Whether you are a photographer or want some quality pictures to frame, fine art printing will give you a vivid, high-quality print. This form of printing was introduced in the 1990s in the United States. The idea had been brought up before, but Jack Duganne began playing around at Nash Editions Studios where they used industrial level printers. He used eight different inks and cotton paper to print images with the best results possible. When artists and photographers use this printing style, it is because they want the most precise colors possible.
What to Know About Fine Art Printing
Also called giclee printing, fine art printing will allow you to get a better-quality print. The process uses a high resolution, large format printer. There are different types of paper (including cotton) that are long lasting and display the colors better. If you are considering giclee prints, here is some information you should know.
Type of paper. Fine art printing uses different photographic paper. Regular photo paper contains acids that fade the photo and crack over time. High quality, acid-free paper is used for a fine art print. It enhances the colors and has a longer lifespan. Unlike regular photo paper, giclee paper will not crack or yellow over time. Fine art paper must meet certain criteria to be considered high-quality.
Printer. Giclee printing uses an inkjet printer with more colors than a traditional printer. These additional colors make for a more vivid, accurate color print. These high-quality photos are printed on a different type of paper that lasts longer so the ink printed doesn’t fade.
Ink. The ink used in fine art printing has more color variety than traditional printers. As well as the usual cyan, magenta, yellow and black, there is also light cyan, light magenta and three shades of grey. Many contain uncommon colors such as orange or green. This wider color scope produces a vivid picture with truer colors.
Copyright law. If the photos you want to reproduce are not your original creation, be sure to brush up on your copyright law. If you are printing photos for anything other than personal use, you could get in trouble. There are strict laws around selling someone else’s work without permission.
How to Create a Fine Art Print
Digitize. You will need to digitize your artwork or photo. A quality giclee will be 300 DPI or higher. Having a high-resolution file will ensure your print has the sharpest detail possible. This will make sure it looks its best, even as a large print. If you do not use a photo with a high resolution, you will risk your print looking pixelated or fuzzy when completed.
Know your paper. As mentioned above, paper in fine art printing is acid free and higher quality. The paper should be archival quality, which means museum grade. You can choose from matte or glossy. These can be 100% cotton, 100% cellulose archival paper or poly cotton canvas, to name a few. The paper you choose should be long-lasting and produce vivid results. Be sure to find out what paper options your printer uses.
Expertise of the printer. Not just anyone can produce a high-quality fine art print that looks just like the original. It requires a specialized set of skills and an eye for detail. Choose your printer carefully and ask lots of questions about their processes, examples and experience. Find out what type of giclee paper they use and what their costs are. You want the best quality for your artwork.
When you want a high-quality, long-lasting photo, fine art printing is an excellent choice. Your photos will last longer, have vivid, true colors and be printed on quality paper. If you are selling prints that are not your own, be sure you understand copyright laws. Reproducing someone’s work without permission can get you in trouble. Look around at different printers before choosing one. Ask lots of questions and make sure you see examples. It can be costly to print, so be sure to get the best quality for your money. Once you make the investment, you won’t be disappointed. You will have a long-lasting, high-quality print that you can show off to everyone and pass down to your grandchildren!