The next step is opening my digital file and making some printing tests. We call those printing tests “test stripes”. This means printing a small portion of the picture, like for example 2 inches x 24 inches – this is just to test how the paper reacts to the file, on several areas of the image. For example, canvas absorbs more ink than fine art paper. Or watercolour paper absorbs more ink than glossy paper. A print on glossy paper looks completely different than a print on canvas or on matte paper, even if you are using the same digital file. So I have to adjust the colours, in order to have them on paper exactly or almost exactly as I created them on screen. I print a test stripe and compare to the screen. If I don’t like the result, I modify my file or modify the printing options, then print another test stripe. And this goes on until I am satisfied with the printing result – as soon as the result is satisfying, I print the complete artwork. In case you are asking yourself what “colour management” means: It’s all about trying to make sure that the colours of the artwork I created on screen match with the colours of the print as best as they can.

Yes I know, I create a mess on any desk I use… As you see on the picture below, the test stripe on the right is a little “orange toned”, the one in the middle is a little dark and the one on the left is actually a succeeded one – light sepia / brown tones, like on my digital file. I juxtapose them and compare…

And here is my digital file – it’s a tribune to Auguste Rodin’s “Eternal Idol”. The artwork name is “The Kiss #7 – Variation Sepia”:

The printing stripe was OK, so I proceed to the actual printing of the artwork.

I favourite watercolour paper for this kind of digital artworks, because it has a rough surface structure that gives my works a “drawing” aspect. It’s luxurious, thick, soft and resistant. And here is the final print. It has a white border that can be used instead of matting: the surface of the watercolour paper makes a very nice mat.

Like this print? If you wish to buy a print, just leave me a comment here – your e-mail address will be visible to me but invisible to all other visitors of the blog. You can also buy this print at Imagekind.com.

Thanks for your feedback or questions!

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