Fine Art Photography and Digital Art by Lena Johnson Studio

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Lena Johnson's contemporary photography chromira prints (C prints) are printed on archival photo papers with a lifetime of 100 years or more with the Chromira digital printer above. 

Contemporary Photography Produced with Chromira  Process

What is a Chromira printer?

Direct digital output from electronic files to true photographic papers and films is possible due to the Chromira Digital Printer made by ZBE Corporation.  This state of the art printer produces better color and tone range, superior sharpness, and the archival properties of true photographic papers and films (much better than inkjet materials).  The Chromira exposes photographic paper or film at 300 pixels per inch (ppi) in 36 bit color using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Using ZBE's proprietary Resolution Enhancement Technology, the image is sharpened to a visual resolution of 425 ppi. The Chromira output is a continuous tone true photographic print. The Chromira produces prints of unparalleled quality. Unlike large format inkjet output, there are no inks used that can smudge or fade and there is no "dot pattern." These images are perfect for all types of professional photography and graphics, including fine art, museum and gallery exhibitions, tradeshow panels, wedding, portrait, commercial and so forth.  Three basic materials are used for Chromira printing. They are: New Digital photographic paper, Back-Lit materials and "Flex" materials.  Lena's prints are exposed on Fuji Crystal Archive^® photographic paper which is designed specifically for LED printers (not an inkjet media), with the archival characteristics of true photographic papers. Digital photographic paper has the same weight, feel, and finish as traditional photo papers and is processed in RA-4 chemistry.  Chromira prints have more brilliance, richer blues, cleaner colors and are sharper than Lightjet digital prints.  Subtle gradations are represented smoothly and naturally in tones that are extraordinarily deep and rich. 

How do Chromira prints compare to fine art photos made through more traditional methods, like Ilfochrome?
Ilfochrome is a beautiful analog process, but notoriously difficult. Even at its best, Ilfochrome printing requires much more time than Photoshop. Quantitatively, digital prints will be sharper, which allows you to make larger prints with the Chromira process; the color is cleaner; and the contrast problems so common in Ilfochrome prints are removed by the scanner.

How do contemporary photography prints off the Chromira compare to prints made with the Lightjet?

• Sharpness: Chromira prints are as sharp or sharper than Lightjet prints

• Both the Chromira and Lightjet accept standard 300 dpi files. The Chromira can accept any resolution file.

• Gamut: In comparison tests, photographers are seeing richer blues and cleaner colors.

What is archival paper?
Acid free and lignin free paper that lasts longer than other papers and holds color well is referred to as archival paper.  With a quality lifetime of 100 years or longer, archival paper is often used for critical, permanent records that must be kept for many years.  Lena Johnson uses archival materials exclusively to produce her contemporary photography fine art work.