Introduction to the Fine Art Printing Process
A course by Martin Del Pozo BallesterosFine Art Photographer and Printer
A course by Martin Del Pozo Ballesteros, Fine Art Photographer and Printer
Learn step by step how to digitally develop your photos, retouch them, and print them in fine art quality
Finding the perfect combination between photography, support, and printing is crucial for a piece to shine. That is precisely the mission of fine art photographer and printer Martín del Pozo. After an extensive career and a long list of collaborations with renowned photographers, Martín is now devoted to helping other artists at his workshop, Calaca, where he captures the essence of their art through his printing projects.
In this online course, Martín teaches you the giclée or fine art printing process step by step. Learn to reveal your RAW photos, retouch them, and print them in fine art quality on the medium of your choice.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 4 downloads
What will we do during the course?
51 seconds
What is Fine Art printing?
5 minutes, 8 seconds
Monitor calibration
7 minutes, 32 seconds
Color profiles
3 minutes, 3 seconds
Preparing the RAW
5 minutes, 5 seconds
Preparing your negative for printing
8 minutes, 13 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by getting to know Martín, who tells you about creative journey and how he got started in fine art printing. He also shares some of the artists who have influenced his work.
Discover what fine art printing is, where it comes from, and what it involves before looking at the materials used in the process.
Next, see how to set up your workspace and your monitor, as well as how to calibrate it.
Learn about color profiles and how to choose the right one for your project. Then, Martín shows you how to work with a RAW file from start to finish, including color correction, shadows, light, clarity and focus.
Move on to preparing your negative for printing, starting with your scanned image from the development software and reviewing everything you need to have.
Check your file settings to ensure correct printing based on paper type. Take an in-depth look at retouching shadows, highlights, and lights using masks. Martín also teaches you about focus and the types of grain for each support.
Discover how to choose the paper that best suits your project based on their durability, texture, or brand qualities.
Finally, Martín walks you through the printing process step by step. Learn how to send the files to print and what profiles to use, as well as how to properly handle copies and store them.
What is this course's project?
Develop a digital photo and create a fine art print on the support of your choice.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Photographers and photography students, digital illustrators and artists, and anyone who wants to learn about the fine art printing process.
Requirements and materials
Basic notions of Adobe Photoshop are recommended.
As for materials, you just need a computer with Camera Raw and Photoshop.
Reviews
- 15 days ago
Purtroppo non consiglio questo corso, ho apprezzato l'introduzione al ragionamento che sta nella scelta stilistica e anche la scelta della carta, avrei voluto una spiegazione delle impostazioni di stampa più dettagliata, ci sono molti opzioni di stampa che non vengono trattate
- 1 month ago
O curso não tratou adequadamente do objetivo proposto. Foi gasto tempo em considerações pouco relevantes para o aprendizado. Faltou foco. Os aspectos técnicos foram muito superficiais, mesmo para um curso básico. Este fato foi agravado pela apresentação pouco didática.
- 6 months ago
El curso carece del rigor técnico necesario para la impresión Fine Art. No se distinguen las texturas de papel en pantalla y falta profundidad en gestión de color: no explica propósitos de interpretación (perceptual/relativo), la compensación de punto negro en Photoshop ni los ajustes en Lightroom. Sobra contenido sobre influencias artísticas, que no deben confundirse con la técnica de impresión profesional. No sirve como guía por su excesiva superficialidad.
- 9 months ago
El curso se centra en un rápido ejercicio de retoque, que no es el objetivo del curso, y cuando habla de los papeles de impresión, no se le entienden los tipos de papel o marcas que va a utilizar. No pone nada de documentación a lo que hace referencia en el curso. No recomiendo el curso. A mi no me inspira nada. decepcionante.
- 1 year ago
Muy resumido en cuanto al proceso de impresión y preparación, tiene más contenido de edición lo cual no es el foco del curso. Quedan muchas dudas que requieren de mayor profundización. Hay partes que las describe tan rápido que requieren que uno vuelva atrás en el video y aún así ameritan de una mayor explicación.
After a few years of experience, he decided to open his own workshop, CALACA Studio+Giclée, where the philosophy is to work directly with the artists and photographers. They print artists like Alberto Goldenstein, Rosana Schoijett, Cecilia Szalkowikz, Ariel Authier, Alesandra Sanguinetti, Bruno Dubner, and Nora Lezano, among others. They also collaborate with museums and galleries including the Palais de Glace, CC Recoleta, CC San Martin, FOLA, Archivo de la Memoria Trans, Galería MITE, Galería HACHE, STUDIO_488, and Nora FISCH Gallery.
In addition to his personal projects, Martín does advertising and fashion photography, and his work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and cultural centers in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Germany, and Peru.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation (Who I am)
- Influences
- What will we do during the course?
- U2
File Preparation
- What is Fine Art printing?
- Monitor calibration
- Color profiles
- Preparing the RAW
- Preparing your negative for printing
- U3
Retouching and pre printing
- Moving to photoshop - Initial settings
- Correction of shadows and highlights
- Light retouching - Timely adjustment
- Working with the focus and type of grain
- Export photoshop file for printing
- U4
The copy
- Support Choice
- Printing and copy conservation
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to the fine art printing process
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Fine art giclée printing is a professional technique that uses pigmented inks and high-quality papers to create long-lasting prints with accurate colors, ideal for high-end photographic and artistic works.
Yes, the course is designed for those with intermediate photography knowledge or experience, aiming to deepen skills in printing, retouching, and professional color management.
You’ll need an analog or digital camera, a computer, a calibratable monitor, a negative scanner, a fine art-compatible printer, and access to software like Photoshop and Camera Raw.
You’ll learn how to calibrate monitors using tools like ColorMunki, create ICC profiles, and manage color spaces (sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto) to ensure accurate print results.
The course teaches you how to develop RAW files, adjust shadows, exposure, and color, correct aberrations, and export images optimized for professional printing in Photoshop.
Yes, the course covers scanning negatives with Silverfast, adjusting resolution, and digital cleaning to produce top-quality printed copies.
Yes, you’ll learn to use layers, masks, and curves for selective retouching, controlling highlights and shadows, and non-destructive digital cleanup of imperfections.