paul_gralen

<p>FWIW I would focus (no pun intended) on RAM as opposed to the video card. I have a 21.5" iMac with the 1 TB, 8GB of RAM and the 4670 video card. The full 1TB HD is worth it in my book because I run a separate partition with Windows on it. The extra 4GB of RAM cost $120 online (Crucial). It's absurdly easy to install, and will make your processes run faster, especially if you are doing work with large files in Photoshop. The display is gorgeous - one of the best out there right now. I would also recommend getting the extended Apple Care (3 year) warranty. If *anything* goes wrong, e.g., faulty drive, bad video card, whatever, Apple has stellar customer service. I had an iMac previously and had the entire main board replaced under warranty, which would have run me close to the cost of a new computer. The better video card shows its chops when you are using 3D graphics - in my case gaming, which I enjoy and which is fabulous on this machine (I run Windows 7 in Boot Camp). I built my own PCs for years and then moved to Apple when they began incorporating Intel chips and moved to a UNIX-based OS. It's the best of both worlds now. Hope that helps.....</p>

<p>I am new to the forum and seeking advice. I am a fine artist - my background is in sculpture and mixed-media 2D work. In an upcoming art show, I am planning on showing some framed photos that I took recently. I am curious as to whether there is an "accepted practice" regarding the artist's signature on finished prints. I would always sign them on the back, in the unprinted margin area, but do collectors expect to see a visible signature? I prefer to mat my prints with no border, so signing on the blank margin of the paper is an option but of course that would be hidden by the mat. Is this one of those variable issues that is relative to the photographer and the collector? Any feedback would be appreciated, and thanks!</p>