Hand-colouring digital photography

[Jenny Gallego]

Hello,

I'm used to hand-colouring with photo watercolors my photos on RC paper and now I'm trying to do it on digital paper but it's not working properly. I've been researching about it and it seems that what I need to do is print my digital pictures on RC paper because there is no digital paper on the market available for using this technique.

Does anyone know where can I find a place in London to print digital onto RC or Fiber paper?

Or if there is any digital printing technique or paper suitable for hand-colouring?

I know for sure that I cannot use inkjet printers!
I have an exhibition in 2 months and I'm quite desperate!
Thanks

[edbayani]

can't you do the coloring digitally with photoshop so you can print it on inkjet printers using acid free art paper. just asking.

[edbayani]

on second thought, since you do your coloring by hand, if you can't have rc paper, maybe spray the digital print with krylon workable fixative first before coloring?

[Jenny Gallego]

Hi, thanks for you answer! I could do it in photoshop, but it's absolutely another method and the results are quite different. I could try to use that krylon workable fixative you mentioned, but it will only work if it's absorbing the water, like the gelatin of the RCpapers....
Thanks

[autofocus]

Just a thought..maybe a lab could make a negative of your digital image someway, and then print it on RC paper. I believe that's possible, but not 100% sure. My wife used to do hand coloring with photos oils, but since we switched to digital, it's become a dying art for her.

Vince

[zona5101]

back in the day when i had surfaces that wouldn't take pencils or oils well I'd spray them with photo matte spray. It would give the texture so the print would grab and hold the colors.
A good art store should have it ...or on line.

[Jenny Gallego]

Yes, that's a great solution. I definitely do that the next time... at the moment I don't have time. I know there are some labs that put digital pictures on film and the quality is really good.
Thanks a lot

[Jenny Gallego]

Hi zone5010! Thanks for your answer. That's another very good solution for me at the moment. I think I'm going to try it. The only question I have is, does the photo matte spay change a lot the texture of the paper? I mean, if you invest on a nice paper to print, there are some of them with very beautiful textures, is it going to disappear under the spray?

Thanks

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Jenny Gallego

Hi zone5010! Thanks for your answer. That's another very good solution for me at the moment. I think I'm going to try it. The only question I have is, does the photo matte spay change a lot the texture of the paper? I mean, if you invest on a nice paper to print, there are some of them with very beautiful textures, is it going to disappear under the spray?

Thanks

I would suppose so...it is a coating. I would use the spray primarily on glossy surface prints as they have no teeth. Sprayed they would look like matte/pearl paper.