::introtext::
I have some really good friends in Denmark who own a sign and print shop called Idé-Sign. I used them to print the prints, like this one (called "Love Letters for the Fire"), I had had up in the last art show I was in. Normally I would use my lab, Backprint, attached to my website to sell prints, but I was in Denmark at the time, and I liked being able to talk face to face, photographer to printer. It turned out well. Idé-Sign has this really fantastic paper- that is not actually paper at all, but a very thin plastic material- that has a satin, slightly metallic finish. I think it made my work look great.
I sent the files via email directly to the printer in Denmark. If I had requested, they could have then printed the images and then mailed them to me at home, but why wait?
Aside from having a few minor color issues at first because I forgot to send the prints worked on in ProPhoto RGB, this ended up working great for the show... but what about now?
I have this certain emotional attachment to my artwork. That is why photography works for me. If I sell a print, I can still keep the original file and make more prints. This particular piece I enjoyed creating because it was a throw back to my intense "Fiona Apple days" (I still love Fiona Apple by the way, I just am not as depressed and driven in that direction as I once was).
I'm thinking about selling prints of these images on my website (once I can figure out how to price them). This is where Backprint comes in really handy.
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::fulltext::
Backprint is a lab that allows you to create a website that attaches directly to your website and integrates seemlessly with it. If you go to my website and then click on "order prints" you can see how it works on my website.
It is actually meant to be more of an event pics printing solutions sort of thing, but I have seen their work and they are good. They have an excellent customer service policy- if the customer doesn't like it, they can return it for a full refund. They take credit cards (pretty much all of them). They let you have your own store front that isn't all plastered with their logo. They allow the customer online proofing, the ability to order the prints in color, sepia or b&w, and the ability to buy right there online, just like Pictage. However, they don't charge as much as Pictage per print, and they also don't charge you. They take a percentage of what you earn and they take a base price of each print. It is fantastic. As long as I have Backprint I will never use Pictage.
Soon, I intend to put up a series of prints for sale on Backprint of these Dancers. They will be a less exclusive edition than the ones I sold at the show, so they will be more affordable. I hope soon to be doing more photographic artwork and I look forward to another gallery show this year. I also just found out yesterday that the first of a few local coffeehouses will be displaying my work. I am very excited about this. Don't get me wrong, I love galleries and all, but there is just something about having my random, stray, usually-made-for-self, extra pieces hanging on a coffeehouse wall that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I like the indie-ness of it all. I feel a closer sense of connection with the community around me and I know that when people there are enjoying my work, its not just because I was able to get it in a gallery.
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