Fine Art Digital Printing - Spring 2026

Learn how to produce high-quality fine art digital prints. Master a workflow, understand paper options, and develop critical color management skills that will ensure the best possible print quality. Learn how to read prints and understand which adjustments in Photoshop will help you achieve your vision. The course will also address an understanding of the nature of the photograph as a printed object and how that decision directly impacts how the photograph is experienced, read, and critiqued.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Through lecture, hands-on practice, and in-class demonstrations, students will learn a number of techniques and concepts to further printing skills, with topics including:

• Discussion of various aesthetics and impacts of the fine-art print as an option for the photographic medium
• Implementing color management principles and practices
• Developing a consistent and effective printing workflow (non-destructive)
• Editing images using various digital tools and techniques
• Evaluating and selecting the proper medium for fine-art printing
• Evaluating various printers and printing specific software programs and settings
• Printing images both in color and black and white

COURSE OUTCOMES

• Define and articulate your digital workflow
• Edit and process your digital images to match your aesthetic and intention using the tools in Lightroom and Photoshop
• Ability to implement a color managed workflow
• Print a fine art image using appropriate settings and options in various printers
• Understand and articulate the impacts of substrates and printing selections on a final print

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STUDENTS

• Students must have proficient working knowledge of digital image editing through Adobe Photoshop to join this class, as covered in our Photoshop Basics and/or Advanced Photoshop courses.
• The Materials Fee for the course includes a digital print allotment for in-class and outside-of-class printing, the details of which will be shared on the first day. Other supplies, additional prints, etc., are the responsibility of the student.
• Weekly attendance is vital to student success in PCNW courses. We require that students attend the first meeting in order to retain their spot in the class. A waiver may be granted if permission is given by, and subsequent arrangements made with, both the PCNW Registrar and Faculty. Please see our Education Policies for details about attendance policies and academic expectations.
• Intermediate and advanced courses have prerequisites which students must satisfy prior to enrollment. Prerequisites may be waived based on experience or prior courses taken through other institutions. To verify that you meet the prerequisite(s) for a course, contact Jennifer Brendicke, Registrar at jbrendicke@pcnw.org.
• Students are required to provide their own camera, unless otherwise noted in the course description. If you have questions about camera equipment or resources, contact us at pcnw@pcnw.org.
• PCNW adheres to a strict payment, cancellation and refund policy. Please review our Payment & Refund Policies prior to registration.
• Additional materials and supplies, not covered by a materials fee for a course, are the responsibility of the student. Detailed information about course expectations, required texts and materials will be provided at the start of the quarter.
• Students should prepare to spend several hours per week completing assignments outside of class, which may require use of the PCNW facilities; view our Rental Rates for details about additional fees. Rental fees for use of PCNW Facilities are a separate cost from tuition.

Image: In progress printing shot of work by Meggan Joy taken by Sandy King