Individual Print Competition Guidelines OLD

For entry into NECCC Individual print competitions, virtually all types of photographic art, whether photochemical or photo electronic (digital) in origin are acceptable. Any size image can be entered providing the supporting mount is no smaller than 8” x 10”, and no larger than 16” x 20”. A maker may submit one print into the Color category, and one print into Monochrome. Mounting and Print Presentation is generally considered in the overall score by the judge.

Permitted

Spotting of prints, where spotting is understood to serve the purpose of removing the small blemishes caused by dust or other minor imperfections in the original negative, slide, image file, or on the print.

Collages/paste-ups (of original photography), emulsion transfers and manipulations. Adding color with transparent oils, dyes, or digital editing, is permitted in the color division only.

Commercially-made prints, either photochemical or photo-electronic, wherein the only manipulation performed by the non-entrant printer is in the nature of burning/dodging, and color/contrast adjustment and their electronic equivalents.

Any other form of manipulation of the print, negative, or image file by the entrant (burning, dodging, masking, printing through texture screens, digital enhancement, combining of images, etc.) not expressly prohibited below is considered acceptable.

Prohibited

Complete opaquing of the print surface, such that the final result is virtually indistinguishable from a freehand drawing/painting. (i.e., portraits done in heavy oils).

Print mounts of less than 8” x 10” or larger than 16” x 20”. Any print submitted for competition, regardless of size or material upon which it is printed, must be mounted, with the print backed completely by whatever mount medium is used. The use of an over-mat alone is not sufficient. Prints may be of any size from 8” x 10” up to and including 16” x 20”.

Potentially harmful print substrate material. Since images can easily be printed out on material other than photo papers or canvas, makers should exercise due diligence and caution before submitting work printed on certain materials. The thickness must be comparable to that of conventional photo paper, and any sharp edges must be rendered incapable of damaging other prints with which they may come in contact. Images printed on, or laminated onto glass, Plexiglas, Lucite, Masonite, sheet metal, or similar material, as well as framed prints or stretch-mounted canvas wraps are not acceptable. Certain hard, heavy, or sharp-edged mounts have caused damage other prints entered in competition, and use of these materials should NOT be considered.

The use of any photography or artwork that is not the original work of the entrant. This includes clip art of any kind, or any artwork (i.e., digital manipulation, airbrushing, coloring, etc.) performed on either the originating negative, slide, image file, or print by anyone other than the competitor. Print spotting to remove minor blemishes is not considered artwork.

NECCC follows the PSA Guidelines in that PSA does not allow images to be submitted that contain any elements not created/shot by the submitting photographer. This includes layers, textures, additional elements, AI-generated images or components, etc. Nor do they allow watermarks, logos, titles or author’s names to appear in the photograph in any way. If a photographer is combining different elements/layers, ALL of these must be from original photographs taken by the photographer themselves. You cannot purchase stock photography, use free images from the internet, trade images with friends nor use any other source than your own, original photographs. PSA takes copyright infringement, and outside sourcing very seriously and violations can result in photographers being barred from submitting to any PSA competition and may include ramifications for the club they belong to in addition to personal sanctions. Therefore, all prints entered in any category must be entirely the work of the maker.

Monochrome Definition

Monochrome images may NOT contain any color components. An image is considered to be monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e., contains only shades of gray which can include pure black and pure white) OR it gives the impression of being a grayscale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image. (For example, by Sepia, red, gold, blue, etc.) A grayscale or multi-colored image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi toning, or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a Color Work.

PLEASE NOTE! In the course of conducting print competitions, entries are stacked, placed into, and removed from shipping cases…and otherwise receive a fair amount of handling. Please ensure that there is nothing on the corners or back of the print that could conceivably cause damage if contact is made with the image side of another print!!! This includes sharp plastic photo corners, items or material for hanging a print… such as Velcro, exposed tape adhesive, and a variety of glues and spray adhesives. In past competitions, prints have been damaged by the image side coming into contact with the back of another print.

Regarding Print Mounts

The use of any kind of mount having an open back is not permitted. These include several types of over-mats that come with a large die cut hole in the mount board. The print must be backed completely by whatever mount medium is used. Prints need to have a backer board of either cardboard, foam core or similar product. Please DO NOT just tape your print to the back of the matte board. This is to ensure that the tape you use does not come off during handling and ruin the print it is placed on top off. Any kind of opening in your print supporting material renders your entry vulnerable to physical damage.

Great care is taken to ensure that prints are returned to their makers in the condition they were submitted, but accidents can, and do happen on occasion, so while care is taken in the handling and storage of submitted material, NECCC, Inc. assumes no liability for the loss of, or damage to prints. If an image is believed to have market value or is irreplaceable for sentimental or other reasons, please submit a duplicate instead.

Individual Print Competition Co-Directors