What would a 16x20 cost using this method? Also, why laminate? Does the lamination cause glare? I imagine it would take away from a matte surface.
Thanks,
Jerry
Jerry, virtually all of my printing that's handled this way is on PK paper. Canson Baryta Photographique and Epson Legacy Baryta are my routinely used materials, but a gloss paper is also good. The laminates are "satin" in finish, but very matte surface laminates are also available, as are high gloss laminates. The satin materials offer the best compromise between maintaining color gamut, contrast and Dmax. Glare is absolutely not an issue unless a high gloss laminate is used. Occasionally an image calls for metallic paper, and in that instance a glossy laminate is used.
Rarely do I print smaller than 17x26, and the finished cost for that size is about $30, provided I produce the print (which is always the case). I often make much larger prints than this, and that's a circumstance where framing and museum glass would not only break the bank, but just be totally impractical.
Initially there was some adjustment of mindset needed to get away from the fine art approach, with Hahnemüle Matte media, well done frames and, always, museum glass. But I gotta say, that I enjoy my prints much more now than ever, and the prints that I present as gifts make a big impression. Simply printing to the edge of the canvas and dispensing with matte and frame allows the images to speak more clearly, in my eyes. Since my images nearly always need some sort of legend describing location, date, age of persons shown (if they're children) etc. I photoshop a discreet "badge" at the bottom corner of the printed image posing that legend.
This brings up the topic of canvas prints. I hate canvas prints.
Matte media should not be laminated, in my opinion. If you want to mount a matte print in this way, you'll need to spray or treat the printed surface in some way. I have used Print Shield spray for the rare matte prints I've mounted and they look very fine. But you'd need to exercise much greater care with a matte print surface unless there is some heavy and durable surface protectant applied and, at that point, you may as well laminate PK paper perhaps.
I get that this is not an approach to prints that art conservationists would endorse. This is a personal decision, naturally; one that my mother used to say is between the artist and his or her god. But consider giving a few images a try, Jerry.
John Caldwell
