Astrophotography: I printed a bunch of my astro photos!

Every year my local library displays photo's from local photographers. Sept and Oct are dedicated for astrophotography. This will be the third year I hang my prints there.
This batch of prints were printed by Amazon.
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#astrophotography
#prints
#amazon

[@ianwatson8599]

They look like they’ve come out quite well. I’ve decided this year to buy my own printer to make my own prints. Another way to broaden the hobby

[@DSOImager]

Thanks! How large of a print can your printer put out?

[@ianwatson8599]

@@DSOImager the one I’m getting will print a3+, 33cm x 48cm

[@DSOImager]

@@ianwatson8599 Nice!

[@LogansAstro]

The prints look great which is probably a great relief as I've found in the past that plces can often print them with a purple of green hue which is frustrating. I print mine at home but usually have to boost the brightness also to try and match what I see on the computer screen. Please do make a follow up video of the prints in the library - would be nice to see them displayed.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Logan! It was a relief. As usual a wait until the last minute to order the prints. I was worried they wouldn't get here in time even. These prints look much better than the previous two years, so I think I'm getting better :)

[@AstroSoundscape]

Hey James, Prints are certainly tricky. I do most of mine on my Epson Printer at home and especially because my lighting in the house is not great I find I really have to boost most of my DSO images before I print them. Like you say the screen often looks much brighter than the prints I find. Very nice selection :)

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Ollie! Yea, thats why I order the 5x7s from amazon first.. they are just 69 cents.. so very cheap to see how they look on paper and adjust.

[@psegre]

Print on metal, choose satin sheen, not gloss or high gloss. Way more expensive, but better.

[@DSOImager]

Agreed... very expensive though.

[@WilliFromEarth]

Beautiful images and prints!

[@WilliFromEarth]

Love the dolphin! Fantastic. Very hard to get it that good!

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Will!

[@actudoran]

They came out well! I'd be well chuffed with those 😅 I suppose there is a counterpart to pixel peeping for prints too ...

[@DSOImager]

Lol... those dang pixel peepers. They did come out good. Im happy. :)

[@anata5127]

Good photos! Frame and glass (anti-reflection) over photo will be import. They will define appearance. Will you try to order 36 or 48” tadpole nebula? From my time of landscape photography, nothing beats size of photo. This is a reason that big sensor and small pixel are so useful. For example, combination of Edge8 and Hasselblad with 2.5” sensor on tadpole nebula will be killer.

[@DSOImager]

Thank you! I am starting to appreciate big sensors for prints. Might have to get a full frame at some point in the future! I have ordered 20x30s a couple of time's before, and I found that the micro 4/3rds sensor was able to scale up to that size decently at 300 dpi. I'm not sure it would hold together for a 36 to 48" print. Would be interesting to try. :)

[@anata5127]

@@DSOImager Yes, 36-48” could be pushing too far for 4/3” sensor.

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Those prints came out well James I think Joe's astrophoto's done a video about prints & Glenn Astrobloke also but I really can't give any advice on what would be the best route.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Tich! I remember their videos.. I need to rewatch them :)

[@darkrangersinc]

Getting prints is the best comedies look like they came out great. I’ve had some good luck, printing onto metal or acrylic prints. That way you don’t have to frame them. And they give a nice pop to the image.

[@DSOImager]

I tried metal prints a few years ago, back when my pictures really weren't worthy, if im being honest, lol. I should try it out again. Never tried acrylic, that might have been a good option.

[@darkrangersinc]

@@DSOImager your images are great! You have tons of time into them and the prices come down on metal quite a bit, especially if you find it for when they’re doing a sale on that specific style. The acrylic really pop because they have a backing that looks almost like foil and gives it a backlit look almost with the acrylic kind of magnifying the details. It’s the most “screen like” print I’ve seen thus far. The acrylic are more costly for sure but don’t need frames which is nice they come with mounting hardware.

[@DSOImager]

@@darkrangersinc Thanks Ryan! Ive seen printing on glass too.. very pricey though.

[@darkrangersinc]

@@DSOImager Amen to that I had a gallery reach out to do prints and after the cost to do printing if you want to sell them at a reasonable price there’s not much more you can mark them up. Definitely better for personal use, which is what 90% of prints are or for family.

[@astroimagers]

Looking great! I see what you mean about the glare though. Have you considered matte canvas or metal?

[@DSOImager]

I've printed on metal a few years ago.. and you do run into the same problem. Glossy finish looks amazing on metal but its also go so much glare that you can't really see much. I've considered canvas.

[@SimonsAstro]

Great looking prints James! Good to see how Amazon handles prints like this! How did you send the data to them? We’re they tiffs, jpegs etc? Clear skies!

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Simon! In regards to tips, you want to convert the image to 300dpi. That will create a very large image. I had to reduce the resolution on a few of them after the conversion because they were too large for Amazon. Amazon will let you upload JPGs, and a few other formats.. but it chocked on image files larger than 70megs.. hence reducing the resolution in some cases.

[@SimonsAstro]

@@DSOImager Thanks James 👍

[@starman6092]

Hey James, those look nice! I'm thinking about printing some of mine too. What is the turnover time on getting the images back from Amazon? Eddie

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Eddie! Took about 11 days to get them from the time I ordered.