There is a lot to consider when choosing a supplier for Fine Art Photography and Giclee printing. You should find an Art photographer within easy driving distance if you wish to have your art photographed, since transporting expensive art can be prohibitive, but if you already have photographs, you have a large choice of online suppliers.
To photograph your art, you should hire a professional photographer who is experienced in handling fine art and working with it. It seems like many suppliers do not even use photographs when copying art and many have no experience in copying art.
I’m sure you are already familiar with flatbed scanners, which are used to scan artwork. Artwork of different sizes and types can be scanned with success and available now on ElephantStock. If you want to get rid of all surface reflections, it isn’t really suitable for oils. There are a few A2 scanners as well as A3 scanners used by many suppliers. You will need to stitch your images together if your art is too big for the scanner. In some cases, up to four parts of the original may be scanned depending on its size. After that, the images will be combined digitally into one big image.
If you want to reproduce your art to the highest standards, this approach will not be ideal. It will also be physical impossible on large or framed paintings.
Create your Own Image
Even when providing your own images for Giclee printing, you may be unsure if they will work unless, of course, they were professionally produced and you are familiar with how they print. ElephantStock.com which also uses this technology of print Gicllee, these providers should be willing to give you a free evaluation of your image in order to determine whether or not you can produce a Giclee print of it. Prior to ordering a run of Giclee prints, ask if they will be able to let you know if there will be any issues that may affect the quality of your print.
Identify the Suppliers
Most suppliers who scan art can also offer photography if you request it, but it will cost substantially more than scanning as a photographer is required and in most cases an outside entity handles it. If you’re looking for a professional photographer who prints Giclees, you’re better off finding one with fine art experience.
Before you order Giclee prints, be sure to get a proof from your supplier. Most good suppliers such as ElephantStock will provide a sample before printing. For the proof, you may have to pay, but it is worth it if you are ordering several expensive Giclee prints. Under the same lighting conditions, compare your proof with your painting. A4 is the standard proof size for most suppliers. To judge color balance, this is quite satisfactory, but if you plan to print Giclee prints larger than this size, for example. It will not be possible to assess the tone balance or level of detail in the smaller proof before the larger reproduction. A4 proofs I provide to my clients are split. An enlarged section of the proof is on one half, while the other half shows the full image. Your supplier may also be able to assist.
Quality and Price of Giclee Prints
Different suppliers offer different prices and quality levels for Giclée prints, but if they are low in quality, they are not acceptable. As well as high end printers, archival papers, and inks, the outcome of the print depends on who is producing it. Even before images reach the printer, they are judged for their print quality. A high-quality reproduction requires appropriate balance, correction, and matching to the original. Some suppliers lack experience in this area. Understanding how to properly produce a superb Giclee printing requires a skilled individual who has experience dealing with photos for printing. The best professional photographers also possess these skills.
An excellent Giclee print should look like the original. The real test is to see if the print retains all of the original’s tonal range. There may always be instances when it is impossible to match an individual color exactly. Detail shouldn’t be lost, even in the darkest shadows or the brightest highlights. It should be rejected if these areas lack detail. This error cannot be excused, and reprinting will not usually resolve the issue. Origination is almost certainly to blame for the problem.
Giclee Paper Selection
Your choice of paper for your Giclee prints depends on your personal preference. We will consider the weight, finish, and construction quality. Paper weights for Giclee prints range between 250gsm and 350gsm, but feeling the papers is very important before making a decision. There is a difference in weight between my 280gsm and my 300gsm paper, which makes checking papers first before printing a wise move.
Each type of paper will have a different finish and degree of whiteness. The vast majority of papers used in ink jet printing today are acid-free and any paper from a reputable manufacturer of paper for Giclee printing should be suitable for fine art prints. For online orders, tell your supplier that you would like to see some samples of the paper. In contrast to some, I offer free Giclee paper samples in the form of A6 prints when requested.