Digital BW, The Print

Jack,

Well said and I agree with you. I gave up encouraging friends and 
family to have some B&W prints made of their weddings years ago. The 
entire archival issue has gotten out of hand. We need have a response 
ready if the question comes up and get on with it.

If someone can't do that and be comfortable with it, I honestly think 
the only alternative is to back to silver prints. This does not mean 
giving up digital but giving up inkjet.

Martin



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "JackG" <jackg@p...> wrote:
> Good Afternoon All,
> 
> I have been in the photography business for over 35 years.  Very 
seldom do
> people ask how long a print will last.  In fact if the conversation 
does
> mention longevity, I say yes this color, "B & W", print will fade. 
We
> explain that it depends upon how, where, etc. it is displayed. 
When, I don't
> know, we are doing all that we know how to do and using the best 
process and
> materials that are available.  Will I replace it if it does, of 
course I
> will. When I started in this family business, all we did was B& W. 
When we
> started offering color prints, which looked horrible, I begged them 
to buy a
> B & W print so they would have a print that would last. I don't 
think they
> would have taken a B & W print if  I had given it to them. They 
would say
> that color looks so much better than B & W.
> We have a responsibly to do the best we can with what we have. We 
can't make
> the paper, ink etc, and I will advise you of this, if you keep 
waiting for
> perfection, you will not be around to sell anything in this 
business.
> There was a photographer in this city, who with his wife produced 
some of
> the best B & W and oil tinted B & W prints that I have ever seen. 
He felt
> that he was doing his clients a disservice to offer a medium that 
was not up
> to his standards. His clients were the more wealthy in this town, 
they
> deserted him and he went BROKE!
> Every thing fades, your auto, the drapes, the carpet, even the 
Sistine
> Chapel. Now I ask you, when the aforementioned items faded, do you 
think
> they were replaced at no cost to the owner?
> Most of us in this business realize the importance, "emotions", of 
what we
> do, that is why we try to replace the photograph that we produced 
at no
> charge.
> I realize that most of you are producing art and not every day 
portraits.
> But from a business standpoint we are all in the same boat. If this 
is to
> far off topic I apologize.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> John in Okc
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steadman Uhlich" <steadmanuhlich@k...>
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y...>
> Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2001 3:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Re: A Call for Standards 
(Permanence/Stability)
> 
> 
> :   Mark,
> :
> :   Here is a case where I completely disagree with you.
> :
> :   Quality products usually cost more. And quality providers 
generally
> offer some type of guarantee or warranty or commitment to quality.  
The type
> of "warranty" I am speaking of reminds me more of a Mercedes than a 
Yugo.
> :
> :   If an artist sells a piece of artwork, that is what the buyer 
is buying.
> The image, the form, the creativity expressed.
> :
> :   If there is any questions on the part of the buyer about 
longevity,  I
> think the photographer who does not "back up" his print (if sold as
> archival) is the one to suspect and not buy from. ON the other hand 
if a
> photographer told me he used the best, most expensive archival 
materials
> available (for the medium) and...AND...told me that he was 
satisfied that
> the print/image would last my lifetime...I would have increased 
confidence.
> If this photographer also told me that if the image faded to 
oblivion (not
> necessarily the same as tone or color shift or even yellowing of 
paper in
> sunlight) and that he would replace the print for me during my 
lifetime...a
> lifetime warranty...I would have "no argument" and would buy the 
print with
> his assurance.
> :
> :   I cannot think of a better way to "warranty" the image/print 
than to
> offer to replace it if needed.  That is standing behind your work.  
I see
> nothing "cheap suit" about that.
> :
> :   Of course the buyer should consider the source too.  If buying 
at a
> sidewalk art fair from a guy that looks "fly by night" I would not 
have a
> great sense of security.  IF on the other hand the photographer was 
an
> established professional (as you are) or a "local" artist, I would 
feel more
> secure in the transaction.  If the guy is traveling from town to 
town in a
> RV selling prints...it may be a harder  judgement call on the 
buyers part.
> :
> :   Regards but Disagreement with your position.
> :
> :   Steadman
> :
> :   Mark Wrote: (SNIP)
> :
> :
> :   The whole approach of upfront-offering them a free replacement
> :   print just makes me weak in the knees. Somehow I feel like a
> :   Yugo Dealer; "We build them out of aluminum cans, but we'll fix 
it
> :   for free, EVERY single time it breaks!" That really inspires
> :   confidence, huh...? Makes me wanna go shopping for a cheap
> :   suit.
> :
> :   -M.Tucker
> :
> :
> :
> :
> :
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