Do You Ever Print your Digital Photos?

[PhotoHobbyist]

Do you ever print your digital photos? Did a picture ever exist if it is never printed?
I printed a few ten years ago, but have never felt the need to print digital photos since.

 

[greybeard]

Every once in a while if it is something really special, usually 11x14 or 16x20

 

[Jeff15]

I print sometimes ...

 

[21limited]

Ours are all over our house. We tend to print 2 or 3 a year, but some years none at all.. We also have some work from local artists on display. Some images are just too good to leave on the hard drive, where they will be ignored and forgotten.

We often run a slide show of our recent images on our 4k TV. After a period of time, some just stand out. Some one will say something like “I look forward to seeing that one.” or even “we should really print that one.” Some you get tired of seeing some of them. (Don’t print those.)

Starting with say 15,000 images some years, that gets narrowed down to between 80 and 200 for the year. Those go on TV display, and of those, as many as 3 might get printed.

The factors are, the more images I’ve taken that year, the more likely to have one I want on the wall. The more interesting the destinations I’ve gone to and the amount of time we spend there is also a factor. But bottom line, it takes time. I find it takes putting some time between when I took the image, and when I’m evaluating it is beneficial. It helps with objectivity. I need to decide, is it producing a slight endorphin rush because of the quality of the image, or is it doing so because of memory of the experience.

But in our world, if it doesn’t do anything, it’s not getting printed. It has to stand out and get our attention, and maybe the attention of the people who visit us. If people who weren’t there with us like it, that’s a sign it stands on it’s own, because they don’t have memories of the place to inspire them.

 

[DanOstergren]

I do frequently. I make print orders at least 5 to 6 times a year (with multiple different images from different sessions in each order), and have several framed prints and canvas prints of my work on my walls and shelves ranging from 4x6' to 18x24', adding more to my walls pretty consistently, and a large collection of prints kept safe in my closet. My goal with most of my work is to create an art piece, and oftentimes that leads to those photos being printed by my clients or by me for personal use.

I don't think a photo doesn't "exist" if it hasn't been printed. Social media and forums like this prove how photos in digital media form have value.

 

[Rickbb]

Yep, I like to make poster size prints and hang them on the walls, give as gifts, etc.

 

[Thiophilos]

Back in the film days, I was a printer. I had a fully-equipped color darkroom with a 4x5 Super Chromega enlarger and drum processors. Photos were printed and mounted on card stock.

Those prints take up space! I built a special cabinet to store them. I rarely hung them on the wall because I like to see new ideas, not my own.

With the coming of digital, I abandoned printing because the bin for the prints was full, and digital was an ideal medium for displaying on a monitor.

Sometimes I think I should resume printing. I have a studio where I could hang them. I have a few that would look good there. What is holding me back is the hassles of finding a reliable printer and dealing with mounting, etc. Maybe one day...

 

[Digger...]

Did a few times when learning on the old FujiFilm Super Zoom camera a decade ago, I've improved since then and i think i have a few that are worthy of putting on the wall now.

Got some old wooden frames id like to use.

 

[zombiesniper]

Jr and I both have multiple prints hung up in the house as well as I print calendars every year.

 

[21limited]

I don't think a photo doesn't "exist" if it hasn't been printed. Social media and forums like this prove how photos in digital media form have value.

If I can retrieve it from a hard drive, it exists.
If it’s film and I still have the negative, it exists.

They just exist in different forms.

 

[fish323]

Do you ever print your digital photos? Did a picture ever exist if it is never printed?
I printed a few ten years ago, but have never felt the need to print digital photos since.

Mine are all over the house. The Pro10s gets a once a year workout, often after the holidays. If I need bigger they have a monster printer in college that is really cheap.

 

[Don Fischer]

I print a lot of mine. Why take a photo if you don't want a print of it. Got my first computer and printer when I bought my first DSLR. Liking certain photo's blown up to 12"x24" and could print up to 13"x38". I seldom print 4x6 photo's or even 5x7 for that matter. Haven't had a print printed in a shop in close to 20 yrs now. Make my own frames out of scrap wood also! Haven't been doing much matting lately, matt board is hard to find for a reasonable price around here. Reasonable price, read cheap!

 

[Don Fischer]

Ours are all over our house. We tend to print 2 or 3 a year, but some years none at all.. We also have some work from local artists on display. Some images are just too good to leave on the hard drive, where they will be ignored and forgotten.

We often run a slide show of our recent images on our 4k TV. After a period of time, some just stand out. Some one will say something like “I look forward to seeing that one.” or even “we should really print that one.” Some you get tired of seeing some of them. (Don’t print those.)

Starting with say 15,000 images some years, that gets narrowed down to between 80 and 200 for the year. Those go on TV display, and of those, as many as 3 might get printed.

The factors are, the more images I’ve taken that year, the more likely to have one I want on the wall. The more interesting the destinations I’ve gone to and the amount of time we spend there is also a factor. But bottom line, it takes time. I find it takes putting some time between when I took the image, and when I’m evaluating it is beneficial. It helps with objectivity. I need to decide, is it producing a slight endorphin rush because of the quality of the image, or is it doing so because of memory of the experience.

But in our world, if it doesn’t do anything, it’s not getting printed. It has to stand out and get our attention, and maybe the attention of the people who visit us. If people who weren’t there with us like it, that’s a sign it stands on it’s own, because they don’t have memories of the place to inspire them.

This is something I found also. Some different people just like this photo or that even if I don't. Doesn't make it a good photo or bad one depending on who your talking to. I've found criticism is worst coming from people that think they are really good at photography! God forbid someone likes a picture they don't and they will tell you why your photo is no good. I had a guy tear down a B&W of mine telling me it wasn't B&W but rather actually color as he could see the color in it! This is what he called a color photo! click on the red x

 

[KJ_North]

Yep i print as well, some for me or some for others.

 

[21limited]

When I went to the craft shows I used to think, “If 1 in a hundred like my images enough to buy them, I’ll make a pile of money.” Do I care what the other 99’s opinion is? Not at all. As long as I was selling as much as everyone else, sometimes I was selling more than everyone else, more than everyone else combined at one show, I’m good. I’ve also had the expereince of sharing booth space with my wife. Some people buy hers, some people like mine.
The moral of the story is you can’t assume what another person’s taste is going to be, based on your own or anyone elses. After all, some people have Velvet Elvis images on their walls.