Studio Guide — Paper, Printing and Framing Questions
Every answer here is written from what we actually do in the studio: the machine, the paper, the size and the number of days. New questions are added to this page as they come in.
Updated 27 October 2026 · 14 questions · Hahnemühle Certified Studio Gold, certificate no. 260589
PAPER
Photo Rag or German Etching?
Both are 100% cotton and acid-free. The difference is surface. Photo Rag® 308 is smooth and finely textured; it holds fine detail and clean edges, and is the usual choice for portraiture and architecture. German Etching 310 has a pronounced texture with an etching feel, and deepens black-and-white and painterly work. If you want something between the two for museum work, Museum Etching 350 gives a heavier, fuller body. If you cannot decide, we print the same file on both papers and show them side by side.
Which papers do you work with?
Eleven Hahnemühle fine art papers for pigment printing and three Fujifilm photographic papers for C-print are held in stock.
Hahnemühle · pigment
Photo Rag® 308 · Photo Rag® Satin 310 · Photo Rag® Pearl 320 · Photo Rag® Metallic 340 · William Turner 310 · German Etching 310 · Museum Etching 350 · FineArt Pearl 285 · Photo Matt Fibre 200 · Photo Glossy 260 · Photo Luster 260
Fujifilm · C-print
Glossy 240 µm — glossy surface · Lustre 230 µm — semi-gloss, reduces reflection · Pearl 245 µm — pearl-effect metallic reflection
How do we choose the paper?
With two questions: what is the texture of the work, and what is the light where it will hang. A glossy surface reflects under strong overhead lighting; matt and textured paper breaks the reflection but lowers contrast slightly. The choice is made on a printed proof, not on a screen.
How long does a print last?
Hahnemühle states a lifespan of over 200 years for its museum-grade papers printed with archival pigment inks, based on accelerated light-fastness testing. For C-prints, lifespan depends on the paper and the display conditions. In both cases direct sunlight and high humidity shorten it.
PRINTING
Pigment print or C-print?
The object decides. Pigment printing is stronger on matt, textured art papers; C-print gives continuous tone and photographic depth on true photographic paper. Because both systems are in the same studio, the choice is technical, not commercial.
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 — 11-ink pigment set, Chroma Optimiser, 2,400 × 1,200 dpi, 150 cm print width.
Durst Lambda 131 — laser exposure onto true photographic paper, 127 cm, at a perceptual resolution equivalent to 4000 dpi.
What is the largest size you can print?
150 cm wide in pigment printing, 127 cm in C-print. Length is limited by roll size. Larger exhibition prints are produced up to 320 cm on latex and UV systems. We do not enlarge by joining panels; the work is planned against the single-piece print width.
What does giclee mean?
The term giclée was coined in 1991 by Jack Duganne, from the French verb gicler, to spray. It describes a pigment-ink print made on archival paper with a wide colour gamut. In practice it means the same thing as fine art printing. The correct spelling is giclée.
PROOFING AND FILES
Do you provide a physical proof?
Yes. A physical proof is prepared in 2 working days and is chargeable. Final approval is given from the proof; a screen is not the equivalent of paper. For exhibition work the proof is not skipped, because the same file looks different on two papers.
How should I send my file?
All common formats are accepted. The minimum is 150 ppi at print size — so for a 100 cm width the file must carry at least 150 ppi at that size. If the file falls short we suggest reducing the size rather than upscaling.
Why does the ICC profile matter?
A separate profile is built for every paper and machine combination; paper and ink are measured with a spectrophotometer. We do not use generic profiles: the profile is built for the paper, rather than the paper being forced to fit the profile. The difference shows most in deep blacks and skin tones.
PRESENTATION AND FRAMING
What is a glazing-free presentation? Is it the same as Diasec?
DIFOPlex is our system: the print is marouflaged across its entire surface between acrylic and Dibond with acid-free, optically clear materials. There is no frame and no glass. Diasec® is a registered trademark, invented by Heinz Sovilla-Brulhart in 1969 and patented by the Swiss company Alrane Inventing AG; the genuine process is carried out only by licensed studios. We do not hold a Diasec licence. DIFOPlex is produced under our own name, with our own materials and method. Same principle, different production.
Acrylic thickness 2 · 3 · 5 · 10 mm · Maximum 150 × 300 cm · 3 working days.
How do you deal with reflection?
In DIFOPlex the front is always clear acrylic; we do not use matte acrylic. Where reflection has to be broken completely we move to a framed presentation: Tru Vue museum glass, Matobel anti-reflective glass and anti-reflective acrylic come in there. Walls facing a window and halls with strong overhead lighting fall into this group.
Can I have a matte black frame made?
Yes. The studio holds 58 frame profiles, and matte black is the most requested group among them. We do not source profiles from outside — we cut and build them in the studio. Box frames, floating frames and the Box Frame with 1–3 cm between glass and work are made from the same profiles. Artbox is entirely DIFOART own design and production.
Do you issue certificates?
On request, with two options: Hahnemühle own certificate or one issued by DIFOART. It is optional, and is usually asked for on editioned work and gallery sales. The studio has held Hahnemühle Certified Studio Gold status since 2013, certificate no. 260589.
WORK WE HAVE DONE
Over fifty museum projects, hundreds of photography exhibitions, dozens of hotel projects. Project details are added here as each one is documented.
YOUR QUESTION IS NOT HERE?
Write to us and we will answer it. Questions that come up often are added to this page. Studio: Seyrantepe Mah. Akbulut Plaza Asaf Cad No:1 K:1 34418 Kağıthane, İstanbul
0541 279 47 48 · +90 212 278 78 47 · info@difoart.net