Digital BW, The Print

I want a GOOD way to display BW photos.  I read with interest 
Clayton's method of putting together a boxed set, and that is a 
method I am considering.  I am wary of having people actually handle 
the photo itself.  Matting and putting them in a box would solve 
that, though it would make the collection much more expensive and 
time consuming to assemble.

I really like photo albums - except, even some of the archival 
glassine sleeves that you put photos in seem to reduce the contrast 
(and perceved dMax) on B&Ws.  I have a nice large, 12x12 album which 
black and white card stock (archival) inserts where a photo can be 
either slipped in or mounted with photo corners.  I usually print on 
letter size paper, and this can be inserted in either orientation.  
The plastic protects the photo just fine.  But the reflections make 
some really nice, deep black photos look like problematic matte 
prints (these are K3 on EPSG).  Since I shoot a lot in theatres, 
it's all about those blacks!  Sorta.  

Anyway, I really would like to go the album route, and I like 
protective sleeves where I can insert a print on cardstock type 
paper - but is there any material that does not reduce the 
contrast?  I am wondering if maybe the sleeves I have are for scrap 
books.  I do note that this problem is not nearly as pronounced with 
color prints.  

I also have an album that is more like a scrapbook with no 
protective sleeves.  I suppose I can use protective tissue inserts 
between pages, but I don't like this option.

So...any great ideas?

Andy;

One alternative is a post-binder album that attaches your prints via 
a peel-n' stick cloth or paper hinge punched for the hole spacing of 
the posts. It's a LOT nicer looking, but does not protect (or 
detract from) your work. For protection you could spray the border 
paper area, or attach some kind of tab on the lower right corner, so 
people could turn the page without touching your print. A lot more 
work, of course, but a much more polished presentation for your 
trouble.

Steve Karafyllakis

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Andy" 
<andyj1011@...> wrote:
>
> I want a GOOD way to display BW photos.  I read with interest 
> Clayton's method of putting together a boxed set, and that is a 
> method I am considering.  I am wary of having people actually 
handle 
> the photo itself.  Matting and putting them in a box would solve 
> that, though it would make the collection much more expensive and 
> time consuming to assemble.
> 
> I really like photo albums - except, even some of the archival 
> glassine sleeves that you put photos in seem to reduce the 
contrast 
> (and perceved dMax) on B&Ws.  I have a nice large, 12x12 album 
which 
> black and white card stock (archival) inserts where a photo can be 
> either slipped in or mounted with photo corners.  I usually print 
on 
> letter size paper, and this can be inserted in either 
orientation.  
> The plastic protects the photo just fine.  But the reflections 
make 
> some really nice, deep black photos look like problematic matte 
> prints (these are K3 on EPSG).  Since I shoot a lot in theatres, 
> it's all about those blacks!  Sorta.  
> 
> Anyway, I really would like to go the album route, and I like 
> protective sleeves where I can insert a print on cardstock type 
> paper - but is there any material that does not reduce the 
> contrast?  I am wondering if maybe the sleeves I have are for 
scrap 
> books.  I do note that this problem is not nearly as pronounced 
with 

> color prints.  
> 
> I also have an album that is more like a scrapbook with no 
> protective sleeves.  I suppose I can use protective tissue inserts 
> between pages, but I don't like this option.
> 
> So...any great ideas?
>

Hello Andy,

>I want a GOOD way to display BW photos.  I read with interest 
>Clayton's method of putting together a boxed set, and that is a 
>method I am considering.  I am wary of having people actually handle 
>the photo itself.  

>Matting and putting them in a box would solve 
>that, though it would make the collection much more expensive and 
>time consuming to assemble.

>The plastic protects the photo just fine.  But the reflections make 
>some really nice, deep black photos look like problematic matte 
>prints

Boxed sets are a long tradition in fine art photography and you have
touched on all the major issues.  The bottom line is that the best way
to really view a print at it's best is uncovered under good light, and
holding it in the hand adds to the experience.  It's a real pleasure
to view prints this way.  But it comes with risks, there's always a
trade-off.  Matting definitely makes it hugely more time consuming and
expensive, and also allows fewer prints in a box (or requires a deeper
box [more $]).  The potential of damaging or soiling a print by
handling is one of the realities.  But I think that people who buy
boxed sets understand this.  Some people include a set of white gloves.

To add to what Steve said about post binder albums, it really is a
nice way to go.  For protection, interleave sheets can also be bound
in.  The nicest page binder thingies (what are those called?) I've
seen are sold by Red River Paper.  Worth having a look.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

You might want to look for album pages made out of Mylar.  These should 
have the highest clarity.

Clayton and Steven,

Thanks for the suggestion on the flex-hinges (in Clayton's terminology,
those are "page binder thingies") from Red River Paper.  I think that is
exactly what I need.  Together with the translucent inserts, that will cover
it perfectly.

By the way, Clayton, I really do like the boxed set display method.  Ever
since I read about it on your site I have had ideas of how to use that -
especially for sales and for guests in my house to view.  I am convinced
that is the best way to present for all the reasons you state on your site.
And although it is very traditional, I don't see anyone displaying prints in
their home that way.  I'll bet when people are presented with that method,
they will really find it pretty special.  An object of art should be held if
possible.  People are used to that with sculpture and similar mediums.  Even
drawings.  We naturally want that additional "dimension" and holding a
photograph on a fine art paper is something I think non-photographers can
perfectly well appreciate.  And it is pretty satisfying for me to watch
someone hold a print.  I guess we are all intimately familiar with holding
that recently dried, fiber print in our hands - as we proceed to cringe as
we put it behind glass and forever conceal those "other" qualities.  Ah
well.

But....I do not want to take a boxed set to a meeting or a restaurant with a
group of people, etc....or to a party where people will take individual
prints out of the box - they will pass them around and around, and one will
surely end up under a table (face down, of course), or as a coaster under
someone's drink (face up, of course); and yet another will never make it
back to the box.....of course....  hehe

Thanks a bunch.


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