GICLEE PRINTING at WORLD WEST GALLERIES 



What is a Giclee Print: 


The term “Giclee” was derived from the French words Gicleur, (jet or nozzle) and the verb Gicler, (spray or squirt) referring to fine-art prints made using ink jet printers. Giclee has also come to mean high quality fine-art printing using only archival materials and can be printed on paper or canvas. Giclee printing has by far become the most popular printing process for reproducing artwork, photographs and computer generated art. Todays artists and galleries turn to Giclee printing for high quality fine art reproductions.

Image Capturing / Resolution:

When printing Giclee prints of original artwork the first step is to capture the image at a high resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (DPI). For larger works of art we can photograph your artwork with a high-resolution camera with studio lighting. For smaller works we use a hi-resolution scanner. Having a high quality digital image is crucial for making a successful Giclee print.


Proofing:

Once the image has been digitized and is in the computer the Photoshop editing process begins. First, cropping and sizing the image as well as removing any unwanted signatures, marks or smudges from the digital file. The next important and necessary step is to print a proof. Comparing a proof to the original artwork will insure greater accuracy when making color corrections. When printing computer-generated art much of this process is not necessary however what you see on the computer screen may not be precisely accurate to the print. For this reason many digital artists require a proof that can be critiqued and adjusted. A proof is presented to the each artist for their approval, final adjustments can then be made before the printing begins.


Materials:

Our Giclee prints are printed on top quality, Epson archival papers and canvas. These materials meet the highest standards for pH, light fastness and longevity when used in conjunction with Epson, Ultra Chrome inks. This type of ink is categorized as a pigment-based ink rather than less expensive dye-based inks. Pigment based inks have a lifespan that can last over 100 years.


Papers:

Somerset Velvet is a 100% cotton, acid free paper with a radiant white base and a photo enhanced coating. Somerset Velvet is the paper of choice by many water colorists and artists who paint on paper or board surfaces. Hot Press Bright is acid free, 100% cotton fiber paper that delivers beautiful tonal transitions and a wide color gamut. Hot Press Bright is also popular with artists who create their work on any type of paper substrate. Enhanced Matte Paper is yet another acid free, archival Epson paper with a bright white surface and matte finish. This material maintains intense highlights wile maintaining deep dark shadows. This paper is great for printing photographs and computer generated art. Exhibition Canvas Matte this heavyweight acid free cotton/poly blend has a wide color gamut and a non-reflective matte surface. We also varnish our Giclee canvases with a water-soluble acrylic varnish; matte, satin or gloss. Canvas prints may also be ordered mounted on archival foam core board.


Inks:

Epson UltraChrome HDR is a pigmented ink technology and produces the widest color gamut. When used in conjunction with Epson’s archival paper or canvas our Giclee prints have a lifespan in excess of 100 years.


The Printer:


Our Epson Stylus Pro 9900 is a 44” hi-resolution printer equipped with eleven color cartridges creating images with vibrant color and rich velvety blacks. Hi-resolution ink-jet printers with multiple colors have the ability to capture a depth and richness superior to other printing processes such as offset lithography.

Printing with World West Galleries:


Early in my artistic career I became interested in finding ways to reproduce my artwork. It was approximately 30 years ago I first saw a Giclee printing system being demonstrated at a art materials trade show. I immediately realized Giclee printing was a practical way to make top quality fine art prints. In 1999 my wife Robin and I opened World West Galleries and Giclee Printers. Over 23 years I have made Giclee prints for scores of artists as well as reproducing many of my own paintings. Having been trained as an artist and working as an artist all of my life has given me a distinct advantage as a Giclee printmaker. When it comes to color corrections and paying attention to detail I know what the artist is looking for. Once the artist approves a finial proof we can print any number of prints you wish to order. With the artists permision we will keep your digital image on file to fill future orders. Peter West MFA

Printing Price:

Somerset Velvet Paper, 15 cents per sq/inch

Hot Press Bright Paper, 13 cents per sq/inch

Enhanced Matte Paper, 11 cents per sq/inch

Exhibition Canvas Matte, 15 cents per sq/inch

Exhibition Canvas Matte, mounted on board and varnished, 21 cents per sq/inch

Note: The cost of the print is determined by the image size, not the overall paper size. Each print includes a 2” white border.


Setup Fee:

Our $75 setup fee includes photographing or scanneing artwork, color correction, and proofing. The setup fee is a one-time charge for each image you print. For digital files provied by the artist there will be no setup fee unless a proof is is requested.





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