The Fine Art Printing Process

Step 7
I feel that the soft proof of the image looks a little flat. To add some contrast to the image to give some extra punch to the print, I create a new Curves Adjustment layer and add an S-curve to add contrast through the midtones (right). This accentuates the splash of sunlight on the west side of the castle and helps visually separate the castle from the background.

Step 8
Before sharpening, I turn off the Gamut Warning and Soft Proof. I'll use the new Smart Sharpen feature, which does an amazing job of sharpening digital camera files. I set my full image to 50 percent zoom for an effective preview of the finished print, while using the Smart Sharpen preview window at 100 percent to assess critical detail (below). I find the Amount setting of 250 and the Radius of 0.8 to my liking in the Lens Blur mode with More Accurate checked.

Step 9
I'm now ready to print. I'll check to make sure that I have the media type chosen in the print driver and that No Color Adjustment is checked.
After printing, I'll let the print dry on a flat surface for 24 hours, then spray the print with Premier Art Print Shield Lacquer to protect the surface of the print from scratches and ultraviolet light.

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