Salon - DIY Prints and Mats
Leader: Dale Potter Phone: (865)-773-8114 E-mail: dalepotter55@gmail.com
Meeting place: Cafeteria Annex, J. L. Goins Administration Building on the Hardin Valley campus of Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville TN
Registration available: Beginning today
Do you want to do more with your photos than view them on your phone, post them on Facebook, or display them on websites? You’ve invested in an expensive camera and lens—now it’s time to unlock their full potential.
Printing is often the ultimate goal for photographers, but achieving a high-quality print that truly matches what you see on your monitor requires knowledge and care. This updated presentation on print preparation for the Salon will guide you step by step, helping you avoid common mistakes and achieve consistently excellent results.
We’ll start by exploring what it takes to make a printed image match your on-screen vision. For many photographers, this means stepping just outside their comfort zone and learning a new set of skills—but the process is straightforward and highly rewarding. Whether you’re creating photo books, prints for sale, gifts, or Salon entries, these techniques will elevate your work.
You’ll learn the importance of monitor calibration and why it is essential for accurate color. We’ll dive into soft proofing and how it helps you predict print results before you send anything to the printer. We will also explore rendering intents—Perceptual vs. Relative Colorimetric—and when to use each one effectively. Color profiles, out-of-gamut colors, and how to manage them will also be covered so you can make informed choices whether printing yourself or working with a professional lab.
We’ll take a practical look at cropping—how to choose the right crop, different crop types, and sizes—and how these decisions impact your final print. These concepts will be demonstrated using Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. We’ll also compare printing at home versus using a local or online print lab, with tips to ensure you always get the best possible result.
In addition, we’ll discuss insights from Canon representatives as well as practical experience with Epson printers to help guide your decisions.
Presentation and finishing are just as important as printing. You’ll explore different matting options suitable for Salon submissions and display purposes, and you’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of mat styles in person. We’ll also cover creative and cost-effective ways to prepare your prints for the Salon, including alternatives to traditional plastic sleeves.
This is a classroom-style, information-rich presentation designed to support both Salon entries and your personal printing goals. You won’t need to bring prints or mats—just bring something to take notes. Some content will be shown on screen, and you’ll have time to ask questions so you can confidently prepare your images and presentation choices for the Salon.
We’ll also have sample papers available so you can experience different print surfaces and understand how they affect your images. You may even receive helpful tips on selecting images that tend to appeal to Salon judges.
If you’ve been curious about printing but hesitant to take the leap, this is your opportunity to gain the knowledge and confidence to move forward successfully. While not every question may be answered in detail, you’ll leave with clear direction and practical next steps.
By the end of the session, you’ll know how to prepare your images for printing, matting, and presentation—giving you plenty of time to get ready for upcoming Salon entries. And beyond the Salon, these skills will help you create beautiful prints for your home, your family, and your friends.
Dale Potter
What do you do with your photographs? Are they only for digital display? Then why do you have that expensive camera and lens? Printing is most photographers' ultimate goal, but ensuring the print looks right is essential. This is an updated version of previous print presentations for the Salon, which will cover in more detail how to get the image you want without making too many mistakes with your prints.
Printing an image requires a few things to get the same picture that shows on your monitor when it is printed out. For some of you, it requires stepping out of your comfort zone and learning a new option. It is not hard to understand if you want to get better results for photobooks, prints you sell, prints you want to give away, and most of all, prints you wish to enter in the Salon.
We will cover the calibration of your monitor and why it is crucial. You will learn about soft proofing and why it is essential to use it. We will discuss Perceptual and Relative Colorimetric, and which one to use when. We will also discuss color profiles, out-of-gamut colors, and your options. We will discuss choosing the correct color profile for your print, whether you print it yourself or send it to a printer.
How to crop and where? Types and sizes of crops. This is an important consideration when selecting your image. These issues will be covered using Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. Printing on your printer or sending out to a print lab, either locally or online, and how to make sure you are getting the best image for your print.
This information is essential for a Salon print or other personal use.
There are various ways to mat your prints. We will discuss the best ones for the Salon or hanging your print. You will be able to view and see different types of mats for the Salon and other occasions. To complete your matting process, we will cover some options you may consider for the Salon.
I will show you how to save some money for the Salon by using an ordinary trash bag.
This is a classroom-style presentation. You will be provided with lots of information to use for prints you enter in the Salon or decide to print for other uses.
You do not need to bring any prints or mats, but you will need something to take notes. Some of the information will be presented on the screen. You will have time to ask questions to prepare to select your prints for the Salon, and how you want to mat them.
You may be given a few tips on the types of images to enter in the Salon that will appeal to the judges.
If you are curious about printing but have hesitated on taking that step, this is your opportunity to learn how to take that step with success. I may not have all the answers to your questions, but I will try to point you in the right direction.
I will be able to show you how to hang a print in a mat that can be framed, and your print will hang forever without wrinkling. I will not be covering all the aspects of framing, but you can find that information online.
By the end of the presentation, you should know how to prepare your images for printing and matting with enough time to prepare for Salon entries later this year. You can use the information to frame your prints for yourself, family, and friends.
Dale Potter
