The Rootless: A Thought-Provoking Photo Project

Early in 2009, Roland DG North Europe was asked by Danish photographer Helga C. Theilgaard to print photos for her outdoor exhibition entitled “The Rootless.” Roland DG agreed, and thirty black and white portraits of Danish homeless people with various life stories set the background for the photo exhibition which opened in Copenhagen in January 2010. With her thought-provoking portraits, Theilgaard sought to bring attention to the living conditions of the homeless.

In the fall of 2009, the task of conveying Helga Theilgaard’s work and vision onto print media was handed over to Roland DG North Europe. Theilgaard chose Roland DG because Roland DG’s ECO-SOL MAX inks are weatherproof and could be printed on less expensive media, thus saving Theilgaard one third of her total budget and the additional time and expense of lamination.

Since each portrait measures 67" x 82" (170 x 210 cm), Roland DG chose to use the SOLJET PRO III XJ-740 inkjet printer. This presented an exciting opportunity as fine art photographs are traditionally printed on large photostatic printers. The XJ-740 performed beautifully, successfully meeting the challenges of the exacting world of photographic printing. “I was very excited to see the test prints for the first time,” said Theilgaard. “As a photographer, the standards you have for a photo print are extremely high as it is important that contrast and tone are well matched and that the details in the picture are clear. A bad print can ruin the story you want to tell with your photo.”

“I was actually surprised by the fine detail and contrast in the print, which was the deciding factor for me,” she continued. “It is fantastic to discover that the technology has become so advanced that it is possible to move outside the traditional photographic media and production methods.”

After a few profile tweaks, the results matched the photographer’s expectations. “I was actually surprised by the fine detail and contrast in the print, which was the deciding factor for me,” she continued. “It is fantastic to discover that the technology has become so advanced that it is possible to move outside the traditional photographic media and production methods.”

For Roland DG, their successful cooperation with the renowned photographer marks a big step forward in the effort to convince photographers that digital printing is an attractive alternative to more traditional production methods, providing both quality and cost savings. At the same time, Roland DG’s support of the show allows audiences to share in an interesting exhibition with a social edge.

About Helga Theilgaard: www.helgatheilgaard.dk.

Additional information about ”The Rootless” (in Danish) www.derodloese.dk.