Fine Art Printer & Archivist

Description

ABOUT THE STUDIO

Rodney Smith (1947–2016) was one of America’s most celebrated fine art photographers, whose work is held by major museums and institutions worldwide and continues to be actively collected, exhibited, and licensed. The studio manages his estate and archive from a private location in Palisades, New York, and produces all fine art editions in-house.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a craftsperson’s position. We are looking for someone who loves the process of making a great print — who finds genuine satisfaction in envisioning an exceptional result, and who has the knowledge and patience to achieve it. This is not a role for a photographer who wants to make their own work. It is a role for someone whose art is the print itself. The position covers three principal areas: Fine art printing: Museum-quality limited-edition prints using the Epson SureColor P20000, Photoshop, color management, proofing, and equipment maintenance. Scanning and digital image management: Hasselblad Imacon scanning, file preparation, retouching, and maintaining the digital archive. Physical archival management: Proper handling, storage, cataloguing, and preservation of original negatives and photographic prints.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Deep hands-on experience with archival pigment printing, ideally in a fine art studio, print lab, or museum environment. Experience at a studio such as Laumont, Griffin Editions, Adamson Editions, or similar is a strong indicator of the right background. Expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop for image optimization, retouching, soft proofing, and color management; familiarity with RIP software (Onyx RIPcenter or similar) a plus Thorough understanding of ICC profiles, color spaces (Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB, sRGB), and print- to-display matching workflows Hands-on experience with the Epson SureColor P20000 or comparable large-format Epson production printer Experience with the Hasselblad Imacon scanner or comparable high-end drum or flatbed scanning system Familiarity with darkroom processes and traditional photographic printing — silver gelatin, fiber- based, chromogenic — reflects the kind of foundational knowledge we value An eye that can distinguish an excellent print from a merely acceptable one, and the language to explain the difference Understanding of archival storage standards for photographic materials: acid-free housing, appropriate relative humidity, light exposure, and proper handling Comfort with the physical care and preventive maintenance of large-format printing equipment Calm, methodical, and self-directed: you manage your own workflow and maintain high standards without being supervised