Fine Print FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Fine Print? How does it differ from the millions of prints sold on the Internet?

A Fine Print is an “exhibition quality” original print made from one of the following methods: (a) by printing archival pigment-based inks onto archival watercolour paper, photo-inkjet paper, or canvas ; (b) by printing on digital archival “true photo” paper; or (c) by printing on Ilfochrome (Cibachrome) paper. The important words here are “exhibition quality”. Museums, art collectors, and discerning clients have very high standards and demand acid-free, ph-neutral archival fine art papers.

Is purchasing a fine print a good investment?

Photography has always been somewhat undervalued—but much less so these days. Fine Art Photography, in particular, has steadily increased in acceptance. The Financial Times (FT.com) has reported that, according to Art Market Research, the total value of the contemporary photography market rose by 285 per cent between 1993 and 2008. It has also been more resilient than contemporary art in the post-2008 economic downturn and, in fact, made a surprisingly strong comeback in 2010. In the last decade however, you can find prints on the internet for a wide range of pricing and quality. Typically, the more you pay the better the print will be especially when it comes to materials used and how long that print will hold its value.

In 1983, I had the good fortune of spending some time with renowned photographer and legend, Ernst Haas, often called the “father of color photography.” At the 3-day seminar/workshop event in Edmonton, Alberta, Ernst introduced his “Creation” Portfolio. This portfolio consisted of 10 vintage, 16×20″ limited edition (either 30 or 50) dye transfer prints. By the end of the day, all 10 prints from the portfolio had sold and I was both an owner and collector of one of those special pieces. I purchased “Aerial Flamingos, Kenya, 1970″ for $ 350 USD and, from what I can estimate, this print is now valued at more than $ 6,0000 USD. That means this print is now worth 17 times more than what it was when I purchased it nearly 40 years ago—not a bad investment in time. The print hangs in my office and it will likely never leave my possession!

Another beautiful 20×16″ limited edition (4/10) Cibachrome print of “Namib Desert” by Freeman Patterson also graces one of my living room walls. Freeman Patterson is arguably Canada’s finest photographic artist, both past and present. I received this print upon entering and winning the first calendar contest by The Lab Works in 1988. I have not investigated the current value of this piece of photographic art and it doesn’t really matter anyway since I will not be parting with it either! While some fine art prints are valuable as an investment, others are simply invaluable as pieces of art.

Who purchases Fine Photographs?

Art is for private and public spaces. Purchasers of fine photographs include art collectors, photography museums, commercial galleries, art banks, the ‘acquisitions 'department’ of many corporations, as well as collectors and discerning clients and home owners.

Why do you limit the number of your “Limited Edition” prints while many other photographers are selling Limited Editions numbering in the hundreds?

Images in our “Limited Editions” are NOT mass produced. I feel strongly that a “Limited Edition” should be just that, LIMITED! We offer edition sizes that are fair to art collectors and art buyers; a small and unique “Limited Edition” is simply more valuable.

What is a “Certificate of Authenticity?

A Certificate of Authenticity is a document certifying that the print is an authentic, limited edition print, along with the number of the edition, the total number of prints in the edition, the artist’s name and signature, the date of issue, the title of the image, the medium involved, the paper substrate, the size of the print, its price, the printer and where the image was printed, as well as any pertinent information about the image. Each Certificate of Authenticity contains all the essential information necessary to verify the authenticity and chronology of the print.

Will you be adding more images to The Canadian Gallery?

Yes. I love creating images and I plan to continuously add to the collection.

Will the print that I order look exactly the same as what I am viewing on my computer monitor?

Our ‘fine prints’ will likely vary somewhat in color from the corresponding image that you see on your computer monitor due to differences in computer monitor manufacturers, color calibration, and your own personal settings on your monitor. Having said this, your fine art print will look fabulous — that we can guarantee!

Can any image be printed to the maximum size listed?

No. Many factors influence the maximum size that any particular image may be printed to. These factors include the type of camera formats, the type of film, the number of pixels of a digital camera, the subject matter itself, the weather conditions at the time the image was made, whether the subject was moving, etc. If you are interested in purchasing a very large print, we will offer our recommendation as to what maximum size a particular image should be printed to.

What type of payment do you accept?

We accept payment by certified cheque, money order, Visa and Mastercard.