Digital imaging, photography, giclée prints and digital reproductions are all areas which simultaneously excite and terrify artists. Still being a relatively new technology, and new to the art world, many artists have embraced digital technology. Some use it to create original works, or incorporate digital images into their paintings, drawings, prints or sculptures. Others use digital technology to create editions of their paintings and to sell these at a reduced price as compared with the original. Like all art forms, digital imaging has many possibilities and we were recently introduced to one Canadian company, Vancouver Imageworks, which focuses on this area. They offer inexpensive, intensive classes which we think will be of interest to you, especially for those of you who have otherwise felt intimidated by technology, or are just wishing to learn a bit more.

Vancouver Imageworks offers a wide range of educational classes for both the beginner and intermediate user. Classes include an introduction to Adobe Photoshop for an overview of the program and it's potential. In addition, the following classes delve deeper into Adobe Photoshop: Retouching, Colour Corrections, Selections/Masking, Layers/Compositing, and Advanced Compositing. The latter class picks up where Layers/Compositing left off for the more intermediate and advanced users.

In addition to Adobe Photoshop classes Vancouver Imageworks also recognizes the need for artists and photographers to learn more about other aspects of working digitally. As such, they offer the following classes: Colour Management; Scanning Basics; Digital Camera Basics; and Mac Basics for a general overview of the Apple Macintosh system using OS 9.2 and OS X. Each of these classes requires basic photographic and computer knowledge, while the more specific Photoshop classes require basic knowledge of Photoshop.

The morning we met Alan, we were given a 'crash course' in Colour Management. It was an interesting overview of a three hour class they offer as part of their educational programming. We discussed consistent colour output, colour profiles and the importance of testing and how to get great prints from either your service provider, such as Vancouver Imageworks, or from your own colour printer, whether it is a printer worth $200 or $5,000. This class was of particular interest to both of us, as we are often outputting images for Opus, or for our own art practice.

During our visit we quickly found that Alan's years of experience working at Gamma Pro Imaging, combined with his knowledge of both traditional and digital photography, prints and reproductions created an exciting and knowledgeable atmosphere for questions and answers.

At Opus, we have personally been excited by this area of development and this new tool for artists for a number of years. As a result, we offer a wide range of digital papers to get you started. Our papers range from student-grade papers up to professional artist-grade papers. We are pleased to work with Vancouver Imageworks to supply some of the papers they use for both their professional printing jobs as well as for use in their educational classes. We currently offer these papers at Opus, so that you can print on the same papers that the professionals use, right in your own home!

One of the other unique aspects of Vancouver Imageworks, and one which we really appreciated was their gallery space which opened in June 2003. Imageworks Gallery, is available to rent for shows; however Vancouver Imageworks also offers this space to all artists who have work printed by them. Having been a part of the photographic community in Vancouver since 1983, they certainly realize the importance of supporting their clients, and offering that little bit more through an exhibition space. In January 2004, Vancouver Imageworks is also launching an online gallery to help promote and sell artists work printed by them. It will be one of the first online galleries which is entirely dedicated to giclee prints and digital reproductions. As Opus is a proud supporter of the visual arts community through its donations program, it is nice to see another company taking this sort of an initiative as well.

For more information about their classes and printing services visit www.vancouverimageworks.com or telephone: 604-872-0088. Mention that you read this article when you call Vancouver Imageworks, and you will receive $10.00 off any Imageworks class. Vancouver Imageworks is located at 188 West 5th Avenue in Vancouver.