Dye Transfer Sale Ends Today

(I wrote that title yesterday. Sale is over, I'm sorry to say. —Mike the Ed.) 

Allan Ostling wrote: "Having scored my first choice [in the print sale], I am now wondering how I should display it after it arrives. Of course it will deserve the best of frames, but should it be displayed bare, or behind protective glass?"

Mike replies: Here's how Ctein answered that question in a comment in 2008: "Frame behind glass (or plexi, doesn't matter), [with a] matte board spacer between the print and glass. Use acid-free, NON-BUFFERED materials in front or back contact with the print. When I frame them, I back them with a sheet of aluminum foil! Impermeable, inert, cheap. Then I can use anything I want for the rear stiffener in the frame."

A framer properly versed in archival methods will know what non-buffered matboard means, even if they have to special order it. But s/he might not know that non-buffered board is required for dye transfer photographs. Tell him or her that you have it on very good authority, and go ahead and insist.

To everybody else, don't forget today is the last day of the sale! Till midnight. Prints not sold out at that time will still be available after that, but at much higher prices. Here's the sale announcement with ordering instructions and here's the page with the images. Sales can continue until midnight today, Friday, June 6th.

Cinder Cone, Haleakala Crater, Maui, 1986

Grateful thanks to everyone who participated!

Mike

Original contents copyright 2025 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

Nikhil Ramkarran: "I had my three (two alternatives) choices picked and was ready to click 'send' but financial prudence won out over deep desire as I have once of Ctein's gorgeous dye transfer prints already. I cannot tell you how close I was to but I have been hammered with expenses the last two years and I just could not justify another print. Hopefully I will be able to see some of them in person someday.

"I have to express gratitude to artists like Ctein and Mike and TOP for facilitating my prior purchases of many incredible pieces of art (and craft) that I otherwise would never have experienced."

Alan Fairley: "About framing, I would add to splurge on a museum quality non-reflective glass such as Tru Vue Museum Glass. This glass uses some kind of coating which does an amazing job of reducing reflections without reducing optical clarity, unlike cheap anti reflective glass that is slightly pebbled to kill reflections. It’s pricey but worth every penny, IMO."

Ctein replies: Dear Alan, Yes, that glass is pricey, but it works very well! For folks who can't afford to go first-class, you can frame with acrylic or ordinary framing glass. Special UV-absorbing glass is a waste of money—it does not increase the display life of dye transfer prints. (Prints ship with a "Care and Feeding" sheet, not-so-by-the-way.) pax / Ctein

Comments

[Alan Fairley]

About framing, I would add to splurge on a museum quality nonreflective glass like Tru Vue Museum Glass. This glass uses some kind of coating which does an amazing job of reducing reflections without reducing optical clarity, unlike cheap anti reflective glass that is slightly pebbled to kill reflections. It’s pricey but worth every penny, IMO.

[Jeff]

Alan Fairley wrote: “About framing, I would add to splurge on a museum quality nonreflective glass like Tru Vue Museum Glass.”

Totally agree. I keep both their Conservation Clear glass and their Museum glass, reserving the latter for worthy prints. I bought both in boxes of 29 “lites” (sheets of glass), for pennies on the dollar compared to retail by going directly to a local glass company.

[Ctein]

Dear Alan,

Yes, that glass is pricey, but it works very well!

For folks who can't afford to go first-class, you can frame with acrylic or ordinary framing glass. Special UV-absorbing glass is a waste of money — it does not increase the display life of dye transfer prints.

(Prints ship with a "Care and Feeding" sheet, not-so-by-the-way.)

pax / Ctein

[Noah Robin]

Thanks for this; I would never have even thought to ask the question.

[Craig Beyers]

Mike - I’m so sorry to read of Butters health problems and his passing. My experiences with dogs is much like yours in that my dogs became friends. I remember returning from college one weekend and having my mom inform me that had to put down my dog; being away at school—and with no internet, messaging, or r mail, I had no warning. I missed that dog for a long time. So I sympathize with your loss and hope that you’ll cope better and eventually heal from this as time passes. Be well.