Digital Photography: The Fine Print

NC1112-01

This 7-week intensive in fine art printing introduces students to the craft and critical practice of archival inkjet printing for photographic and digital images. Meeting weekly, the class combines technical instruction, hands-on printing, and group critique to support students in producing exhibition-quality prints with intention and control. Students develop and hone a complete digital-to-print workflow, learning how to prepare files, manage color, and make informed decisions about resolution, scale, and tonal range. The class emphasizes building a refined eye for color, contrast, and surface, alongside an understanding of how different papers, finishes, and substrates shape the final image. Technical topics include how inkjet printers function, pigment vs. dye-based inks, color spaces, soft proofing, and printer/paper profiles. Through guided exercises and iterative printing, students gain confidence troubleshooting common issues and achieving consistency and quality across prints. Viewing of prints and group critique aim to hone students’ image assessment skills and critical language.

• Students should begin the class with some image files they plan to print. These may include digitally-captured or scanned photographs, or other artwork (digital collages, images of physical artworks, etc.)

• The first class session meets remotely on Zoom, followed by six consecutive in-person meetings at MassArt’s on-campus printing lab (Tower Building 3rd Floor).

• Students receive a printing credit at the start of the class to use toward prints made during the class, and may add additional funds to their accounts as needed.

• General digital literacy and a basic understanding of digital image files is strongly advised; no previous printing experience is required. Please contact Digital Media Certificate program director Rebecca Morrison with questions: ramorrison@massart.edu