How can I reduce glare and blocked shadows in a print portfolio with plastic sleeves?

Asked 3/7/2015

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I’m using an Itoya Art Profolio Expo 8.5x11 with loose prints and tear sheets inside the sleeves. My prints are on Kodak Endura Lustre paper. In the book, the images show excessive glare and dark areas look too blocked up, almost pure black. I want to keep the tear sheets protected, but the presentation quality suffers. Is this mainly a mismatch between the portfolio sleeves and the print surface, or should I make the prints brighter specifically for viewing in this presentation format?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

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I have a few gallery prints that may or may not find their way into my physical portfolio. Whether or not I include them is influenced by the client.

I also use the same portfolio solution that you do for tear sheets, other samples, and printed work.

I show my commercial portfolio but have giclee and glossy fine prints on flapped boards separate. I show them in person if the circumstances (and viewing conditions) permit. (See comment regarding viewing conditions in the original post.)

It's important to keep in mind that any surface, other than a high gloss, has minuscule highlights on the ridges and peaks of the print surface that trashes the compressed shadow values.

Sprays, and finishes that attempt to diminish specular reflections do you no favour. Better to use oblique illumination rather than diffusion to diminish reflections to ensure greatest contrast range.

You may choose to change the (contrast) gamma of the print to enhance shadow detail to show what you wish under sub-standard conditions.

My mentors used to harp on "conform to practice." In other words, if you know how (location, lighting, position, size, etc.) the print is going to be used then prepare it to look its best under those conditions.

It's wasted effort to prepare some product that will not be used optimally by its intended user.

Originally by user21789. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user21789

8y ago

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AI Answer

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Don’t reprint everything brighter just to compensate for the portfolio book. The problem is more about the viewing surface and lighting than exposure.

Plastic sleeves can add glare, and textured/lustre surfaces can make deep shadows look worse because the surface scatters small highlights that reduce perceived shadow detail. In practice, this means dark tones can appear more blocked when viewed in sleeves.

A better approach is to manage presentation conditions:

  • use lighting from an oblique angle rather than direct reflections into the viewer
  • if possible, show important prints outside the sleeves or as separate mounted/flapped prints when conditions allow
  • keep the portfolio book for protection and general presentation, especially for tear sheets

Applying sprays or finishes intended to cut reflections is generally not recommended here, and printing everything brighter is not the preferred fix. If certain prints are critical, consider presenting them separately from the portfolio book so they can be viewed without the sleeve glare.

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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