Hello AT,
I'd love a large-scale nature print for my living room--something like what's hanging in the background (behind the dining room table) of this picture from the new Ian Schrager development. A long time ago I saw something similar at Jane restaurant--it looked like a blown-up, pixilated nature print mounted on foam core. I tried in vain to find something similar, but could only locate cheesy nature posters online. Any ideas?
Thanks AT, EJ
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You should go a step further and make it personal ... go out and take some photos in nature that you find ... you can then have them blown up at most print shops.
PBTeen will even put your pic on a wall-sized canvas mural:
http://ww2.pbteen.com/cat/pip.cfm?snav=1&pkey=caccmur&gids=p1904&ctid=accmur&area=shp
It's probably not exactly what you're looking for, but Klenofsky (sp?) paint on Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg has these super-cheesetastic nature murals you can stick onto your wall. I love them, but at the same time I don't know that I could live with one. Maybe if I had more than three rooms. . . .
I don't know how averse you are to urban outfitters but they have some big wall murals of things like Hawaiian sunset and the Eiffel tower, maybe one of them would fit your needs.
i'm a few states away, but I've done some signage design with large scale graphics. I've used adhesive vinyl on "gatorboard" for mockups for our signs. I see no reason why you couldn't use them in your home. They can get pricey (a couple hundred and up depending on how large you go) Also talk to the person you work with about avoiding seams. (also dependent on size) here is a link to a shop i use. I'm sure they ship. http://www.servicepointusa.com/services_detail_20.cfm
I'll second what ridge said above and add that you can create your own pixelation or sepia (or whatever) effects in Photoshop.
If you don't have Photoshop you can grab a trial version of Paintshop Pro or the free Picassa program from Google (personally I like it a lot better than Photoshop for quick touchups).
There's also the free and open source "Gimp" software which is supposed to run on Windows now and almost as powerful as Photoshop (http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/).
As to getting your stuff printed, I'm a big fan of http://www.art.com. They've printed several of my photos and done a really good job. They can do canvas transfers and also masonite mounting - which is a lot better than foamcore.
Good luck.
Funny, the nature photo mural was just featured in the Oprah Home Magazine (which I admit to reading). And it was in the story about "Darko and [name I can't remember]" apartment that was featured in the AT small spaces contest. I think it said they used a photo they had taken on a hike, and gave the name of the company that can turn it into wallpaper.
Hopefully they'll show up here to answer the question better than I can!
Aren't those CG windows and trees and buildings in that picture?
and ridge, have you tried that mural service at pbteen? that looks pretty cool.
low budget version:
you could use a website called rasterbator which takes images, allows you to crop and size them, then rasterizes them in monochrome or colour, and then gives you the image in multiple page pdf format. you can then print and put it on your wall as you see fit.
site: http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/
The couple in O at Home used http://gallerystreet.com/ -- though that website is now under (re?)construction and says to check back in January
The magazine also suggested http://environmentalgraphics.com/ (which doesn't seem to have the option that you can use your own images) and http://www.muralsyourway.com/ (which does let you use your own images but it seems pricey)
in regard to ridge's suggestion, the 1st issue of blueprint magazine had a section with resources to blow up photos and drawings.
What about photo realistic wallpaper? This previous good question looks pretty similar to what you want.
Darn, didn't post the address: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-bamboo-forest-wallpaper-006907
jess,
THANK YOU for the rasterbator link. I'm having a ball creating my own project.
I'm a member of iStockphoto.com where there's a gazillion of prints available for purchase. For a minimal fee, you can get a professionally made nature photograph and take it to Kinko's for mounting!
Check it out!
As a professional photographer, I would suggest you either seek the work of a photographer and order it from them at the size you want. If you're a good shot and interested in DIY photography, take the picture yourself and have it enlarged to the desired size. A picture taken on slow speed, 35mm film can be enlarged to at least 30"x50" without noticable pixelation problems.
Excellent photographers can be found by visiting galleries, nature and landscape photography websites, local art exhibitions, and art fairs. Once you settle on a piece you like, most photographers will arrange to have the piece enlarged to the size you desire, plus have it mounted/framed. This may sound expensive, but short of purchasing and hanging mural wallpaper, you need sturdy framing and mounting to support artwork of that size.
To echo a few others - I just purchased a piece through my-photoart.com. I was in a similar dilemna - wanting something specific that I had in mind, and not liking most cheesey art posters. I took a picture of an alley with fire-escapes and grafiti, and photoshopped it so it is mostly blue. I then ordered it as a large canvas. I should get it in early February. I'm excited to see the results!