Inkjet Print Touch-Ups

[greghalliday]

Hello all,

What is the best way, if any, to touch up an inkjet print? I know, most of the blemishes should have been dealt with in photoshop, but what about ones you only notice after the fact? Like if the printer misses a small spot of ink, or a small sensor dust fleck. I recently tried to touch up a print with both Marshall's pencil and watercolor pencil, both of which render too glossy a sheen for use on matte paper. (and almost make the blem more noticeable than leaving it alone)

I suppose the best way is to just go into the image file, retouch, and reprint. But for heaven's sake, each ink cartridge costs 13 USD! I live in the desert and after only 12 prints, my yellow is 3/4 gone. So for non-mission critical images (i.e. ones to hang in my office and clinic), is there a good retouching method out there?

Thanks a bunch in advance,

Greg

[walterick]

Hey Greg

I hope you don't mind I moved your post to the Help section where I felt like it would get the right attention.

When I was taking a photography class a few years ago, my instructor talked about a kind of pen or marker used particularly to touch up photos after they have been printed. I don't remember what they are called. But I know they exist. I know you're a thousand miles from nowhere But if you call the nearest photography lab or supply dealer, they may have what you're looking for. Also, scan through B&H photo or Adorama online to see if they have such pens. Even online art suppliers might have them.

I know they are out there. I'm sure they still exist despite the move away from darkroom printing and toward digial home printing.

Good luck!
Rick

[zrfraser]

I know there are spot pens for both back and white and color prints, I know they work on traditional darkroom prints fairly well, because we use them in my schools photo lad regularly. They come in gradient steps from 1 to 10. I don't know if these are the ones you are talking about, but I do have a technique I have used on matte prints to get rid of the sheen.

I start from the lowest color and I make a touch up. Then immedietly after that I blot. I do this a few more times and continue to work my way up the gray scale. Small amount then wipe, small amount then wipe. Takes awhile but the only way you are going to notice the spot is if you hold the print at an angle. I don't know about color, since I mainly print black and white. Work slow and you should get a decent result.

I know Porters sells these pens and they are about $30 for a pack, but they last a long time.

Hope this works for ya-Zack

[freygr]

Hello all,

What is the best way, if any, to touch up an inkjet print? I know, most of the blemishes should have been dealt with in photoshop, but what about ones you only notice after the fact? Like if the printer misses a small spot of ink, or a small sensor dust fleck. I recently tried to touch up a print with both Marshall's pencil and watercolor pencil, both of which render too glossy a sheen for use on matte paper. (and almost make the blem more noticeable than leaving it alone)

I suppose the best way is to just go into the image file, retouch, and reprint. But for heaven's sake, each ink cartridge costs 13 USD! I live in the desert and after only 12 prints, my yellow is 3/4 gone. So for non-mission critical images (i.e. ones to hang in my office and clinic), is there a good retouching method out there?

Thanks a bunch in advance,

Greg

I do not know of any. The color photo touch pens up will not work because the film coating is different than inkjet glossy and very different than the clay coating of the good inkjet mat papers.

The B&W touch pens for mat paper may work with B&W inkjet prints on inkjet mat papers.

I my self would just reprint it, unless it's very expensive paper or a very large print.

[Anbesol]

I suppose the best way is to just go into the image file, retouch, and reprint. But for heaven's sake, each ink cartridge costs 13 USD!

ah, youre problem is just this - youre printing from an epson, print from a canon!

[freygr]

ah, youre problem is just this - youre printing from an epson, print from a canon!

My coworker was upset with Canon, they stopped making the ink for his three year old photo printer. I still can get ink for my now 6 year old Epson, or any of my Epsons. Besides way do you think that the yellow ink would still not be used up at the same rate, he is printing pictures with a lot of yollew in them!

[greghalliday]

Thank you for the advice, all. I tried spot-pens on a junk print. They don't work too well. I just ordered some Prismacolor pencils. I'll let you know how they turn out. The Marshall's pencils, BTW, work well on gloss, semi-gloss, and satin. Just not on matte.

And thanks for reposting this in the Help area, walterick.