I often tell younger photographers, “Don’t hide your talent, put your Prints on the Wall.” Growing up with the print and long before the digital age and when shots were counted in batches of 12, 24 or 36. It took me some time to realise that now you can take as many shots as you like thousands at a time if you wish and if you don’t like the result you can delete them, on camera if you so wish. Alternatively if you are not fully pleased with those you haven’t deleted there is always Photoshop (I let others do that) to change it in.
The one thing I do like to do is to put my work on the wall and why not. In this world of digital photography it is a lot easier than darkrooms and chemicals. I have ten A3 clip frames hung on my wall and each month I print off ten prints and change the photos on the wall. I am not suggesting everybody does that far from it however; it is something everybody could do in one form or another.
The digital age makes life easier all round as far as photography goes, no need to wait for a film to come back your local camera shop or spending ages in the darkroom if you were lucky enough to have your own that is. No need to send negatives off to have an “enlargement” made and hoping that it is cropped was you wanted or to be limited to the size of your developing trays. Today you can print at home seconds after downloading your work onto your PC, laptop, iPad, Tablet or even Smartphone. Gloss, matt, canvas or even on a T-shirt you can do it all at home.
Alternatively if you have photograph you like that isn’t just perfect you can use Photoshop or dozens of other editing programs to make it perfect. I know I do but if I really want it perfect, then I let others do it for me. It beats having thousands of photographs on a hard drive which will never see the light of day.
So the next time you buy a printer do yourself a favour and buy buy one that can print A3 or if finances run to it one that can print A2 paper. Of course you do not have to print those size prints they will print all sizes. A3 printers are not that expensive mostly starting at just over £100 or an A2 printer for around £500 which maybe a little expensive if you are not going to print that size to often, which I have to admit I seldom to myself these days.
Most A3 printers will print A3+ prints which is ideal for posters as long as you buy a quality paper for that size. The choice of paper is crucial as poor quality papers will bleed of worse still fade in no time at all leaving you a white print all mounted and framed on your wall. I found the paper I use via trial and error a few years ago and slightly over bought as soon as I did. In fact I used super gloss paper made by Polaroid in 6×4, 5×7, 10×8 and A4 sizes from the Pound Shop and never had a single problem. The paper took the ink well it was a good weight and didn’t fade.
I like most home printers found the costs of buying ink from Canon (my printer is that make) rather expensive and I was tempted to buy generic brands. As with the paper the cheapest isn’t always the best and if you are not using your printer that often you may find the really cheap inks evaporate.
Don’t hide your talent, put your Prints on the Wall