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Prints, Mats, and Frames

Professional Printing

If your image is selected for the Exhibition Gallery, we will need a print, either by using our print service, or sending to us a print of your own. (See details about shipping your work in the navigation on the right-hand column.)

Unique among photographic galleries, we do our own printing in-house for exhibitors who need it. That gives us the ability not only to ensure that your print is where it should be at the time it should be, but it makes it far easier for photographers to participate in our exhibits by eliminating shipping cost.

More important, it gives us complete control over print quality, so that when we say we deliver an exhibition-quality print, we mean just that. The quality of the prints in the gallery reflects not only your artistry, but also our 50 years of experience in printing.

All prints are made in a color-controlled environment using Canon large-format printers, Eizo monitors, and custom ICC profiles.

Remember, matting and framing are free for the duration of the exhibit if the printed image area conforms to our standard mat windows and frames. Custom mats and frames in larger sizes are also readily available. Just tell us what you have in mind.

Files for Printing

The image file you originally submitted for jurying is not large enough to make an exhibition print, although it is large enough for reproduction in the exhibition catalog. Please do not upload that file again, unless it is the only file you have.

Prints for exhibition should always be made from the best-edited, highest-resolution file you have, and should be cropped as you want it to appear in the final print. Sizing of the image is not important — we will adjust sizing to fit the matte window you request. Please don’t leave white borders or use watermarks. Without special instructions (“notes” on the order form), we will crop the image tight to the widow you select. With instructions, we’ll make the print and matte exactly as you want.

Of course, if you want to send us a loose, matted, or framed print, that’s a different story. See Framing, below.

We can accept TIFF, PSD, or JPG files for printing. If possible, please upload a file that is:

  • Either TIFF or PSD (Photoshop) file, as, unlike a JPG, they are generally uncompressed files. Layers flattened if applicable.
  • Preferred color space: Adobe RGB. sRGB is OK. ProPhoto exceeds the color gamut of all printers; we recommend you convert to Adobe RBG or sRBG.
  • Resolution: in general, send us the largest file you have. It should be at least the dimensions of the final print area at 240 ppi (pixels per inch). 300 ppi is better.
  • Maximum file size for upload is 250MB.
  • Maximum image are of a print: 16" on the long edge, 12" on the short edge. In the context of our gallery, prints any larger than that do not look good in a 16 x 20 frame.

The image should be adjusted as you want it to appear in the final print. We will match what you send to the extent possible. Sufficient resolution is the most important quality of your file. In general, send us the largest file you have.

Please note that the file size we refer to is the file when it is CLOSED, ie, not open in editing software, which will show a much larger file size than when closed.

Use the link below to log in and order prints. You will 1) specify mat window, or 2) order a custom mat window if desired,3) tell us the price you'd like to put on the print, and (4) tell us what we should do with the print after the exhibit, should it not sell.

ORDER PRINTS AND MATS HERE (you'll need to log in on the way)

We do custom printing of portfolios and exhibition prints unrelated to PhotoPlace Gallery. Contact us about your needs.

Paper Options

We offer a choice of five different papers. A print up to 12" x 16" (maximum) costs $55. This is the largest size suitable for use in our 16" x 20" free frames. Prints larger than 12 x 16 will require supplying your own frame. Prints for purposes other than PhotoPlace Gallery exhibitions are also available. Please email us.

Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl    This is our new favorite paper. Pure cotton, natural white with no optical brighteners, characterized by its slightly warm shade of white. The smooth even surface texture gives the paper a soft feel and the print a great sense of depth. In combination with its pearl-gloss inkjet coating, it produces outstanding prints with exceptional reproduction of color and detail, deep blacks. Meets the most exacting requirements for age resistance.  320 gsm, 100% cotton, Acid- and lignin-free. ($55.00)

Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta    Don't let the Photo Rag in the name mislead you. This is definitely a baryta paper with a barium sulphate coating to further enhance the density, color gamut, color gradation, and sharpness while maintaining the feel and quality of a traditional paper. Pure cotton base, natural white, with no optical brighteners. It's an exceptional paper in both appearance and hand feel, with just a little bit of visible texture visible on its surface. 315 gsm, acid- and lignin-free. ($55.00)

Canson Baryta Prestige    An acid-free alpha-cellulose and cotton white paper base with a true barium-sulphate coating. At 340 gsm, it has a heavy hand-feel. More than any of our other papers, it evokes the look of a traditional darkroom paper, providing excellent durability, outstanding black optical density (D-max), and superb image sharpness. It is the whitest paper we have. It offers an extraordinary wide gamut which improves color reproduction and increases visual impact. One of our favorites. ($55.00)

Hahnemühle Photo Rag    For many, this is the standard by which other matte papers are judged. 100% cotton rag, white, lignum- and acid free, 308 gsm, with smooth matte texture, a wonderful cottony hand-feel and a deep black D-max.  ($55.00)

Epson Hot Press Bright    A perennial favorite among many photographers, it is 100% cotton rag with a heavy weight of 330 gsm and the feel of a true fine art paper. Its hot press production technique yields a smooth matte surface, and optical brighteners help deliver bright whites and a wide color gamut. Acid, lignin, and chlorine free and pH buffered for longevity.  ($55.00)

Uncertain about the right paper choice? Let us pick one for you. We'll choose the paper that we think best suits your image.  ($55.00)

Standard & Custom Mats

To help artists minimize costs and to encourage submissions from distant photographers, PhotoPlace Gallery will mat and frame juried work free of charge for the duration of the exhibition, as long as the image fits in one of our standard window sizes. If your image proportions do not fit our mat widows, or if you would like to have white paper space around your image, order a custom mat when you order your print. See below.

All of our mats are white 16 x 20, with widow sizes as follows:

10" x 15"
11-1/2" x 11-1/2" square
10-1/2" x 13-1/2"

If we are making the print, we will size the image with absolute minimal cropping to fit these windows. If you are providing the print, please make the image about 1/8” larger than these sizes, or make it smaller to allow for a white border. Please do not send us your print to the exact size of the window. It will not be usable without cutting a custom mat.

If your image doesn’t work in one of the standard windows above, you may (1) send your print matted, (2) order a custom mat when you order a print or (3), if you are shipping us a loose print, you may order a mat on the Gallery Exhibitor Shipping Form (you'll need to log in on the way). The cost of a custom archival mat is $25. If you are having your print returned, we'll of course include the mat with the print.

A word of advice: We often receive images to print that require a whole lot of cropping to fit one of our mats. It’s especially heartbreaking when critical areas near the edges need to be cropped. It’s up to you  to accurately measure the dimensions of your image to make sure it fits one of our standard mats. If it doesn’t, your image will be far better served by ordering a custom mat when your order a print. Prints that need a custom mat when none is ordered will be put the closest standard mat, regardless of necessary cropping.

Framing

Free framing is available to all exhibitors. 

All frames that we supply are 16 x 20 black metal. Mats are white, to fit in 16 x 20 frames. Both mats and frames are free for the duration of the exhibit, whether you supply your print or have us make your print. We do not sell our supplied frames.

If you would like to send a matted, framed print, it must be a 16 x 20 black metal frame with white or off-white mat, covered in glass or acrylic. We are happy to discuss other treatments and welcome larger sizes or unusual presentations, but you must clear them with us first Really. Please do not send anything in a non-standard frame without prior approval. Just send us an email describing what you have in mind.

Finally, we can provide you with any sort of frame in sizes other than 16 x 20, at additional cost. Please inquire.

If you are shipping us a print (loose, matted, or framed), please complete a Gallery Exhibitor Shipping Form and submit it online. It contains vital information: selling price, gallery label information, and more. Should your work not sell and you'd like it returned, you must include a prepaid shipping label with your work or prepay return shipping when you complete the shipping form. Prepaid shipping will be refunded if your work sells. We will not be responsible for work without prepaid shipping 14 days after the exhibit is taken down.