Fine Art Printing
Where Ink Meets
Archival Legacy.
Pigment giclée printing on museum-quality papers. This is not the same process as photo printing - it is a categorically different output. Conservation-grade results for photographers and artists who won't accept less. Prints from $25.
Pigment - Not Dye
Museum-Grade Papers
ICC Soft-Proof Every File
Archival Pigment Inks
Prints from $25 · Waukesha, WI
Why it Matters
Pigment vs. Dye.
Not the same thing.
The difference between a dye print and a pigment print is not just longevity - it is visible the moment you hold them side by side. Pigment inks produce depth, shadow detail, and highlight luminosity that dye simply cannot match on fine art papers. Dye soaks into the paper coating. Pigment sits in the coating as solid particles that resist light and time. The result is a fundamentally different level of richness, dimension, and permanence.
This is why galleries, museums, and serious photographers use pigment. It is not a premium for its own sake. It is a different category of output entirely. Our archival pigment inks are rated for 100+ years under glass. No dye system comes close.
Standard Photo Printing
Dye-Based
vs
Fine Art Printing
Pigment-Based
Lifespan
100+ Years
Pigment · Under glass
Dye25-50 years, ideal conditions
Fade Resistance
Archival
Pigment · Rated for display
DyeSensitive to UV, humidity, pollutants
On Fine Art Paper
Wide Gamut
Pigment · Deep blacks, bright highlights
DyeNarrower gamut, can look flat
Standard For
Galleries
Pigment · Museum & collector
DyeVivid photo prints on luster paper
The Craft
Every print.
Personally produced.
At True North, every fine art print is soft-proofed to the specific paper, calibrated for color accuracy, and evaluated by hand before it leaves the studio. If we got it wrong, we reprint it at no charge. No shortcuts.
We run two professional pigment printers - one dedicated to precision fine art work up to 13 inches wide, one for large format output up to 17 × 22. Both use archival pigment inks. Both are paired with paper-specific ICC profiles. What you see on your calibrated monitor is what you get.
This is the process galleries, photographers, and collectors trust when permanence matters.
Fine Art Papers
We stock a curated range of fine art papers - each suited to specific subjects, styles, and display settings. Not sure which is right for your image? Choose "Studio will recommend" when you order, and we'll match the paper to your work.
- Included - Red River
- Aurora Art Natural 300 - smooth matte, warm natural base
- Palo Duro Etching 315 - textured, gallery character
- Big Bend Baryta 310 - luminous highlights, deep blacks
- Premium Upgrade
- Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308 - matte, warm, painterly
- Hahnemühle William Turner 310 - heavy watercolor texture
- Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350 - textured, gallery-grade
- Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta 325 - high gloss, rich depth
- Canson Platine Fibre Rag 310 - baryta, luminous
- Canson Baryta Prestige II 340 - bright, true baryta
- Canson Rag Photographique II 310 - neutral matte
- Canson ARCHES BFK Rives 310 - classic printmaking stock
- Moab Juniper Baryta Rag 305 - rag base, baryta finish
- Moab Entrada Rag Natural 300 - warm tone, soft texture
- Premium papers are special-ordered - allow a few extra days. Other papers quoted on request.
Studio Equipment
Two professional printers.
One standard of output.
Precision Pigment System
A dedicated fine art pigment printer built for precision reproduction - exceptional color accuracy, smooth tonal gradients, and deep blacks on fine art papers. Handles every size up to 13" wide.
Precision · Up to 13" Wide · Archival Pigment
Large Format Pigment System
Our large format fine art printer produces 13" and 17" wide output with the same gallery-grade quality and archival permanence. No compromise at large scale.
Large Format · Up to 17" Wide · Archival Pigment
Why Two Printers Matter
Two professional pigment printers in one boutique studio is rare. Every size we offer is produced on purpose-built equipment - not scaled up or compromised. The right tool for every print, every time.
Purpose-Built · Every Size · No Compromise
What Sets Us Apart
Every print. Every detail.
01
ICC Color Management
Every paper has its own ICC profile. We soft-proof every file before it prints - what you see on your calibrated screen is what comes out. No surprises, no drift.
02
Pigment Ink Permanence
Archival pigment inks rated for 100+ years under glass. Both printers, same archival standard. Your work isn't temporary. It shouldn't look like it either.
03
Paper Consultation
Baryta, cotton rag, etching - each paper interacts differently with your image. We match paper to subject before anything prints. The right paper makes a visible difference.
04
Right Printer for Every Size
Precision work up to 13 × 19 on one printer. Large format up to 17 × 22 on the other. Every size is produced on purpose-built equipment - nothing scaled up or compromised.
05
Hand-Inspected Output
Every print examined by hand before packaging. Banding, color casts, edge artifacts - caught here, not at your door. Regardless of size or paper.
06
Boutique Production
We don't run hundreds of prints a day. Your order gets undivided attention. This is what boutique production actually means - not marketing, a method.
Base Pricing
Pigment printing.
Honest pricing.
Every price includes your choice of Red River fine art paper - Aurora Art Natural, Palo Duro Etching, or Big Bend Baryta. Hahnemühle, Canson Infinity, and Moab are available as a premium upgrade, added per print. All pricing includes file review and soft-proofing. Custom sizes are quoted - contact us with your specs.
| Size | Price | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 7 | $25.00 | 12 × 12 | $50.00 |
| 8 × 8 | $35.00 | 11 × 17 | $55.00 |
| 8 × 10 | $35.00 | 12 × 18 | $60.00 |
| 8 × 12 | $40.00 | 13 × 19 | $65.00 |
| 10 × 10 | $40.00 | 16 × 20 | $70.00 |
| 11 × 14 | $50.00 | 17 × 22 | $75.00 |
One price per size - any of our three house papers.
Aurora Art Natural (matte) · Palo Duro Etching (textured) · Big Bend Baryta (gloss fiber).
Every file is reviewed personally - nothing prints until you approve. Custom sizes and papers - request a quote.
Paper Upcharges
The paper
changes everything.
Premium papers from Hahnemühle, Canson Infinity, and Moab are special-ordered for your job and added to the base print price. The difference is not subtle - each one brings its own surface, tone, and texture to the finished print.
Red River Paper · House Papers
Included · same price
Aurora Art Natural 300 · Palo Duro Etching 315 · Big Bend Baryta 310. Our go-to papers, stocked in-house and profiled for our printers.
Hahnemühle
Premium upgrade · special order
Photo Rag 308 · William Turner 310 · Museum Etching 350 · FineArt Baryta 325. The German museum standard - soft cotton rag and deep, textured etching papers.
Canson Infinity
Premium upgrade · special order
Platine Fibre Rag 310 · Baryta Prestige II 340 · Rag Photographique II 310 · ARCHES BFK Rives 310. French mould-made cotton and gallery baryta.
Moab
Premium upgrade · special order
Juniper Baryta Rag 305 · Entrada Rag Natural 300. Warm cotton baryta and a classic smooth matte rag.
| Print size | Premium paper upgrade |
|---|---|
| 5 × 7 - 8 × 12 | +$5.00 |
| 10 × 10 - 13 × 19 | +$10.00 |
| 16 × 20 - 17 × 22 | +$15.00 |
Not sure which paper is right for your image?
We talk through it before anything prints. Premium papers are special-ordered for your job - allow a few extra days. Other papers on request - just ask us.
File Preparation
Send us your
Best file.
Submit high-resolution files in Adobe RGB (preferred), ProPhoto RGB, or sRGB, with the profile embedded. We review every file before printing - resolution, sharpening, color profile, and crop suitability for your chosen paper and print size.
For large format work (16 × 20 and up), file resolution becomes especially critical. We flag anything that will limit output quality before a single drop of ink is committed. No surprises after the fact.
Cropping, straightening, and resizing are included. If your file needs color correction or retouching, we quote it on your invoice before we touch anything.
Additional Services
| Service | What It Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Crop · Straighten · Resize | Fitting your file to the print size | Included |
| Basic Correction | Exposure, color, white balance, dust spots | $15 |
| Standard Retouch | Blemishes, distractions, cloning | $40 |
| Advanced Retouch | Photo restoration, heavy cleanup, composites | $85 |
| Beyond 90 Minutes | Larger projects, quoted before work starts | $60/hr |
Per image. Quoted and approved on your invoice before we start.
One round of revisions included. Not sure what your file needs? Send it with your order and we'll tell you - reviewing it is free.
Volume Pricing
Edition runs. Better rates.
10-24
5% Off
Per print
25-49
10% Off
Per print
50-99
15% Off
Per print
100+
Custom
Contact for quote
No discount on orders under 10 prints. Discounts apply per print across any size or paper combination. Applies to the full print price, including premium paper upgrades. Not combinable with other offers. Numbered edition pricing available for limited runs - contact us.
The Process
Simple to start.
Obsessive in execution.
01
Reach Out
Tell us about your project - subject, size, and paper preference. No idea where to start? We walk through it. That conversation is free and it's how we do our best work together.
02
File Review & Proofing
We review your files, soft-proof to your chosen paper, and confirm color, crop, and resolution before a single drop of ink is committed. You approve before we print. No exceptions.
03
Production & Delivery
Your print is produced on the right machine, inspected by hand, and carefully packaged. Ready in 5-7 business days. Studio pickup in Waukesha or shipped to your door.
Your image deserves
the paper it's printed on.
By appointment only - Waukesha, WI
Prints from $25 · Archival pigment · Red River, Hahnemühle, Canson & Moab papers · Up to 17×22