From Photo to Frame: Introduction to Digital Printmaking for Exhibition

In this workshop with Stefan Jennings Batista, artists and photographers learn the techniques and best practices required for taking digital images from creation all the way through printed presentation. Starting with a thorough primer in the digital darkroom, we learn how to import, edit, and prepare photographs with print quality and physical presentation in mind. Participants come to understand digital image quality and resolution, color management, and the essentials of preparing a file for print.

Next, participants are guided through the steps of industry-standard digital printmaking workflow, exploring fine-art processes and materials. You learn the tools necessary in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to successfully communicate with your printer and translate your image to print. Artists who wish to have their work seen and felt in the physical world are introduced to the possibilities of outputting on a variety of professional papers using contemporary state-of-the-art Epson inkjet printers. 

Finally, we explore various photo finishing techniques that are used across visual art mediums to prepare your images for exhibitions, galleries, or simply hanging on the walls of your home. Participants are guided through interactive demonstrations on matting, framing, and hanging techniques. A basic introduction to building your own custom frame is also discussed. On the final day of the workshop, each participant has the opportunity to matte mount one of their images, completing the process of bringing a photograph from a raw file to a fine-art finish.

Participants walk away from this workshop with a printed portfolio of 10 prints and a thorough understanding of the fine-art digital printmaking process from start to finish. Join us for a week in Santa Fe to bring your digital images to life and translate them to exhibition-quality presentations.