How the photographs and the prints are made?
Both the photographs and the prints are the result of a thorough, artisanal artistic process. After the shooting phase, the film is carefully developed using a 6 to 8 steps process, dried, and finally cleaned by hand, one film at a time. The process continues with individual scanning of each negative, one photograph at a time. During this phase, each image is carefully prepared for both printing and online publication, through accurate calibration of the tonal values. This is followed by printing of the Artist’s Proofs, which results in selecting the paper support and defining the printing technique to be used for that specific edition. After that, museum-quality prints are made using the edition’s dedicated paper and technique, and finally the prints undergo rigorous quality control before being hand-mounted, signed and authenticated.

What techniques are used for printing the photographs?
Depending on the edition, photographs can be printed using any of these techniques: archival pigment print, silver halide wet process print—traditionally enlarged or laser-exposed—and platinum/palladium print. It is not mandatory, but likely silver gelatin print is used for limited editions (up to 15 prints), platinum/palladium print for unique editions (up to 1 print), and archival pigment print for specific images, particular editions, or prints larger than 1 m.

What is the difference between traditionally enlarged and laser-exposed silver prints?
They are both continuous-tone, real photographic prints, using silver halide wet chemical process. Traditional darkroom prints are made directly from film negatives, using a light-bulb to enlarge the image onto light-sensitive paper. Laser exposed prints are made from scans of film negatives, projected onto light-sensitive paper via laser. While both yield silver halide prints with the same quality and longevity, printing from a negative scan allows greater control and consistency in combination with the aesthetic of traditional silver prints. Since both are real silver gelatin prints, no distinction is made between the two in the technical specifications given for the photographs on the website.

What papers are used for printing the photographs?
Only the finest museum-quality papers are used for printing the photographs. These include Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk, Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta and Hahnemühle Photo Rag. The paper used for the prints is indicated in both the technical specifications and the notes on the pages dedicated to each photograph.

Why two silver gelatin prints of the same editions can look slightly different?
Despite laser-exposure provides greater consistency compared to darkroom enlargements, minor differences in the apperance of lights and shadows may occur between prints of the same edition. These differences are not only acceptable but to be considered as an authentic expression of the uniqueness of each and every print and the result of the artisanal process involved in the production of the prints.

Are the photographs retouched in any way?
No. The photographs are only calibrated in terms of curves and tonal values and cleaned of any large impurities that may have appeared following the chemical development process or possibly during scanning of the negatives. Also, if these marks do not interfere with the image or can be considered as an integral part of it, they are left visible.

Should imperfections on the photographs be considered flaws?
No, they have been intentionally left visible. Photographs are not retouched in any way, so that the photographic, development, scanning, and printing processes become an integral part of their aesthetic. Streaks, stains, water spots, dust, threads, Newton rings and any other signs unrelated to the portrayed image have been intentionally left visible as a form of aesthetic expression, enhancing the production process of the photographic image.

Is it normal that some photographs look very grainy?
Yes, that’s intentional. Grain is the very essence of film photography. It represents its material expression and what its structure is made of. Understood in this way, grain is not an element extraneous to the photographic image, but a fundamental expression of the timeless aesthetics of photography.

Why most of the photographs are still made using film?
It is because of a search for authenticity, the pleasure of craftsmanship involved with the traditional process, the challenge to work with light from a physical and chemical point of view, and the possibility to fully explore the potential of contemporary photography by combining traditional production with digital post-production.

Is there any difference in quality and value between photographs made with film or digital cameras?
Despite almost all of them are taken with fully mechanical film cameras, photographs are made using different technologies, from large format film to digital smartphones. Anyway, in most cases film photographs undergo digitisation, so the process employed is hybrid, analogue-digital. There is therefore no difference at all in terms of value between photographs made with different technologies, since all efforts have been put on the final image in exactly the same way.

Are the printed photographs identical to the photographs shown on the website?
Despite being as similar as possible, the photographs shown on the website are low-resolution images, so they differ from the actual printed photographs, that are of a much higher quality in terms of both tonal range and detail resolution. Also, the photographs shown on the website may not feature borders, paper texture, or any board mount, mat and frame that might characterise or be provided with the printed photographs.

Why the prints can look slightly different from the same photographs shown on the website?
That is because the monitor emits its own light, thus producing brighter and more contrast images, while a print reflects ambient light, making tones appear darker and smoother. For this reason, the images shown on the website have been calibrated so to be as similar as possible to the actual tonal rendering of real prints. It is also important to observe the prints in different light conditions, since ambient light can strongly affect the overall perception of the photographs and the visibility of details in darker areas in particular.

How do printed photographs differ from the corresponding images shown on the website?
Given that the images on the website are as similar as possible to the printed photographs, the main difference is the dimensions. It is therefore fundamental to check the actual size of the prints, which are indicated in the technical specifications of each photograph, before making a purchase. (Also, the images reproduced on the website are low-resolution files, so they have a much lower quality compared to the printed photographs in terms of both detail resolution and extension of the tonal range. Approximately, the printed photographs are 4 to 40 times better quality than the images on the website, reaching up to 100 times for larger prints which are currently available only upon request.) Furthermore, the monitor itself used to browse the website, as well as its calibration and brightness, will inevitably cause differences between the prints and the images reproduced on the website, which may therefore appear lighter or darker, flatter or more contrasting, sharper or blurrier. To better evaluate each photograph before making a purchase, we strongly recommend viewing each image in both Light and Dark Mode, so to better perceive the actual tonal range.

Why does the same image displayed in Light Mode and Dark Mode look somewhat different?
That is because of an optical phenomenon of visual perception. The image is always the same but changing the background colour from white to black or viceversa, changes the perception of its tones. This website has been specifically designed with Light and Dark Mode features to allow the users viewing images on both background colours, so to have a better perception of the photographs’s actual tonal range. Generally, the shadows will appear darker in Light Mode and brighter in Dark Mode, while the highlights will appear smoother in Light Mode and punchier in Dark Mode. Viewing the images in both modes allows to better understand the photographs by helping to distinguish both the highlights and the shadows, thus allowing for a better assessment of the contrast and tonal range of each photograph.

Why the main images of the photographs shown on the website don’t show the actual prints?
That was a choice made for achieving both aesthetic and rational consistency. Since the images shown on the website are inevitably reproductions, we chose to primarily display the photographs themselves rather than the prints, to be true to the original photographs. However, images showing the actual prints might be available on some pages by clicking on the reproduction of the photographs or browing the slideshow.

Are the images showing mounted, matted or framed photographs portraying the real prints?
Images reproducing mounted, matted, or framed photographs may either show the actual prints or be digital mockups made for illustrative purposes only. In this case, despite being made as true to reality as possible, they should be considered merely as a visual reference and not depicting the actual products.

Are the images shown on the website the same size of the printed photographs?
No. The images reproduced on the website do not represent the actual size of the printed photographs. Likely, the images shown on the website are smaller if compared to the actual printed photographs but in some cases they might also be larger. The size of the images shown on the website depend on factors that are independent from us, such as your monitor’s display resolution. The actual size of the printed photograph as well as the full size of the print including any borders or mounting board are indicated in the technical specifications reported in the pages dedicated to each photograph.

Do the images shown on the website have the same proportions of the printed photographs?
Yes. What changes is the size, not the the proportions. However, please note that the main images of the photographs shown on the website do not include any margins or mounting board. You can check for the actual size of both the mounted print and the printed image on the pages dedicated to each photograph.

Why the images shown on the website are of a different size compared to the printed photographs?
The size is intentionally different because each device used to browse the website—whether desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile—has a different and variable monitor size and display resolution, which inevitably results in a difference compared to the actual, fixed dimensions of the printed photographs. In most cases, the images reproduced on the website are smaller compared to the printed photographs but is not excluded that in some cases they might be larger.

Is it true that the size of silver gelatin prints can be slightly different from the measurements indicated on the website?
Yes. Since every silver gelatin print is carefully produced by hand, each one is individual. Due to the particularly elaborate developing process, the extended washing phase of the baryta paper and the subsequent drying, water and chemicals can soak into paper minutely affecting the print’s size of ±1 mm deviations. As a result, each print is always extremely individual, emphasising the uniqueness of the photographic handiwork.

Why the size of the printed image appears to be slightly different from that indicated on the website?
Besides ±1 mm size deviations of silver gelatin prints caused by the particularly elaborate chemical process involved in the developing, washing and drying of the baryta paper, depending of the mounting of the photograph the visible portion of the image can be up to 1 mm smaller on each side compared to the actual size of the printed image. That because the window cut on the front mat needs to be a little bit smaller compared to the photograph, so to slightly cover it and keep it in place between the front and back mounting boards.

Do printed photographs have borders?
Despite they are not always shown on the website, almost all printed photographs feature a white border on the four sides, approximately ranging from a size of 7 to 12.5 cm on each size depending on the size of the mounting board. Information about the full size of the mounted photographs can be found on the pages dedicated to each photograph.

Is it possible to view the images in a larger size than the one reproduced on the website?
You can save the images on your computer, open them in a new browser window, or with another app to see them in a larger size compared to that shown on the website. Image files larger than those already uploaded to the website will not be sent upon request.

Are photographs available only in the edition indicated on the website?
The edition of a photograph is related to the specific format of the print, so different editions of the same photograph may be already sold out, available in a different format, or made available in the future. Information about availability of different editions of a photograph may be included in the notes on the pages dedicated to each photograph. If you are interested in a different edition of a photograph, including Artist’s Proofs and platinum/palladium unique editions, please contact info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph you want to know about.

Does the edition number indicate the total of prints made of each photograph or only those which are still available?
The edition number reported on the website indicates the total of prints that will be made of that photograph in that specific edition. While when you purchase a print, the number written on it indicates the specific print number within that edition (e.g. 1/10 means that is the first print of ten in total).

Is it possible to know what specific print number I will receive, after purchasing a photograph?
Yes. After completing the payment, you can contact us with that request by sending an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph you want to know about. Please note that is not possible to ask for a change with a different print number or return a print for that reason. Prints are only sold in numerical order from the lowest number (e.g. 1/6) to the highest number (e.g. 6/6). The same applies to Artist’s Proofs.

If the prints of a photograph are sold out, will reprints be made available in the future?
No, not in the same format, printing technique and size. Each photograph is printed in a specific edition in a finite number of prints. So no reprint of a photograph will ever be made in the same format, technique and size. Instead, new prints of the same photograph could be made available in a different edition, so in a different format, or printing technique, or size, both smaller or larger. If you are interested in a different size or printing technique of a photograph, please contact us by sending an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph you want to know about.

Are prints of a photograph available in formats, printing techniques or sizes different from those indicated on the website?
If you are interested in different formats, techiques, or sizes of a photograph, please contact us by sending an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph you want to know about. Please note that even if prints could be made-to-order, all the photographs are exclusively made in a finite number of prints per edition. So if a specific edition of a photograph is sold out, no other prints will ever be made, not even upon request, in that specific format, technique and size.

Can I order a photograph with a different printing technique, paper, or size than those indicated on the website?
Prints with characteristics different from those of the limited editions can only be produced on a case-by-case basis. These are exclusive prints, only made-to-order as unique edition. For more information about unique editions, please read the dedicated FAQs or send an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph(s) you want to know about.

What are unique editions?
They are unique artworks. Photographs in unique editions are made in one print only. No other prints of that photograph are available in that edition and they will never be made.

What distinguishes unique editions from other prints?
They are the most exclusive prints, carefully handcrafted and made only using the finest techniques such as platinum/palladium printing. Also, they can be made-to-order and tailored to collector’s specific requests in terms of size, paper, printing technique, mounting and framing.

How can I order a unique edition of a photograph?
You can send an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com to check availability of already existing unique editions or to have all information about the bespoke creation of your dedicated unique edition, reporting the code of the photograph(s) you want to know about.

What are the Artist’s Proofs?
Artist’s Proofs are test prints created specifically by or for the artist—the photographer—to evaluate and define the desired print result, including choosing the paper and printing technique. Artist’s Proofs are not included in the print runs of limited editions and the artist can therefore decide whether to keep them or offer them for sale, even at a later date, as unique, out-of-edition prints. Artist’s Proofs are therefore special prints, very rare and highly sought-after by collectors.

How do Artist’s Proofs differ from limited edition prints?
Artist’s Proofs may vary in terms of printing, for example in terms of sharpness and tonal values, but also in relation to the type of paper used and the printing technique itself, which may therefore be different from those used for printing limited editions. Also, any imperfection that may be visible on these prints is to be considered representative of the particular characteristics of the Artist’s Proofs, which are appreciated by collectors precisely by virtue of their uniqueness.

Since Artist’s Proofs differ from limited edition prints, how can I evaluate whether to purchase one?
If you are interested in purchasing an Artist’s Proof, please contact us by sending an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the code of the photograph you want to know about. Being always already existing prints and not made-to-order, images of the actual prints, including mount and frame if any, will be provided to you via email.

Why Artist’s Proofs are more expensive than limited edition prints?
Artist’s Proofs are, in fact, unique prints because they do not represent the final result but a moment of experimentation. The rarity of Artist’s Proofs, their special characteristics, the uniqueness that differentiates them from limited edition prints and the fact that they are normally intended for the artist’s personal collection make them of great interest and value to collectors, determining the higher price compared to that of limited editions.

How do I know if Artist’s Proofs of a particular photograph are available?
Artist’s Proofs are available only upon request. If you are interested in purchasing an Artist’s Proof, please send an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com, reporting the reference of the photograph you want to know about.

Why Artist’s Proofs are only available upon request?
The number of Artist’s Proofs listed on the website for each photograph indicates the total of Artist’s Proofs printed in relation to that photograph’s specific edition, not those actually available for sale, which may be none or some of them, possibly even in different formats relating to other editions of the same photograph. Also, Artist’s Proofs of a photograph’s specific edition may be available, now or in the future, even if prints of that particular limited edition are sold out. To contact us with that request is therefore the only way to know if Artist’s Proofs of a particular photograph are available for sale or not.

Are the Artist’s Proofs made in a finite number of prints?
Artist’s Proofs are normally made in no more than three different prints for each edition of a photograph. However, the author reserves the right to produce a number of Artist’s Proofs at his discretion, depending on the specific printing needs related to that particular photograph.

Are your prints mounted and matted?
It depends on a case by case basis. Most of the prints are both mounted and window-matted but not double-matted. Some other prints can be mounted or float-mounted, but not overmatted. Information about mounting and matting are available in the notes reported on the pages dedicated to each photograph.

How are the photographs usually mounted on the board?
Photographs are carefully mounted by hand and attached to the back board using self-adhesive archival quality hinging tissue, acid-free and pH neutral, positioned on the back of the photograph in a way so that the tissue remains completely hidden. (As little tissue as possible is used, so to make any adjustement, removal or substitution of both the tissue or the mounting board as easy as possible.) The photograph is then over-matted by a mat board featuring a window 1 mm smaller than the actual print, hand-cut at 90 degrees, and finally signed and numbered in pencil just below the image.

What type of mounting board do you use for your prints?
Depending on the prints, it can be 100% pure cotton fibre museum board or 100% high quality cellulose archival board, acid-free and pH neutral, in natural white or ivory, with thicknesses ranging approximately from 0.30 mm to 0.60 mm.

Do you offer framed prints?
Prints may be offered as loose prints, mounted and matted prints, or fully framed prints, as indicated in the notes on the pages dedicated to each photograph. If you are interested in ordering a framed print, please contact info@nicolamatteomunari.com.

Do you provide frames for prints that I have previously purchased from you?
If you are interested in purchasing a frame for our prints, please contact us by sending an email to info@nicolamatteomunari.com.

Are all the photographs signed?
Yes. All photographs whether limited editions, unique editions, or Artist’s Proofs are signed by hand by the artist. The signature may be either made with pen or pencil and be on the borders surrounding the photograph, on the front mount or on the back of the print, depending on the presence or not of the borders, the type of mount and frame, and the paper used for that particular print.

Are the photographs numbered?
Yes. Each photograph whether a limited edition, unique edition, or an Artist’s Proof is numbered in pen or pencil on the borders surrounding the photograph, on the front mount or on the back of the print, depending on the presence or not of the borders, the type of mount and frame, and the type of paper used for that particular print. Limited editions are always numbered and only sold from the lowest number (e.g. 1/6) to the highest number (e.g. 6/6). Unique editions are numbered 1/1 or, if made-to-order and specifically requested by the collector, custom-numbered with dedicated initials (e.g. JB/1). Artist’s Proofs are numbered as AP 1/3, AP 2/3, etc.

Are the photographs dated?
No, the photographs are intentionally not dated, since time and place are irrelevant information to the subjects of the photographs, which are unrelated to any real time or place. However, all available information related to the photograph and/or the print will be reported in the Certificate of Authenticity.

Do you provide a Certificate of Authenticity?
Yes. A Certificate of Authenticity reporting all information about the photograph and/or the print will be provided for each print when making a purchase.

How can I have proof of authenticity for one of your prints?
All prints sold through our website are authentic and provided with a Certificate of Authenticity. Also, all authentic prints are identified by a serial number stamped on the back of the mounting board and the same number will be found on both the Certificate of Authenticity and the back of the photograph. If you have bought one of our print somewhere else and not have a Certificate of Authenticity, we offer inspection and authentication services on demand. Also, a register of the prints is regularly updated in order to keep track of all the prints sold and produced.

How will prints be packaged and shipped?
The prints will be carefully hand-packaged flat between strong foam boards, each print protected with an archival sleeve and shipped fully-insured with international tracking. For extremely large or particular prints, tubes may be occasionally used instead of flat boxes.

Are the prints made-to-order or are they ready to ship?
It depends on both individual photographs and specific editions. Among limited editions, a few prints are often already available and ready to ship, while unique editions are most of the time exclusively made-to-order for yourself.


How long does it take before I receive the purchase?
Prints are shipped as soon as possible after payment for your order has been received. However, each print will be individually prepared and thoroughly checked in order to provide you an artwork of impeccable quality, so please allow approximately two to three weeks to receive your order. If you have any question about an order’s delivery, please contact info@nicolamatteomunari.com.

Are there customs charges for international purchases?
For extra-EU purchases only, customs charges may be applied directly by the respective customs authorities. Please note that customers are solely responsible for any customs charges or other taxes that may be applied to their shipment.

Are there discounts for purchasing multiple prints?
Yes. Discounts are automatically applied to your cart when you add more than one print. A 5% discount applies to the purchase of two prints. A 10% discount applies to the purchase of three prints. A 15% discount applies to the purchase of four prints. A 25% discount applies to the purchase of five or more prints.

Do you offer custom pricing for purchasing multiple prints for interior design, decoration, and art collection projects?
Yes. If you are an architect, art collector, consultant, or designer planning to order more than five prints you are invited to contact us at info@nicolamatteomunari.com to receive a personalised offer for your project.

Why the Cart displays a different price from those shown on the website and the checkout page?
That is a bug that could happen if you live in a country with a different currency than Euro and leave the checkout page before completing an order. In that case, the currency symbol may not be updated in the cart preview. Final prices, including any taxes and shipping costs, displayed in your local currency, are always shown at the checkout.

What should I do if by changing a page Light Mode turns into Dark, or viceversa?
You can reset that by selecting again the desired mode.

What should I do if I see a doubled or multiplied image?
In that case, you just need to reload the page.

What should I do if the layout of images crashes?
In that case, you just need to reload the page.

This page is for informational purposes only. The information contained in this page has no legal value and is not binding for contractual purposes related to the sale of prints. For contractual information, including information related to shipping, returns, and refunds, please refer to the Terms & Conditions page.