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Quick Paper Advice for Photographers
September 20, 2018
Printing is generally the same thing in the age of digital prints no matter if it is artwork or photographs. It all comes down to image pixels being turned into an image which is printed on a surface, usually paper. The properties of the paper are where many photographers, especially newer ones, have questions if they want something that best shows their work. To help them choose I ask photographers to look at three main characteristics of a paper which have an effect on how their image is printed.
Is a Single Website Enough for Artists?
September 12, 2018
Is having one website enough? Most of us know there are many ways to showcase your art or photos and sell them as a tangible product. This ranges from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if you use social media. There are also shared online market places like Etsy. All these are good, but it is the actual website that you own that provides you the greatest potential and flexibility. But there may be a good reason to think about creating a second website.
Kodak Prints Now Shipping from Our Headquarters in San Antonio, TX
August 28, 2018
Over the summer our Kodak prints have garnered more and more attention by users at FinerWorks. This has led us to make some big changes from a new bulk ordering system as well as moving the production location. The bulk ordering tool for Kodak prints was implemented last month in July 2018 and this final week in August we made the strategic move to bring the Kodak print production home to San Antonio. Now all Kodak prints are shipped from our main production facility. These changes came about as a result of several things.
Are You Using the Virtual Inventory?
August 26, 2018
Under used and overlooked is the virtual inventory system that we have at FinerWorks. When you sign up for an account you have access to a valuable time saving tool which allows you to store frequently ordered prints and products so that you don’t have to upload your files and setup your prints each time you want to order them.
New Bulk Rates on More Products You Print
August 18, 2018
You may already know that you can lower your cost per print when ordering multiple copies of the same print on canvas, metal prints. cards and giclee prints (photo and art prints on fine art papers). We now have new automatic bulk rates for many other products from ceramic tiles to maple wood prints.
Is Color Correction Right for You?
July 30, 2018
Is color correction right for your image files? Within our print ordering app, you have the option to select this service to improve the output of the colors in a print from an image file. It is a two-tiered process in which a printer technician applies a color corrective algorithm and then makes additional manual adjustments. The first part is done with what you might come across with some of the robust tools that Adobe Photoshop offers. If the first level appears to harm the output then this may be undone and the image goes straight to the second tier for manual adjustments. There further manual adjustments are made to the image by the technician to adjust tones and contrast levels as needed.
Batch Kodak Prints Tool
July 18, 2018
If you have a bundle of vacation photos or other images you want to make into prints on Kodak professional papers, we brought back an updated version of the batch ordering tool for Kodak prints. The batch setup tool allows you to add multiple prints to your shopping cart, all from one screen. Below is a walk-through of what this looks like.
Dropbox Integration
July 9, 2018
Dropbox is now integrated with FinerWorks. Uploading files to FinerWorks can be a pain if you prefer to keep then on a cloud storage service like Dropbox rather than on your computer or mobile device. Many of our customers who use Dropbox have asked us to make this easier so they can upload those files to FinerWorks direct from Dropbox.
Free Giclee Print When Framed and Matted
June 28, 2018
Print on two our our most popular papers, Archival Matte Paper or Satin Luster and get the prints free when ordered with framing and matting. For a limited tine only.
Does the New Sales Tax Ruling Affect Etsy Sellers?
June 24, 2018
Many of FinerWorks color lab customers are artists and photographers who use our drop shipping and order fulfillment services to have metal, canvas and framed fine art giclee prints made and shipped to their customers. Many have Etsy shops or sell on their own website. One of the pains though is dealing with sales tax. You have to register your business to get a Tax ID number and file either monthly or quarterly sales tax that you collect. But what if your customer is not located in the same State as your business. Do you have to charge sales tax to that customer and if so, how much?
Don’t Let Your Prints Fade Away
June 24, 2018
Don’t let your prints fade away. Fading, discoloration and even damage of any colored surface can be a problem if proper care and precautions are not taken. This is not just true with prints but any surface with an image even if it is archival. The rate of fading and discoloration depends on the media the image is on and the pigments or properties that make of the colors. Since we are more concerned here with prints, whether it be a photo or art reproduction, there are two main influences we should look at: external and internal.
Search, Find and Print Stock Images
June 17, 2018
We just launched a new feature at FinerWorks which allows anyone to take advantage of a vast library of stock imagery. It is called, for lack of originality now, Find Print Art. We partnered with Shutterstock, one of the leading providers of stock imagery and have integrated a section on the FinerWorks website that allows anyone to search and find images for just about any topic and theme you can imagine.
How Slower Art Sales Can Pay Off
June 13, 2018
Summer time can be a slower period for artists. If you are one of those artists whose sales begin to decline, don’t look at it as a negative. Instead use it to your advantage.
Limited Edition vs Open Edition Prints
May 29, 2018
Does FinerWorks print limited or open edition giclee prints for artists and photographers? Both may be the obvious answer. This is one of those questions that pops up on occasion but when we start to get into the conversation with the customer it’s not uncommon that they do not know the difference or what they may be asking.
Photo Gloss Baryta Wins TIPA Award
May 27, 2018
Most photographers will tell you their choice of paper, based on everything from the surface, weight and other physical properties play a crucial role in the choice for papers. Photo Gloss Baryta is one of these papers that we find high end photographers love. Photographers are not the only fans. TIPA, the Technical Image Press Association just awarded this paper as one of the best.
Premium Giclee, A Natural Coarse Art Paper
May 21, 2018
Of all our fine art papers, the Premium Giclee Finer Art paper is the most widely selected of our papers with a prominent texture. The main reason people love this paper so much is that texture, but there is more to it than the texture alone. With its white matte orange peel surface embossing, the catches the light and can be seen with even some of the most detailed images
Hanging Artwork Tips
May 16, 2018
You would think that being in the business I am in, within my home the walls would be covered with artwork from framed prints to gallery wrapped canvas art. Actually only recently, after old little girl got older and enter Kindergarten did this start to change. Now pictures are beginning to show up on our walls, albeit generally photos of our daughter or pictures she painted, but the walls are beginning to be populated. As I started adding these pictures of her or her framed art I have developed a few tips I would like to share.
New Dibond® Mounting for Your Prints
May 11, 2018
Dibond® is now available for mounting your prints. Dibond® is a rigid, durable aluminum composite material combines two thin layers of aluminum with a solid polyethylene core.
Pixelated, Out of Focus or Ghosted Prints
May 5, 2018
There are 3 concepts to know and each one means something totally different. There is pixilation, out of focus and ghosting. Sometimes when a customer tells us their prints are blurry we must ascertain which of these they are referring to since they all can are caused by different things.
Best Practices for Matting Prints
May 2, 2018
There is a lot of emphasis on choosing a frame for your art and photo prints but sometimes overlooked is the importance of matting. Not only does the mat help highlight the artwork, it also acts as protection so the glass or acrylic does not come in direct contact with the print.
Getting the Best Wood Print Possible
April 14, 2018
How do you know if your image will look good on wood or not? All the images we initially tested and made into our new wood prints have looked fantastic! But we have seen some images really stand out above others. It has nothing to do with the image quality of the artwork or the photography. It has to do with the tones in the image. Fortunately we have invested a lot of time in testing the process which allows me to share with you what we have learned. If that is not enough, our print setup tool attempts to simulate a wood print before you order it so you can get a bit of a preview to help you decide.
Takeaways from a Working Artist Panel Discussion
April 4, 2018
The Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, TX is one of the city’s treasured gems that is nestled downtown. Originally known as the Ursuline Convent and Academy when it opened in 1851, Southwest School of Art has provided back to the community in the form of these discussion panel, events, a bachelor of fine arts program and community classes since 1965.
Convert Pixels to Inches
April 4, 2018
Ready to order a print but need help converting pixels to inches? Just enter your image file’s pixel dimensions into the Pixel to Inches Calculator along with your desired resolution. If you are do not know your image’s pixel dimensions, scroll down and we’ll show you how to find it!
Black Wrought Iron Trivets Now Available
March 27, 2018
Black wrought iron trivets, sometimes called pot holders are the perfect custom decor piece for any kitchen to display your artwork or photography. We offer a variety of shapes and sizes.
Bayou City Art Festival Working Artists
March 27, 2018
A look at three clients working the 2018 Bayou City Art Festival in Houston, TX as well as some take aways on ways to cultivate collectors at the tent.
Ways to Diversify Your Art Business
March 27, 2018
Diversifying your art business is a way to generate more income. If you are only following one path with your art, then you need to read this. See some examples but come up with your own ideas as well.
Matting Photo Prints for Standard Size Frames
March 21, 2018
One area for frustration with photographers is the framing of photo prints. If you have tried to frame one of your pictures recently and you use a digital SLR camera you may know what I am talking about, especially if you have to crop out some of the image to fit the display you have in mind.
Merchandising Your Artwork
March 21, 2018
Merchandising your artwork is one of the best way to make money off your photos or artwork. The term simply means offering your imagery as part of a product such as printed on the surface of a coffee mug, mouse pad, puzzle or more. Just walk into any Hallmark or other brick and mortar gift shop and you will see a lot of examples of merchandised artwork.
PayPal Credit As A Layaway Option Gets You Paid Right Away
March 21, 2018
I was working in one of the largest contemporary art galleries in Austin, TX and one of the tools we had for moving art was a layaway plan. It was time consuming and had the risk of the customer flaking on us and put me as a collection agent to get old layaways paid off. This just didn’t make the experience great between the gallery and the customer.
How to Choose a Paper Type
March 13, 2018
An artist asked, “What kind of paper should I choose? I am just getting into printing and don’t know what type of paper to select. Can you help me?” Of all the questions we get, I have to put this at the top. As a giclee printing company, FinerWorks has carefully researched what people like and what people expect in a paper. As you can imagine, this has resulted in us offering quite the array of fine art papers, all designed to provide exceptional image quality for both the artist having reproductions made and for photographers requiring something special for their client or next competition.
Sales Tips from an Art Slinger
March 13, 2018
I have been professionally selling art for the last five years from booths to a 7,000 square foot gallery floor. The mentors I have come with 20 years of selling art at booths and 10 years at selling art in the gallery of luxury cruise ships. For over 12 years, I have been in broadcast advertising sales. Here are some tips I use to move art.
Why Print Big
March 13, 2018
I met master photographer Elizabeth Homan last week who was speaking at a photographer event we regularly sponsor. She made a statement that when she shoots her portraits she likes to shoot the people small in the frame. She does this because it encourages her clients to order bigger prints from her. It got me to thinking about the frequency artists and photographers order big prints from us and why they do so.
Should I Offer Free Shipping
March 7, 2018
Not too long ago a well published photographer told me how he was trying to find ways to boost his sales of framed photo prints he ordered and had us drop ship to his customers on a regular basis. He asked me what I thought about offering free shipping to incentivize visitors to his website to order these prints? I told him I thought it was a great idea but maybe not for the reasons he expected.
Instagram For Artists in 2018
March 7, 2018
How many of you are artists or photographers are on Instagram? Instagram has changed on how your images are being viewed. Here are some tips to work with the new changes.
Will You Be At Houston’s Bayou City Art Festival
March 7, 2018
Showcasing Your Framed Prints Online
February 27, 2018
Despite all of the advancements in technology since the introduction of window displays back in the late 1800’s, presentation still holds the most chips. And, as any successful store window designer knows, it isn’t enough to simply show off your products. No, you’ve got to set a stage; a scenario. Create something to which your shoppers can actually relate. You have to implant an idea into their minds – one that tells them how perfectly your product fits into their world.
How to Create a Certificate of Authenticity
February 27, 2018
If you are going to be selling your art as prints or already have been doing so, are you also offering a Certificates of Authenticity (COA) to your buyers? This is a topic that comes up quite often when we visit with artists and photographers over phone or even in person. Two questions are asked. The first is how do I have those made and what goes on them.
Signature Placement if Making Prints
February 27, 2018
Tips on adding your signature in the right spot for future prints of the art. Do you consider the placement of your signature on your original work?
To Frame or Not to Frame: Building Sensible Product Lines
February 20, 2018
If you’re ready to start offering prints for sale, you’re probably really excited about building a product list for your online store. Assuming you have already digitized your artwork and run a few test prints, it’s time to start making some decisions about products and variants.
Fixing Prints Which Curl
February 20, 2018
We recently re-introduced the option to have your prints shipped in a tube. Surprisingly to us a lot of people are opting for the tube shipping option over having their prints shipped rolled. This of course has led to some inquiries from our customers as to how to get their prints to flatten out, especially during colder months where the paper seems less pliable.
New Art & Photo Slates Are Here
February 16, 2018
We are excited to be rolling our a brand new product in the form of actual stone slates with fractured edges that can display your artwork, photography or even text. Two black plastic “feet” are included allowing it to remain upright on any table, desk or shelf. Each is unique due to their fractured edges and they can vary in size by up to 0.4″. These are processed and shipped from our San Antonio headquarters to any part of the country. Artists or photographers can use our automatic drop shipping service to have their slate shipped to their customer.
Ways to Digitally Capture Your Artwork
February 15, 2018
Alexis Fedor moderates a Facebook Group called, Artists In Business where she offers advice on business practices for artists. Daily I, go to this community to read what issues artists are seeking that are outside the realm of business model questions. So when Mirinda Clapier asked for recommendations for a scanner to digitize her watercolor artwork, I wanted to ask here at FinerWorks.
Survey: Where Do You Mostly Sell Prints
February 14, 2018
Artists and fine art photographers are always asking us for tips to help them sell more of their prints. We find that most are selling their prints at either events, sometimes known as popups in their local art community but that could include such things as “First Fridays” which is an art and food even extravaganza that happens at various venues in our local market or it could be a non-art related overall but in which you were able to still get a table to showcase your work. The other choices are self explanatory.
$10 or $15 Voucher – Share Your Prints on Social Media
February 14, 2018
Share a photograph or video of a recent order from FinerWorks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or even YouTube and get a voucher for your next order from FinerWorks. Post a Photo – $10 Voucher. Post a Video – $15 Voucher. One gift card per person is allowed. Include hash tag #FinerWorks in your post so we see it. This voucher offer ends February 28, 2018 so make sure you post by then.
Artists, Prepare Yourself for the Social Media Blackout
February 6, 2018
Five tips for artists and photographers to prepare for Facebook’s new algorithm that is set to lose the last of your 1-2% of views of your posts. It’s time to get ahead of the social media change that many are calling the Facebook Apocalypse. As Facebook also owns Instagram this algorithm wall will keep your audience from seeing your posts here as well.
Annemarie Barrett Shares Her Style of Selling
January 31, 2018
Artist Annemarie Barrett of AEB Art shares some of her tips on selling prints made by FinerWorks on her Etsy shop.