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Please update your bookmarks http://www.archival-photos.com What is Giclee printing?
From the French verb "to spray", the word Giclee (zhee-clay) is used
to describe a certain standard in printmaking technology. Images or paintings are scanned to high resolution digital files. The artwork
is then carefully reproduced using a high-end ink jet printer and stable pigment-based
inks onto various substrates, the most common being watercolor paper.
History of Giclee printing.
Giclee prints evolved from Iris prints (a 4 color ink jet printer line pioneered
in the late 1970s by Iris Graphics). Iris technology was first developed as a
proofing process for digital prepress applications. The high quality of the process
was noticed in the mid 1980s by pioneers of giclée printing like Graham
Nash (of Cosby, Stills and Nash) and ink jet pioneer Jon Cone.
Who is Giclee good for?
Giclee is very suitable for artists, both digital and traditional, who want intimate
control over small reproduction runs. Giclee is becoming more of a mainstream
option for photographers who want a wider range of output options than traditional
photographic reprints.
Giclee is for any artist who wants high quality prints that are affordable
in small quantities and will last longer than most other methods of reproduction.
Giclee vs an Iris or offset print.
Giclee prints are more sophisticated than Iris prints. Special inks have been
developed for giclee printers that provide better color accuracy, expanded color
gamut and longer life of the print. Giclee inks resist fading 10 times longer
than those used in Iris prints.
Giclee prints can be more affordable than lithographs. With lithos, you have
to print and buy all of the prints at once. With giclee prints, you can print
a small run or you can print one at a time as you sell them. You can have little
to no inventory, so your startup costs are much less. Also, since no screens are
used in giclee printing, the prints have a higher effective resolution than lithographs.
Another tremendous advantage to Giclee printing is that artwork can be reproduced
to almost any size and on various media, giving the artist the ability to customize
prints for a specific client.
The large-format Epson Stylus® Photo 2200 delivers remarkable archival
photos up to 13” x 19” on a wide variety of papers. The first desktop
photo printer to use seven pigment inks, the Epson Stylus Photo 2200 provides
the highest quality output available from any pigment-based ink jet.
How long will my Giclee print last?
The Epson Stylus Photo 2200 delivers archival results with reported lightfastness
ratings of up to 90 years for color prints, and up to 100 years for black and
white prints.
Is Giclee good for reproducing photographs?
Computer techniques for dodging, burning, color correction and touching up have
come a long way since the darkroom. Our owner Brian Sullivan, spent many years
as a master photo lab technician in the Boston area, working with hundreds of
photographers to produce high-quality prints. A giclee output by a trained technician
can add greater aesthetic value and longer life to your photographs over standard
photo reprints.
About edition sizes.
- Edition Size: The total number of giclee printed from one particular
image.
- Limited-Edition: A predetermined number of giclee published from an
original work of art. The total number of giclees is fixed by the artist or the
publisher in order to create a scarcity of the print. The artist's signature is
usually found in one of the lower corners of the giclee and is accompanied by
a number that looks like a fraction; the top number indicates the number of the
giclee and the bottom number indicates the total number of giclee in the edition.
- Open-Edition: A reproduction of an original artwork that is sometimes
signed by the artist. The number of giclee published is not predetermined.
Proofing my Giclee Print.
The proofing procedure will differ depending on the customer's needs. Some customers
only expect pleasing color while others may want the print to exactly match the
original. Usually, one proof and some color correction are all that is needed
to please most customers.
For the digital artist, proofing makes sense since matching color on a monitor
can be difficult due to the color variances between monitors. The proof can also
be archived and used as a guide for reprints. Since output can vary, the archived
proof is what insures consistent results.
Proofing services explained.
- In House: (Quick) We will make initial color corrections and print
a proof. Then we will fine tune the color to correct any hue shifts and obvious
color mismatches and the job will be printed.
- Standard: (Standard) We will make initial color corrections and print
a proof. We will also send a 7"x9" proof to the artist before making
additional color corrections. After the proof has been signed and returned, we
will make the color corrections indicated by the artist and the job will be printed.
- Full-out: (Master) Same as Standard, except we will also send a full
size proof to the artist. After the proof has been signed and returned, we will
make the color corrections indicated by the artist and the job will be printed.
What type of paper can a Giclee be printed on?
The Epson Stylus Photo 2200 can print up to 13” wide on a variety of
papers. We offer Epson Glossy, Matte and Watercolor as well as Finch Opaque White
110# Cover. Other papers, as well as, print lengths are available. Please enquire.
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