FREEDOM TO EXPERIMENT FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER-ARTIST THANKS TO EPSON

Independence at every stage of the work is an important aspect for a photographer-artist, and so is complete freedom to experiment with colours and to print as many proofs as are necessary for achieving the end result. Olivo Barbieri's story shows how a printer can simplify the way images are produced.

Born in Carpi (MO) in 1954, Olivo Barbieri developed an interest in photography during his university years. His art initially focused on landscape photography and artificial lighting in European and Eastern cities. Since 1989 he has travelled regularly throughout the East, especially China, where he studies the country’s ruthless transformation and possible relationships with Western culture.

In the years to come, Barbieri became one of the most celebrated Italian artists in the international arena. In 1996 the Folkwang Museum in Essen dedicated a retrospective exhibition to him; in 2003 he began the project site specific_(photographs and films) that featured over 40 cities and metropolises worldwide, photographed from a helicopter. Since the mid-1990s he has adopted a photographic technique that allows him to focus only on certain points of the image - a philosophical device for relating the subject to its surroundings in a unique way.

He has exhibited in the most important international museums, institutions and festivals, including MoMA San Francisco, Sundance Film Festival, Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, Walker Art Centre Minneapolis, Jeu de Paume, MAXXI Museum, etc.

He defines himself as a ‘photographer-author’ because he personally takes care of the entire production of his works, from shooting to printing, without the use of any external service. He creates large-scale works for exhibitions in galleries, museums and institutional exhibition areas, printing photographs on fine archival paper measuring 111 cm x 160 cm and 164 cm x 230 cm.

"Epson has changed my way of producing images," says Olivo Barbieri. "Ten years ago, thanks to the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 printer, I was able to stop using laboratories and build a studio that resembles the ancient Renaissance workshop, where artists and collaborators can work freely without any time limit."

A significant change that allows the photographer to print ‘in the studio’ not only photographs but also all the proofs needed to achieve the desired result - an unthinkable activity up to a few years ago due to the limitations regarding time and reworking associated with the use of external services, where for obvious practical reasons it is impossible to continually alter the final result.

Inkjet technology has simplified printing; with analog printing in order to achieve the high-level results demanded by perfectionists like Barbieri it was necessary to use chemicals and to control the temperatures of the developing and fixing baths which, if they were not used continuously, did not guarantee consistent results. Disposal of these was also more complicated. Today, however, with digital technology, printing can be done when needed, offering high quality standards and the certainty of homogeneity and repetitivity.

Not to mention the great advantage that this technology offers in the production of books and catalogues. "I can graphically design books and catalogues for exhibitions," says Barbieri. "Using the printer, I can carry out all the colour proofing needed to allow the pressman to achieve exactly the desired result. He only has to convert the values for his machines. It is essential for me to be able to experiment in this field, since the books are an integral part of the work."

At the beginning of 2017 Barbieri replaced his Stylus Pro with the newer, more modern model Epson SureColor SC-P20000, which has ink that guarantees longer, faster printing time and easier maintenance.

"I immediately noticed the difference," Barbieri claims emphatically. "With the SC-P20000 even full-frame prints with minimal white borders are more precise, with no distortion, while the colours are brighter and more even, and all at high speed."

The SureColor SC-P20000 large format photo printer combines productivity, superior quality and ease of use in one complete solution. Ideal for professionals, photo labs and companies seeking a solution they can use themselves.

Equipped with the PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head, it also gives exceptional results in 'economy' mode, guaranteeing high productivity without compromising on quality. The 10-colour Epson UltraChrome Pro Ink Kit delivers exceptional quality prints, with full, deep blacks thanks to high-density Photo Black and Matte Black. The technologies K4 and Multi Size Droplet Technology (MSDT), meanwhile, offer better gradation with reduced graininess. Lastly, the Epson Colour Calibration utility makes it easy to manage colour reproduction and produce even prints without having to use expensive add-on modules.

"SureColor SC-P20000," says Renato Sangalli, Sales Manager for Epson Italia's Pro-Graphics products, "was designed to meet market demands in terms of quality and combines high-speed printing with the superior quality that professionals expect from an Epson product, while offering new features and greater ease of use."