if you print large you will sell large.

Customers have to see it, than they want it!

Want to get more money for your prints, well print them bigger!!

Print Large=Sell Large

Let’s Get Creative Photo Adventure Maui

Randy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:14:03 +0000

Student Mark Middleton, from Institute of Visual Arts Maui, shares his excitement about the upcoming Photo Adventure workshops on Maui. September 2009 and April 2010. Instructors Eddie Tapp, Judy Host and Randy Hufford will mentor you photographically as they share Maui’s amazing photographic opportunities and show you how to capture images with drama, impact, and WOW factor. http://www.ivamaui.com

Embellishment, learn how to add impasto strokes to your inkjet

Randy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:18:38 +0000

This how to video shows you step by step instructions for use of Eco Print Shield Elegance to Embellish Giclee Prints. This technique allows you to make each Giclee a one of a kind. Want to read more go to http://www.ecoprintshield.com

You can add any type of heavy impasto brush strokes to light brush strokes. Really cool stuff.

What Is HDR “High Dynamic Range”

Randy — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:42:21 +0000

HDR Before and After by www.lightphotographicworkshops.com

In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or just HDR) is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range of luminances between light and dark areas of a scene than normal digital imaging techniques. The intention of HDRI is to accurately represent the wide range of intensity levels found in real scenes ranging from direct sunlight to shadows.
If you have ever photographed a high contrast scene, you know that even the best exposure will typically have blown out highlights and flat shadows. Shooting HDR and using Photomatix (software) offers two ways to solve this problem: 1. HDR Tone Mapping: Reveal highlight and shadow details in an HDR image created from multiple exposures. 2. Exposure Fusion: Merge differently exposed photographs into one image with increased dynamic range.

Benefits for photographers include 1. saving on lighting equipment with no need to acquire expensive equipment and carry it when you shoot high contrast scenes. Just enable the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature of your camera, and merge your photos into an image with extended dynamic range.
2. Great pictures on cloudy days Shadowless hazy sunlight or an overcast sky usually results in dull-looking photographs. The tone mapping tool of Photomatix Pro can turn them into great-looking images. Check this image as example.
3. Well exposed panoramas.
A panoramic scene is almost always a high contrast scene you can’t limit your view to areas with the same brightness when shooting a 360° panorama. By taking views under several exposures and processing them, you can create a panorama that will show details in both the dark and bright areas of the scene.

Using Dual Edge Ripper to add Hand Torn Paper Edges Or a Deckle Edge Look

Randy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:21:10 +0000

Here is the tool to make great looking Prints by adding a deckle edge to your prints. www.dualedgeripper.com

Make Hand Torn paper Edges or a deckle look by using The Dual Edge Ripper

Give a Deckle Edged Look or a Hand Torn Paper Edge to your Art and Photographic prints

The ultimate Tool for adding hand torn paper edges to Fine Art media and Photos Gives a Deckle Edge Look

Movie showing Using Dual Edge Ripper www.dualedgeripper.com

Printing Canvas: Why and How to Apply A Protective Coating

Randy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:41:11 +0000

Why do you want to add a protective coating to your canvas if the canvas is already water resistant? Longevity is the number one reason. Another reason is that it stops the cracking when you do a gallery wrap. All of your edges will not crack after applying Eco Print Shield. Read these 2 PDF’s by Independent Testing by Henry Wilhelm www.wilhelm-research.com/pip/Premier_WIR_2009_03_03.pdf and also www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/WIR_Ep7900_2009_02_12.pdf to see scientific and practical reasons why. Eco Print Shield can be applied with a spray gun, roller or brush. In these 2 videos I demonstrate simple technique for rolling Eco Print Shield on to Canvas. Please give your comments on your techniques and your success rolling or spraying Eco Print Shield. Thank You. Also see the Software-Cinema Training set I authored at http://ivamaui.com/softwarecinema