Cone Editions

What Cone Editions does

Cone Editions Press (operating as Cone Editions) is a privately held fine art printmaking studio founded in 1980 by Jon and Cathy Cone, originally in Port Chester, New York and now headquartered in East Topsham, Vermont. The studio pioneered digital printmaking beginning in 1984 and is recognized as the originator of fine black-and-white photographic inkjet printing, having introduced Piezography in 1995, the Piezography digital negative system in 2010, and direct-to-plate photogravure in 2017. Its full-stack technology portfolio spans proprietary carbon-based monochromatic and color pigment inkjet ink formulations (Piezography, ConeColor), Green Mountain photopolymer plates, the verifiedUV industrial LED exposure system, proprietary calibration/ICC software, and PiezoDN digital negative production — the company is the only studio formulating its own inkjet inks and a sole-source provider of verifiedUV exposure units.

The company sells finished prints, photogravure plates, digital negatives, drum scans, and hardware/consumables, and offers multi-day hands-on workshops, studio print days at $450 per day with 40% off printing rates, and an upcoming monthly print subscription program. Pricing is premium and unit-based, with platinum/palladium prints ranging from $240 to $4,800 depending on size and edition quantity, inkjet prints from $75 to $800+, and photogravure plates from $87.50 to $1,200. Distribution is direct (in-studio collaboration in Vermont, remote file submission with Zoom proofing) and via e-commerce through its own Shopify storefront and the exclusive distributor Inkjetmall.

Cone Editions serves fine art photographers, museums and galleries (Corcoran, Currier, Lincoln Center, Pace MacGill), photography schools and universities, other print studios, and science/technology institutions including JPL and the Space Telescope Science Institute. The client roster includes marquee photographers such as Richard Avedon, Gordon Parks, James Nachtwey, Gregory Colbert, Saul Leiter, and Clyde Butcher. The studio operates with 1-10 employees from a single rural Vermont facility plus a separate 4,200 square foot post-and-beam studio with private artist's quarters, and has remained family-owned since founding with no institutional funding.

Name

Cone Editions

Legal name

Cone Editions Press

Website

https://cone-editions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cone Editions Press is a privately held, family-owned fine art printmaking studio in Vermont that pioneered digital printmaking in 1984 and serves fine art photographers, museums, and institutions with proprietary Piezography inks, direct-to-plate photogravure, platinum/palladium printing, digital negatives, and verifiedUV exposure systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Art Printing Services

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Photofinishing (81292), Support Activities for Printing (323120)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Photo Books & Art Books Print-on-Demand (Coffee Table, Portfolios) (MPAJANAE)

Keywords

• Fine art printing
• Digital printmaking
• Monochromatic imaging
• Photopolymer gravure
• Platinum palladium prints

Headquarters

HQ city

Vermont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Fine Art Printing Services: Custom printing services for artists including Piezography black & white, ConeColor color inkjet, platinum/palladium, and photogravure printing. Revenue generated per-print based on paper size and edition quantity. Clients can work in-studio collaboratively or submit files remotely.
2. Photogravure Plate Production: Production and sale of ready-to-print photogravure plates. Plates priced by size from $87.50 (5x7) to $1,200 (30x40). Offered through direct ordering and online Shopify store.
3. Piezography Digital Negatives: Calibrated digital negatives for alternative process printing (platinum/palladium). Prices range from $75-400 per negative depending on size. Includes custom calibration to customer's darkroom for $150 per iteration.
4. Consumables and Supplies: Sale of proprietary ink formulations (Piezography, ConeColor Pro), Green Mountain photopolymer plates, verifiedUV exposure systems, papers, and printmaking supplies through Inkjetmall and company e-commerce platforms.
5. Workshops and Education: Multi-day hands-on workshops in photogravure, platinum printing, and Piezography techniques. Registration fees of $450 with total workshop costs ranging from $1,200-$2,200. Also offers pre-recorded 90-minute introductory Zoom sessions.
6. Print Edition Subscription: Monthly subscription program offering regular print editions in color, Piezography, photogravure, or platinum. Provides cost savings compared to ad-hoc printing and includes 110+ years of combined master printer experience.
7. Studio Print Days: Full-day in-studio access at $450 per day with 40% discount on all printing services. Allows artists exclusive studio access for hands-on production with master printer guidance.
8. Drum Scanning Services: High-resolution drum scanning of film originals from 35mm to 16x20. Scans at 48bit RGB, 7000+ ppi for 35mm. Prices range from $200-600 per scan depending on size and color/B&W.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cone Editions Press is a full-service fine art printmaking studio that produces museum-quality archival prints using proprietary Piezography monochromatic and ConeColor pigment inkjet systems, Direct-to-Plate photopolymer photogravure, and Platinum/Palladium printing with calibrated digital negatives. The studio combines custom printing services (per-print and edition-based) with proprietary consumables and hardware (inks, plates, UV exposure systems) sold through Inkjetmall and an in-house Shopify storefront, supplemented by multi-day workshops.

Product overview

Cone Editions Press is a printmaking studio offering a unified portfolio of proprietary printing technologies and services for fine art photographers. The core offering centers on Piezography (monochromatic carbon inkjet printing) and ConeColor (color pigment printing), supported by proprietary software for calibration and ICC profiling. These foundational technologies enable three specialized print processes: Direct-to-Plate Photogravure (using Green Mountain photopolymer plates), Platinum/Palladium Printing (using Malde-Ware chemistry), and Inkjet Printing. The company also provides Drum Scanning services and manufactures verifiedUV exposure systems. All processes are calibrated to match calibrated displays using proprietary Piezography digital negatives (PiezoDN). Additional offerings include Collaborative Printing (studio rental), Workshops, and Print Subscription programs. The company operates both direct sales and an e-commerce platform (Inkjetmall) for consumables and equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Piezography Black & White Printing Service Custom carbon-based monochromatic inkjet printing using Piezography's 11-shade ink system to produce archival prints with maximum tonal depth and shadow/highlight detail, available in-studio or via remote file submission with proofing. Targets fine art photographers and museums requiring archival permanence and the deepest matte blacks.
• ConeColor Inkjet Printing Service Custom archival color inkjet printing using ConeColor Pro pigment inks with ICC profiling matched to calibrated displays, producing dMax >1.85 on fine art matte prints. Targets fine art photographers and institutions needing museum-grade color permanence.
• Direct-to-Plate Photogravure Printing Service Specialty photopolymer photogravure printing that prints Piezography UV-absorbing inks directly onto Green Mountain plates at 2880 dpi, producing dotless, smooth tonal range that rivals platinum printing. Targets artists and editions where continuous-tone photogravure is required without conventional film positives.
• Platinum/Palladium Printing Service Traditional Platinum/Palladium printing using Malde-Ware ammonium chemistry with a 50/50 Pt/Pd ratio, sourced with calibrated digital negatives. Targets collectors and museums requiring the most archival photographic prints possible.
• PiezoDN Digital Negatives Service Production of calibrated digital negatives for platinum/palladium and other alternative process printing, using up to 10 shades of monochrome ink on premium inkjet transparency films. Available in-house (negatives for use at Cone Editions) or with custom darkroom calibration (negatives sent for use in the customer's own darkroom).
• Drum Scanning Service High-resolution drum scanning of film originals from 35mm to 16x20 at 48bit RGB and up to 7000+ ppi, offered in color or black & white with mastering and retouching billed at $187.50/hour. Targets photographers with archival film archives requiring high-fidelity digital captures.
• Collaborative Printing (Studio Print Days) Full-day in-studio access at $450 per day with a 40% discount on all printing services, providing hands-on production with a master printer at the Vermont facility from 9AM-4PM. Targets professional artists producing large editions or seeking direct printer collaboration.
• Workshops and Training Multi-day hands-on workshops in photogravure, platinum printing, and Piezography techniques, plus women's creative retreats and pre-recorded Zoom introductory sessions, taught by Jon and Cathy Cone at the Vermont studio. Registration deposits of $450 with total workshop fees from $1,200-$2,200 per attendee.
• Print Edition Subscription Programs Monthly subscription programs offering regular print editions in color, Piezography, photogravure, or platinum with cost savings versus ad-hoc printing. Targets artists and collectors seeking consistent production at a stable monthly rate.
• Portfolio Printing Service Reduced-cost print packages produced in duplicate for portfolio reviews, submissions, and academic applications using Piezography black & white and ConeColor prints. Targets photographers preparing portfolio submissions to galleries, residencies, and review programs.
• verifiedUV Exposure Systems Proprietary 365nM UV exposure systems built with industrial LED chips on flexible PCB strips, marketed as the world's fastest UV exposure units. Platinum exposures complete in 45-60 seconds. Sold direct and via Inkjetmall as a standalone hardware product for studios needing premium UV exposure.
• Green Mountain Photopolymer Plates Proprietary .95-inch thick photopolymer plates for Direct-to-Plate photogravure, engineered to be both most sensitive and slowest exposing plate available. Produced in sizes up to 31x42 inches and sold per plate through Inkjetmall and a Shopify storefront at unit prices from $87.50 (5x7) to $1,200 (30x40).
• Piezography and ConeColor Pro Ink Sets Proprietary carbon-based monochromatic Piezography ink sets (including UltraHD Matte Black) and ConeColor Pro archival color pigment ink sets, formulated in-house and distributed through Inkjetmall. Sold to print studios and advanced photographers seeking the proprietary ink chemistries that Cone Editions' services rely on.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gregory Colbert's Ashes and Snow exhibition printed by Cone Editions was viewed by 13+ million people, making it the most viewed exhibition in history
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• InkjetmallcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInkjetmall serves as the exclusive online distributor for Cone Editions products including Green Mountain photopolymer plates, verifiedUV exposure systems, Piezography inks, and ConeColor Pro inks. Operates as a separate e-commerce platform (shop.inkjetmall.com) from Cone Editions' main sites.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Hahnemühle: Hahnemühle is a German manufacturer of premium fine art papers widely used by photographers and printers including for platinum/palladium and inkjet printing. Comparable as an ecosystem participant whose papers are utilized by Cone Editions for platinum prints (e.g., Arches Platine) and supplies the broader fine art photography printing market.

Broad incumbents

• Shutterfly: Shutterfly is a major US photo printing and personal products company (parent of Mpix and Lifetouch). Comparable only as a broad incumbent in the photo printing industry serving mass-market and professional customers, with no overlap on Cone Editions' niche alternative process and monochrome specialty.
• Bay Photo Lab: Bay Photo is a long-established US professional photo lab offering fine art prints, metal prints, and acrylic mounts to professional photographers. Overlaps with Cone Editions on archival inkjet printing for fine art clients, but operates at broader scale across many print substrates rather than specializing in monochrome and alternative processes.
• Saal Digital: Saal Digital is a German photo products company specializing in photo books, wall decors, and fine art prints for professional photographers. Overlaps with Cone Editions on archival inkjet printing and portfolio products, though it focuses on mainstream photo book production rather than niche monochrome and alternative process printing.
• Duggal Visual Solutions: Duggal is a large-format printing and visual solutions provider based in New York, offering fine art printing, signage, and exhibition graphics. Comparable as a larger incumbent serving artists, galleries, and museums with large-format output, though it operates a much broader portfolio without Cone Editions' proprietary monochrome and photogravure specialization.
• Mpix: Mpix is a US-based professional photo printing service operating at mainstream scale for photographers. Comparable as a peer in the photo printing services category, though it serves a much broader consumer/professional market at lower price points without Cone Editions' museum-grade monochrome and alternative process specialization.

Direct peers

• WhiteWall: WhiteWall is a fine art photo printing service offering gallery-grade prints on premium papers with multiple mounting and framing options. Comparable as a direct competitor serving professional photographers seeking archival prints, though Cone Editions differentiates through proprietary monochrome Piezography and alternative process offerings WhiteWall does not provide.
• CPrint: CPrint is a German-based fine art printing service specializing in high-quality photo prints, photo books, and gallery editions for professional photographers. Directly comparable to Cone Editions in serving artists who demand museum-grade output, with overlapping product categories including pigment inkjet prints and large-format editions.

Emerging players

• Bostick & Sullivan: Bostick & Sullivan is a US supplier of materials and equipment for alternative photographic processes including platinum/palladium, photogravure, and wet plate collodion. Comparable as an alternative-process ecosystem participant overlapping Cone Editions on platinum/palladium chemistry and photogravure, though it focuses on supplies rather than printing services.
• Photographers' Formulary: Photographers' Formulary is a long-standing US supplier of photographic chemistry and alternative process materials for photographers and educators. Comparable as an adjacent player in the alternative process ecosystem serving the same fine art photographer community as Cone Editions, with overlap on platinum/palladium and photogravure chemistry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cone Editions