| Over the past years, technology has been | | | | The acceptance of inkjet prints has been quite |
| continuously evolving and it has brought about | | | | unpredictable so far. In some exhibitions and art |
| improved graphics, artworks and printing. Newer | | | | galleries, inkjet print designs are easily allowed, |
| breakthroughs in technology have also made printing | | | | whereas some follow strict rules against the display of |
| affordable and easy to use. | | | | such prints. Alternatively, some designers still prefer the |
| For photographers too, printing has been made very | | | | traditional emulsion prints to be part of their artworks. |
| easy and consultative. More photographers have | | | | For those who rely on digital printing, the choice is |
| switched from the old style to the modern enlarged | | | | based on practicality and reverting to the traditional |
| printing with the use of digital inkjet printers. | | | | technique is not longer financially viable. Digital printing |
| With the modern use of digital cameras now taking | | | | has also made enlarging of prints and images much |
| into effect to make perfect digital shots, photographers | | | | easier than traditional printing. It has been suggested |
| no longer have to go through the process of scanning | | | | that in time, when digital printing will continue its rise in |
| of the negatives from the pictures taken This is the | | | | the world of technology, many will make the switch |
| one of the main reasons more photographers have | | | | over from the traditional method to the digital one. |
| switched over to the digital age technology. | | | | The use of digital printing requires refinement in art |
| Digital image printing is developed in corresponding | | | | skills, and accuracy and precision should be followed |
| software such as PhotoShop, CorelDraw and may | | | | and maintained. To enhance printing abilities, the aid of |
| other types of software. However, among them all, | | | | Photoshop, or similar types of software can prove to |
| Photoshop is the most commonly used software | | | | be very useful for acquiring spectacular prints. |
| application to meet the demands of clearer and | | | | Cyan And Magenta Explained |
| precise digital prints. In fact, it has now become difficult | | | | Moving on to ink cartridges used in printers, anybody |
| for photographers to sell the equipment formerly used | | | | who has purchased these cartridges would know that |
| in the darkroom. | | | | there is no blue or red ink. Cyan certainly looks blue |
| With the growth of printing technology, new issues | | | | and magenta definitely looks red -- but have you ever |
| have also sprung up, such as whether digital printing is | | | | wondered why they simply don't call them blue and |
| really as aesthetic and long lasting. Critics wonder if | | | | red instead of cyan and magenta? |
| digital printing can contain the same level of output as | | | | Here's the explanation -- both monitors and printers |
| that of traditional images. For others, printing in inkjet | | | | use different ways to produce colour. While a monitor |
| printers is akin to imitating the original as they are | | | | is a light source, printers are light reflecting. The only |
| printed with the use of ink, while the traditional method | | | | common ground between the two is something known |
| contained natural mixture for photography purposes. | | | | as dithering. It is the process of approximating a colour |
| Nevertheless, even with the advancement in digital | | | | that cannot be displayed with uniformly dispersed dots |
| photo printing, a number of people still appreciate the | | | | of other colours. |
| old technique of printing. | | | | This technique assigns differing colour values to |
| In case you're wondering about when the debate of | | | | adjacent pixels, thereby reducing the contrast between |
| digital printing over traditional was sparked off, it | | | | dots of different colours or shades and generates a |
| started with doubts over the long-lasting effect of | | | | more flowing, natural impression. When viewed from a |
| inkjet prints over emulsion printouts. Critics have | | | | distance, these colours seem to blend into a single |
| questioned if inkjet prints can endure the exposure | | | | intermediate colour. Dithering is similar to the half toning |
| longer and maintain their quality. However, some have | | | | used in black-and-white publications to achieve shades |
| proven that the traditional prints have not lasted as | | | | of grey. |
| long and have slowly been fading in time as well. This | | | | Coming back to the discussion, both monitors and |
| observation strengthens the belief that no image can | | | | printers use primary colours; however, a monitor uses |
| withstand exposure for a long period of time yet. | | | | primary additive colours red, green and blue, while |
| Given that the developments in digital technology are | | | | printers use the primary subtractive colours cyan, |
| ever increasing, questions and issues regarding its | | | | magenta and yellow. In both cases, the primary colours |
| performance have been lessened for it has played its | | | | are dithered to form the entire colour spectrum. |
| role well till date. | | | | Dithering breaks a colour pixel into an array of dots so |
| Inkjet prints have greatly contributed to giving an | | | | that each dot is either made up of one of the basic |
| eventual effect in the uniqueness of images. The | | | | primary colours or intentionally left blank to create |
| technique of inkjet printers involves spraying a number | | | | white. |
| of tiny dots onto the paper, making the image sharper | | | | Cyan and magenta are in fact old printing terms for |
| and more defined. This is perhaps a simple example of | | | | blue and red, but since some form of differentiation is |
| how the new printing technology has played its part of | | | | needed between the additive and subtractive |
| contributing to creativity and has now defined its own | | | | spectrum, cyan and magenta are here to stay! |
| field of artwork. | | | | |