Signing prints

[Robert Watcher]

My Amazon order containing a new set of Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens, came in yesterday. I was suggested this item as a way to sign my wide border 11”x14” inkjet prints —- I needed a smooth gliding, smudge proof, fade resistant, archival quality black pen, and trying these on some prints looks very promising.

On my traditional C prints I used the silver or gold pens for years, but they tended to grab and drag on inkjet papers. And then I tried sharpies which weren’t to bad, but I found that they faded. While I do have a digital signature that I include on some of my prints for ease of duplication —- sometimes I just feel better signing each individually.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Rob,

Very nice.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Robert Watcher]

A fun day printing and signing my 11x14” wide border prints for selling. I have started with a selection of my favourite images while living in Central American countries, and plan on adding to it on a regular basis. There is no sound, so it isn’t your device when you hear silence LOL

 

[Robert Watcher]

I have been quite involved producing an extensive collection of wide border 11x14 prints, packaged nicely for selling (currently at my daughter’s boutique). I realized that I should include a simple artists statement / certificate of authenticity that includes the unique title and location for each image. I designed this 4UP layout to print out on card stock. Thanks to AI for the help with wording on the card …

… as well as this Caption / Blurb / and list of Hashtags for an Instagram/Facebook/Threads post of the pics of the cards. I couldn’t imagine the time and effort it would take for me to concoct this wording LOL

The AI query that I used for the Message related to the pic of the card that I uploaded was simple: “Provide a caption and blurb as well as a list of hashtags, to go along with this photo in an Instagram post on my @rob.watcher account”


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Where artistry meets authenticity—each print is more than an image; it’s a story sealed with intention.

Every custom print I send out is accompanied by this hand-signed card—my way of sharing the soul behind the shutter. It’s a moment captured, a thought expressed, and a connection made. Photography isn’t just about seeing—it’s about feeling.


#RobWatcherPhotography
#FineArtPrints
#PhotographersOfInstagram
#AuthenticityMatters
#PrintWithPurpose
#BehindTheShot
#CertificateOfAuthenticity
#ArtistStatement
#StorytellingThroughImages
#VisualPoetry
#CanadianPhotographer
#CreativeProcess
#ArtCollectors
#PhotographyInspiration

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[Robert Watcher]

It’s so awesome to experience my photographs as prints large enough to really enjoy, but small enough that I can potentially print hundreds or thousands for my own use to flip through whenever I want to feel inspired. I am really liking the 11x14 size for that purpose as well. And if I want to find other venues to display or sell my work, I can excite the owner by just putting together a box of 40 or 50 prints for them to thumb through and make a decision on whether my style suites their space or not.

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Another set of 27 images in different genres that I went at yesterday and delivered to my daughters store

 

[Robert Watcher]

I have fallen in love with the prepared 7”x10” card stock from Red River, that I have been using for many months, and a few weeks ago decided to order in two of their sample packs to try out. And if there were papers that suited my criteria for the prints I am making, I will include those in my next order to Red River - and that will also help in distributing the shipping costs from Texas to Ontario Canada, which actually aren’t that bad to start with.


I finally got around to trying out a couple of the 8-1/2x11 sample papers from the 2 sample packs as I was printing yesterday. It was much easier to use an image that I had printed as an 11x14 as a reference, that has colours and textures that represent a lot of my work —- and compare how a few of the Red River papers match up with colour balance, density and detail, without having the rework my files. I have been using a Koala satin paper (that I bring in from Amazon for ease) that I have been very happy with as far the smooth texture and presentation of my images, and that is what the 11x14 reference print in the photo is printed on.


I used the standard printer profiles recommended for each paper on the cover sheet of the sample pack. I was very pleased at how close they are, and for my standards it appears that I will be able to jump right in to printing on the Red River papers without any waste. The Red River Satin sample is very close in appearance and maybe a little creamier than the Koala - it certainly has a surface that closely resembles analog C prints that I used to print in my darkroom. I think that will be my standard for my printing from now on.

One other paper that I tried was the Canvas paper, and surprisingly it was very rich and detailed. I may prefer this paper over a Matte paper on some images. The third is the Glossy Metallic paper, which printed beautifully. There are still several more samples to try from the two packs - but those will be for another day.

Premium Inkjet Photo Papers by Red River Paper

Storefront at Red River Paper. Best quality paper. Best price. We guarantee it.

www.redrivercatalog.com

 

[Asher Kelman]

Robert,

Your work is gracious effort to represent the soul of your prints to every unknown person that gets to hold their’s and have a meaningful connection to you.

It’s like “the tap on the head” of a child as the Armenian Orthodox priest passes through the busy village market and blesses children presented to him, each with dedicated eye contact and a moment of kind personal acknowledgement that, “My child you I greet as a full person of worth!”

But in addition you tell us how to follow your path.

Thanks so much,


Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

I just like sharing my workflows in the event that there is some little tidbit others could benefit from or add into their workflow. It’s always just things I am working on at the time that make it easy to have content to post. I’m not an instructor or educator. But appreciate your sentiments Asher.

 

[Robert Watcher]

BTW. I have a standard workflow now that I always follow. If I experiment, I forget how I got to my result the next time, so I stick to simple.

For mobile iOS devices I exclusively use the Snapseed App to process every image that I want to post online. The image files are always transferred wirelessly directly from my Olympus cameras. I use the Resize App to get the images down to a manageable physical size for the web. I also have the mobile version of Affinity Photo 2 on my iPad for those times when I need to design graphics or composites in the field, but it’s not used often.


On my desktop workstation, my primary software is On1 Photo Raw for virtually everything I do where files are downloaded onto my various hard drives. This includes exporting files to different formats, sending files to Topaz Sharpen AI or Affinity Photo to benefit from features they offer, and having the files returned to ON1 for further processing when saved. I am a heavy user of Affinity Publisher 2 for organizing and printing all of my photo cards and other products that I output for print. Opening one file allows me instantly have access to all images that I offer in their layed out format

I have been using BackBlaze online storage for quite a while now. My computer is never turned off, and all of my connected hard drives, SSD and NVME drives are constantly being backed up in case of a colossal failure - where I can have BackBlaze ship me large drives to restore the all of my data if needed.

My Epson printer is a dye based XP 15000 for prints up to 13”x19”, and all files for printing are transferred wirelessly to the printer sitting on the other side of the room.

 

[Robert Watcher]

While people in general like seeing pretty landscape or flower photography images displayed for purchasing —— I suggested to our daughter Rachel that she allow me to display content that most people aren’t used to seeing and they they may never consider purchasing for the walls of their homes, offices or workspaces. Such content would be many of my street images. At the least it may draw people in to her store and increase discussion and visibility in the small community.


Last week I ordered a 20”x24” canvas wall print to fit into the small space that I have in my section of her store, a black and white street shot that I captured in Mexico City a few weeks ago. To test out, I used an online service that surprisingly was printed and shipped to me from India. It arrived last night. This photo below is after I signed it and temporarily hung it on a wall in my home to have a good look at it. Tomorrow it gets delivered to the store. Will be interesting to know if there is any reaction from people going into Rachel’s store - and what that will be.

My intention is to print another image every month or so, that will present images that people aren’t used to seeing - other than on Instagram or Facebook, but certainly not in print.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Hung the print up in my little section at Rachel’s store this morning. She loves having that type of work displayed.

I have learned to really value Command Strips for fastening to walls, as they are super strong and easy to remove without damaging the walls.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Because of the limited real estate that I have in my daughters store, I figured that I should make a little sign for the front of the wood box containing all of my 11x14 prints for people to thumb through —— that would help them visualize how the print would look when placed in a standard size 16”x20” frame with a mat

 

[Asher Kelman]

it’s 12:00 MN and I am looking at reworking the dark on my iPhone 16 Pro Plusxand it displays your color and B& W pictures so anaziny well. The experience with the screen 6” from my eyes is far better than standing before sprint at 6ct away!

Tomorrow I will read the text but tonight I am so impressed with the colored lampshade and with man in monochrome looking back and to one side.

Thanks for sharing and excuse typos as it’s guard at night, lol!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Thank you Asher. The coloured lampshade is just part of the room setting with my framed print on the wall. As soon as this pic was posted on Facebook, I got a message from a woman who wanted to purchase that combination of frame and signed print. I delivered it and mounted it on her wall for her. That photo taken at a pottery museum in Granada Nicaragua taken back in 2011, has been sold and published many times for me.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Thank you Asher. The coloured lampshade is just part of the room setting with my framed print on the wall. As soon as this pic was posted on Facebook, I got a message from a woman who wanted to purchase that combination of frame and signed print. I delivered it and mounted it on her wall for her. That photo taken at a pottery museum in Granada Nicaragua taken back in 2011, has been sold and published many times for me.

That’s funny as I was viewing the prints on the screen without my glasses and because the mass of the lampshade was so dominant I missed the details of the wonderful picture which is so obvious today!

Yes, the image and presentation is outstanding and commands a presence.

Asher