08/02/2023
by Laura Gardiner
Studio Manager, Tribeca Printworks
Professional photo printing has come a long way since film and developed negatives. With today’s technology, professional photographers can access digital printing platforms that prepare quality prints for them and their clients.
What Is Digital Printing?
Digital printing is a technique allowing photographers and clients to convert files into tangible prints. You may have seen photo printing machines in your local drug store or supercenter — these are examples of an instant digital printing process. Companies like us at Tribeca Printworks can digitally print your photos with high-quality finishes and send them right to your doorstep.
Why Should You Print Your Photography?
Printing your professional photos has several benefits beyond how simple prints are to order. If you are still on the fence about printing photographs, consider the following reasons why you should.
Create Tangible Memories
Your or your clients’ memories are precious and should be displayed. Printing physical photos allows memories to become tangible displays. These moments can be some of the most significant events in your life — like a wedding, a prominent anniversary or a child’s first birthday.
You can even cherish simple moments with a candid photo of your family laughing, your spouse cradling your child and reading a book aloud, or your pets cuddling. Whatever the event may be, it’s a real moment with so much meaning.
Have an Extra Copy
As much as technology is beneficial, it can also experience difficulties, sometimes losing photos after a big update or when transferring phones. You can keep your photos safe by having physical copies. Physical copies are also much clearer than photos on a phone or computer — a 12×18-inch print of your favorite wedding photo will always beat its 3×5-inch alternative.
Make Your House a Home
Displaying personal photographs in your home or apartment transforms the space into your own. Photos are an effortless way to fill the walls and create a cozy, lived-in atmosphere.
If you are a nature photographer, the beautiful landscapes you’ve captured can brighten up any room. Additionally, think of your clients — printing their photos can be a pleasant surprise for them to hang in their homes and see every day.
Our Printing Offerings
At Tribeca Printworks, we offer various professional fine art printing options in our shop and online, including:
- Fine art giclee: We print our fine art giclee prints on museum-quality, archival mediums with a high-resolution digital inkjet printer. This industry standard for digital printing brings photos to life using a quality range of color, detail and depth. We put fine art giclee prints on specialized printing paper in custom sizes, from 4×6 inches to 64×120 inches.
- Canvas giclee: Our canvas giclee uses the same direct printing process as our fine art option, but instead of paper, it uses a 100% acid-free canvas. Choose from various stretched canvas options, or add a black or white floater frame to complete the look.
- HD aluminum: Take your prints to the next level in color and sharpness with our HD aluminum metal prints, where your custom image is heat-transferred to the brushed aluminum surface. Choose from a white or silver matte or gloss finish to create your museum-worthy masterpiece.
- Custom framing: Tribeca Printworks also offers custom framing options for your classic prints. Polish your art and photography with various frame finishes and treatment options.
Techniques for the Highest-Quality Professional Photo Prints
You want to be sure your digital photo file is high quality before creating a larger print. Follow these shooting techniques to ensure an image turns out how you want it to.
1. Keep Your ISO Low
If your ISO speed is too high, your photo will appear digitally noisy. This causes details to look fuzzy and the overall sharpness to be dull. Keeping your ISO around 100 or 200 can help your light sensitivity.
2. Use a Sharp Aperture
Before shooting, be sure to recognize the depth of field needed for appropriate focus. Whenever possible, try to stay around f/8 on most lenses. This can obviously vary depending on your shutter speed or other surroundings, but using the sharpest aperture possible will create an equally sharp photo.
3. Stay Underexposed
Overexposure in the original photo can make its blown-up version appear sheer or white in certain places. Staying on the underexposure side of your settings can ensure all the color comes through.
4. Increase Shutter Speed
Increasing your shutter speed can make your photos less susceptible to movement, especially if you are taking photos without a tripod. Start by using a shutter speed of at least 1/focal length. Shooting in burst mode can also help you choose the sharpest photos from several of the same options.
5. Use a Quality Lens
With camera equipment, you often get what you pay for. Investing in a quality lens will make your pictures sharper and more detailed.
Partner With Tribeca Printworks
Tribeca Printworks is happy to help professional photographers figure out how to print their pictures. Contact us with questions, visit us in our studio in New York City or order your custom prints online today!
