Giclee: Allpconline Company Blog

Proofing before proceeding with the final giclee prints

2008-05-08T16:55:00.003-04:00

When sending digital files to us for printing, it is best (at least when first starting with us) to ask for proofs. Although many of our clients have small printers they pull proofs with, it is impossible for us to know if the correct color work flow is followed. In theory (and practically as well), a decent small inkjet printer can come pretty close in color to our output if the right profiles and set up are implemented. This is why we suggest to compare your output to ours to make sure we are on the same page.
We make it inexpensive for our customers to order 8X10" proofs on the same paper or canvas as their final order will be. Shipping is $5; the first proof is $10 and any additional proofs in the same package are $5. Once the proofs are approved, we guarantee color on the final sizes. If proofs are not requested, we cannot and will not accept returns if the color is off. Proofing is an essential part of the digital work flow in any professional printing shop. It is an insurance that no surprises will come when hundreds of dollars have been spent on large format giclee prints. Many of our repeat customers started proofing in the beginning and quickly realized their printing was in sync with us; others realized they were doing something wrong and after talking to us corrected the problems. No matter what the situation is, please proof first!

Clarifications about the giclee process

2008-02-13T07:25:00.003-05:00

We keep seeing an author (who posts on many social media sites) whose mission is to disparage giclee as a valid method of fine art reproduction. His attacks on the process come from different angles and stem from a misguided sense he is an expert both in the giclee technology as well as the marketing of art in general.

First, he states that many giclee printing companies falsely claim longevities of 75+ years for the product. His point is that giclee printing has not been around for that long, which means it is misleading to state such archival properties. My response is simple: first, there are independent labs that have tested giclee prints under intense UV radiation as well high humidity and heat. This is the same accelerated process used by scientists for decades. It is good enough for the governments of most civilized countries, including the US, but apparently not for him. I can personally testify, as I have been doing this for 20 years, that we have prints made then that are as brilliant as they were the first day they were made. In contrast, we have photo and offset prints that have completely faded.

Second, he proceeds to say that giclee is just a fancy term for an inkjet print, nothing more; just a marketing hype. My comment? A car is called a car, right? Just as a KIA or a Porsche. They are both called cars...mmm, I guess you see my point....

Third, he says that if buyers think that purchasing a giclee is an investment, they better forget about it. The "inkjet" print will never have any value or appreciation. This is the most ludicrous statement: it is not the object quality that commands value, but its desirabilty: demand and offer. Does anyone remember the artist who canned his own escrement in a limited edition and the cans sold for a lot of money? He wanted to make a statement and it sure worked. If Leonardo had made limited edition giclee prints and signed them, don't you think they would be highly sought after?

You will read a lot of different things about giclee, both on the positive as well as the negative side. One thing I agree on is that there are some companies out there claiming they produce archival prints but in fact use Chinese made papers and canvas and cheap bulk inks. These are not giclees but cheap inkjet prints. So, how do you know whom to trust? Hard to say, as even if there was a standard for giclee prints, it would be difficult for anyone to make sure that what they receive is truly the finest quality made product. We state what we use, both with inks and papers; stay away from companies who do not. An example? They will just say "matte canvas" or "textured watercolor paper", without telling who makes it.

There is a lot more about the subject but needless to say, making giclee prints has brought revenue to both artists and photographers. Well made prints sell: we have about 200 active clients who can testify to this. Ultimately it is your choice to take the plunge and try to market more than your original art, which, once is sold, will not make you any more money.

Giclee calibration

2008-01-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

The most often asked question regarding color for giclee printing is how customers can find out the way their prints will come out. They look at their screen and expect to see a print with the same values as what they see at home or work. This is called soft proofing and it can be fairly effective if you know how to. We have a useful set of instructions on how to soft proof. Before you go to our page to prepare to soft proof, you need to calibrate the monitor or this will not work. Please go to http://www.allpconline.com/giclee_soft_proof.htm

Giclee up to 64" in width and 200" in length

2008-01-20T10:55:00.000-05:00

We have now had the new Epson 11880 operational for over a month. The gamut and dot are fantastic; blues have improved with the addition of the vivid magenta inks and all the other color show the same great color purity expected form Epson pro line printer. This is definitely the best giclee printer we have seen. Orders are pouring in as demand for super wide giclee prints, especially on canvas, is strong. not many companies do have this printer. The Canon 60" inch printer (which is by the way almost half the cost) does not hold up to the dot quality, red and green rendition of the 11880. And, as always, Epson has arguably the best pigment inks (K3) on the market.

Epson 11880

2007-11-03T17:06:00.001-04:00

We have now the 11880 up and running.

Printing on canvas

2007-09-27T18:12:00.000-04:00

Giclee printing started with watercolor paper, which in the beginning was uncoated and done on the Iris printer with organic dye inks. As the process and technology evolved (with the introduction of pigmented inks), paper and canvas manufacturers started creating substrates that would expand the archival and color rendition quality of giclee prints. Canvas in particular has seen a continuing and ongoing evolution towards better materials. Current canvas is the same as traditional canvas except that a receptor layer is added to bind with the inks, creating stabilty, great D-max and wide color gamut. Please see our canvas printing page to familiarize yourself with the technology.

Epson 11880 64" Wide format giclee printer

2007-07-26T09:02:00.000-04:00

Continuing our commitment to provide the fine art and photography community with the highest quality giclee prints, Allpconline is on the priority list to receive the new Epson 11880. This new printer promises an elevation in print technology unheard of with the current offerings from other manufacturers.
Epson is the preferred choice for professional fine art printers, due not only to the superior nozzle technology but also the quality of pigmented inks. The Epson 11880 also fills the need to print on paper and canvas wider than 44". We are expecting the machine in October. As soon as we have the printer up and running, we will post an announcement as well a new price list.

Giclee papers: Do you know what you are buying?

2007-05-20T10:14:00.000-04:00

I will repeat this ad nauseam until everybody in this business conforms to one rule: the papers and canvas used to print on should be described not just as "matte canvas" or "watercolor paper". There is canvas and there is premium canvas. We could buy inkjet canvas from China for $100 a roll instead of more than double for i.e. PremierArt. We do not! We only use the best giclee printing materials and always will. We owe it to our customers to accurately describe what we use and deliver the best possible product.

Our products are described on the website. There is no bait and switch, no product substitution. What you see is what you get. Maybe that's why our order volume has risen 120% compared to the same period last year.

On another note, we keep getting new customers who left their current printers because just one little droplet of water on the canvas ruined the canvas giclee. This is unacceptable: our canvas is water resistant. Just ask our customers, many of whom do open air art shows. Please do not misunderstand: there are some extremely experienced, honest and capable giclee printing companies out there. There are also very inexperienced ones who either do not have the knowledge, will or skills to do what it takes.

Giclee printing is not just a matter of buying the machinery. We constantly sample new materials; we have worked in Photoshop since version 2.0' we hold college degrees in photography and digital imaging....and we are artists ourselves.

How to assess the value and price of a giclee

2007-02-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from customers venturing in marketing giclee prints for the first time is: "How do I price my giclees?".
There is no formula for this. I could give a few guidelines when the giclee is a reproduction of an original, such as an oil painting. Say you have an original oil on canvas, 30X40". Your work sells at an average of $5,000. It is a good rule of thumb to price a giclee of the same size at anywhere between 15% and 25% of the original's cost. In this case, a stretched canvas would fetch between $500 and $750. It could do better or worse. It all depends on factors such as the number of prints made, the quality of the giclee itself. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish by ordering prints made with low quality materials. You may save a few dollars but it will show.

The above general guidelines are void when an artist retains the originals and only sells a very limited numbered edition. If the artist is well known, a giclee can be sold for much more. Here is a scenario: a well known artist has been selling original art work for tens of thousands of dollars a piece. There is a loyal following and collectors closely look at new art coming out. The artist decides to keep the originals in his private collection with the stipulation it is never to be sold even after his death. A giclee, signed by hand and possibly accompanied with a CoA will be seeked after. Some collectors may be turned off by the fact the originals are never to be available but others will keep buying. It will be considered another phase in how the artist creates and markets its work. Will the giclee sell for as much as the original? Not likely, as there will be a number of prints opposite to one original. If the edition is very limited, such as 10 or 20 giclees, they will still fetch a considerable amount of money. It is all about offer and demand. If there are hundreds of serious collectors after the artist's work, ten of them instead of just one will be able to buy the latest and greatest. The others will still be empty handed. Price will be up as there is more demand than offer.

Fine art photography presents a scenario which is easier to assess. As we all know, traditional film is pretty much obsolete. Digital photography will be the only option available. The photographers who are now selling work for thousands a piece are considering and using giclee printing as a natural evolution of photographic art. Commercial portrait photographers are doing the same. If you are students of photographic art history and are as old as I am (gasp!), you may remember that not too long ago no serious collector would ever consider color photography an art. Black and white was the only serious and accepted way of creating art. Museums would only buy and display B&W prints. Ansel Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe and others notable artists generated exquisite work. Color only became accepted when groundbreaking art from photographers such as Harry Callahan came to life. He began shooting transparencies and later started printing color dye transfers. He is widely accepted as one of the great masters of the 20th century.

Giclee printing for photography is coming of age. World known photographers are producing and selling giclee prints for tens of thousands of dollars. It may take some time (as it did with color prints), before everyone accepts the new medium as a natural evolution. In the meantime, many photographers, including a good number of our clients, are having great success by offering fine art giclee photographs.

Skin Cancer Awareness

2007-02-14T07:06:00.000-05:00

For the very first time, I am posting something completely unrelated to giclee. About one week ago, I went to a dermatologist to get a tiny red spot on my arm checked. The little red patch would not go away. After a biopsy it turned to be squamous cell carcinoma, the second most dangerous skin cancer after melanoma.

The dermatologist had to "dig" out an area the size of a quarter and put 8 stiches in. Fortunately the cancer was so small that it was "in situ", which means it did not spread.

Why am I writing about this? Simply, because if I had waited a little longer I could be facing chemotherapy, radiation and not such a good prognosis. Skin cancer affect hundreds of thousands americans each year. It is very easy to detect and treat if caught early. See a dermatologist for a yearly check and do not assume that because you are in your 30s or 40s you are too young. I am 44 and I know of at least two people younger than me who have basal cell carcinoma. One of them had 4 surgeries and they had to take skin out of her ear to reconstruct the area of the nose where the cancer was growing.

Giclee printing is a business that caters to the soul. People buy prints to hang and beautify their homes and offices. Prints are a discretionary type of purchase and are replaceable, health is not!

Being healthy is not just a matter of having good genes and the right lifestyle. It takes a vigilant eye and awareness.

Our Giclee Printing Privacy Policy

2007-01-31T06:59:00.000-05:00

We recently were contacted by a potential client through the web form on our site. Contact information fields are all required, including a valid phone number. Although the e-mail address was correct, the phone number was typed as a series of 5s (obviously a fake). We replied that in order to answer any questions through our web form, we need a valid phone number. The prospective client replied he will never do business with us and that he does not give out his number because he is afraid we will sell it!

Now, please bear with me for being blunt: we always have more work we can handle. We are lucky enough to have a client roster filled with people we treat (and are treated by) as friends. In other words we can pick and choose customers and the least desirable ones are people who start with the assumption we will either sell their giclee prints without their knowledge, sell their personal information or God knows what else!

We are in a partnership with all our clients: they require and deserve honesty, privacy and security. They are the reason why we exist, can feed our families and can continue our success. They pay us a good amount to get the best service and giclee prints possible. It would be self destructive and plain stupid to jeopardize these relationships to make some extra money on the side. Please, do not ask if we sell your personal information or you artwork without your permission. We do not; never will. We have a strict privacy policy on our site. It is there for a purpose, not just a page filler. You can find it from a link at the bottom of our home page.

Giclee turn around time

2006-10-28T16:29:00.000-04:00

As we approach the holidays, the normal amount of orders we receive increases considerably. While we normally can print and ship giclees in about 5 working days if supplied with digital files, times can be longer in November and December. If we need to scan original art, the usual turnover is 10 working days. Again, we are also expecting longer periods. The best way to check is to contact us to find out the current waiting times.

Because of our stringent quality controls and color fidelity requirements, our shop does not simply put files through a printer and ship out. There are services that do so and can print and ship in a day or two. We pride ourselves of offering the best possible giclee that can be made. As with all things in life, fine quality work is not instant. This, said, we have holes in our normal printing schedule when it is possible we can send out in a matter of a couple of days.

Besides the preparation and actual printing, we do not package and ship any giclee before the pigments have stabilized by outgassing and curing. Canvas takes an extra day because of coating.

Giclee and the question of certificates of authenticity

2006-10-15T09:36:00.000-04:00

After a press release we published recently, we have received a few e-mails from engravers and appraisers who question the validity of releasing a CoA for limited edition giclees. The CoA serves multiple purposes for giclee editions: first, many of our clients are digital photographers and digital artists. Giclees are the only prints available since there is in fact no original.
When it comes to actual reproductions from paintings, there is a great deal of feedback from the artists. They are very much hands on as they make decisions on color, contrast and in many cases they create giclees that are purposely different from the actual originals. For example, a painter may decide that the prints should be more saturated that the original, which is a call he or she makes. Although there is no plate to be defaced, the digital file is deleted, and it is virtually impossible for someone else to create a file identical in all aspects. Any skilled appraiser or forensic imaging expert can distinguish two prints created with 2 different files.
Giclee prints from famous artists and photographers have been bought at big house auctions for tens of thousands of dollars.
Our CoA is serialized as a convenience. The CoA not only carries the printmaker's signature, the artist signature but also print dimensions, paper type, print title and printmaker's contact details. It is not our job to assess value of the prints we make. We very strongly suggest that the artist or photographer sign the giclee because CoAs can be lost and we will not replace them.
One can question the authenticy of a reproduction series made by scanning an original. What authenticity means is pretty straight forward. The artist declares the reproductions to be released by him or her, not someone else who violated copyrights and is selling illegal reproductions. The artist signs the prints as well as the certificates. We always give the example of Leonardo da Vinci. He was someone willing to break new grounds, inventing machines well ahead of their time. If he had perfected a giclee inkjet printer, had made a 100 LE of his famous Mona Lisa and signed CoAs as well as the giclees, would an appraiser argue that these giclees have little or no value? Let's go a step further. If the Mona Lisa original was lost of destroyed, what would happen to the value of the LE? As always technology is a step ahead but eventually the community catches up. As you all know by now, black and white film has been discontinued by a major manufacturer. Estimates are that we have reached the very end of product life for black and white traditional photography. Color is following closely. If Ansel Adams was alive today and decided to use a very high resolution digital camera to continue his photography, he would probably choose giclee as his preferred method. Blacks are fantastic, papers are fiber base and archival. Mr Adams used the zone system and burned/dodged prints quite a bit in the darkroom. These are tools that can be used in Photoshop. If Mr Adams created a single giclee print after capture and manipulation, then destroyed the file, would anyone argue the giclee is in fact not an original?

K3 Pigment Technology for Giclee

2006-09-29T08:03:00.000-04:00

Our company has finally completely converted all printing to K3 9800 Epson printers. Epson's new K3 8 ink technology represents a quantum leap in reproduction. A giclee produced with such system displays a three dimensional quality with an extended color range not previously possible. There are 3 different black inks and 5 additional process colors, with high density pigments capable of creating stunning work.

Here is a summary of advantages

-Improved pigment density for wide color gamut
-Professional print archivability
-High-gloss Microcrystal Encapsulation™ Technology to minimize bronzing
-Scuff resistance due to pigment chemistry
-No short term color shifting after printing
-High black density ideal for deep shadows and wide range neutral black and white.

We only use genuine Epson K3 inks and brand name paper and canvas. Always rest assured you will not receive giclees printed with cheaper, sub-standard materials. Although more expensive to us, our prints will not only look richer but will have a longevity not comparable to lower cost options. When shopping around, always insist on asking what brand and type of inks/paper is being used. There are extremely wide ranges in prices. Canvas can be purchased overseas for half the cost of american or european counterparts...at the expense of quality and print longevity.

Giclee: New Canvas

2006-09-04T08:04:00.000-04:00

We now carry the Epson PremierArt canvas. This canvas is one of the highest quality substrates available for giclee printing. It features a tight weave, a high resolution coating and is greatly pliable for easy stretching. Other notable characteristics are a wide gamut, water resistance, excellent longevity. For further information, please see our giclee pricing page.

New Giclee Art Gallery

2006-08-16T10:13:00.000-04:00

We are proud to introduce a new giclee print gallery featuring artists and photographers. Please feel free to browse the collection. We started with a landscape photographer, Geoffrey Agrons. We will had more artists as we go along. Prints can be purchased securely online.

Helping us to speed up your giclee order

2006-07-26T06:56:00.000-04:00

Although we do not charge any set up fees for files we receive to be printed, there are steps you can take to make the giclee printing process go smoothly in terms of speed and quality.
First, if you work in Photoshop, make sure the image reflect the final printing size. Also, we print your giclee in the Adobe RGB color space. Receiving a file in that space instead of for example sRGB, insures better quality and less surprises with color issues.
Fill the billing information form with giclee print quantity, desired paper and any special requests you may have, such as wider margins instead of what we offer as standard.
Make sure your file resolution is correct. All too often we receive files that are too low in resolution. No matter what you read from other sites, you cannot print a detailed giclee reproduction of your artwork from a file with 72 PPI resolution. If you want to see brush strokes, subtle renditions, you need at least 150 PPI. PPI is a matter of how many pixels are present in your file and is not equivalent to DPI. We do print at 1440 PPI.
Finally, always ask what the turnaround is for any particular order. At times, we may be able to print and ship in two days. If we have rush work, it goes in front of the queue.

Giclee and the question of resolution

2006-06-09T18:51:00.000-04:00

I want to go over one more time about the question of resolution. We recently got a few files from customers who want us to print giclees. These files have are between 60 and 70 ppi (pixels per inch). PPI is the number of pixels per inch and it is not to be confused with DPI, which is dots per inch. We can print a perfectly fine giclee at 150 ppi as our printers can go up to 2880 DPI. One dot does not equal to one pixel!
On the other hand, a 70 PPI file does not have the necessary resolution to print on smooth papers but will be easier with canvas because of the inherent texture (which masks some of the lack of resolution). Interpolating with software does help somewhat but it is not a magic bullet. This is why professional photographers do buy high end digital cameras that cost $20,000 and more. If they could get away with a $1,000 system, they would. Nobody wants to waste money. Same with scanners. You can pick up a cheap scanner or spend $40,000 on one. It has to do with range, resolution and other factors.
Interpolation is a tricky business. Software is not intelligent and it cannot (at this time) make up information that it does not know how to fill. To make a file larger, interpolation averages values on a scale to inflate size. It puts in "fat", not "muscle". There are different flavors of interpolation. Adobe uses bicubic, bilinear and nearest neighbor. They have different applications. Other software manufacturers claim they have more sophisticated methods but truth is, these are small companies who do not have Adobe's resources. If Adobe can't come up with something better, rest assured nobody else has.
Finally, two files with the same low PPI can make a very different quality of print. A large gicle print made from a high end professional digital 6MP SLR will beat hands down one made from a consumer level camera with the same MP.
giclee

New inkjet print service

2006-05-27T07:59:00.000-04:00

We are proud to introduce a new inkjet print service.
In response to the needs of experienced artists and photographers who are experts in file preparation for inkjet output, we are offering a lower pricing structure using the same equipment and papers as our premium service.
Files are still checked for resolution. It is the customer's responsibilty to soft proof or hard proof images before submission. Files can be uploaded to the site and we recommend jpegs saved at the highest possible quality setting. We have conducted many tests and there is virtually no difference between a high resolution psd or tif file when compared to a jpeg saved in Photoshop at a quality setting of 10 to 12.

Giclee printer credentials

2006-05-10T15:46:00.000-04:00

The demand for high quality giclees is expanding so rapidly that many companies, big or small, are starting to offer printing on canvas and watercolor papers.

We know of very reputable and capable competitors who produce high quality work. Unfortunately these companies are not the majority. You will recognize the true specialists by the type of services they offer. For example a telltale sign is when you read "we create stunning giclee prints!". "By the way, we also offer business card and letterhead printing". This translated means "We saw the profit potential in making quality inkjet prints without any in depth knowledge of color, materials and art. We are business card and brochure printers or a photo lab, therefore we can easily print giclees".

Giclee printing is totally different from photo printing, brochure printing or any general offset type. It requires a very high level of skill in digital color manipulation, scanning and a general knowledge of all the aspects required to generate the best possible results.

We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to choose true specialists in the field. If you do not go with us for your giclee printing we are of course disappointed. On the other hand, please at least do yourself a favor and choose a printer with the right knowledge and equipment.

Giclee shipping to foreign countries

2006-04-30T07:26:00.000-04:00

Due to the amount of paperwork required to ship overseas, we have changed the ordering policy for customers outside of the US. There is a minimum order of $500 for giclee printing services. We also prefer to ship with client provided shipping accounts. Due to different customs rules in each country, it is impossible to calculate precisely at the origin what those fees are. We also cannot be held responsible for packages damaged outside of the US. This said, we make every effort to work with the shipper to assure we and our clients get reimbursed for any accident.

We have noticed that because of the nature of the giclee printing process, different countries may apply different classifications. A giclee could be categorized as a print or a photograph. In other countries it is classified as art, therefore changing rates. We strive, for customs purposes, to categorize a canvas or a watercolor giclee as a print or photograph; usually art is assessed and higher rates.

About our giclee printing company

2006-04-21T07:21:00.000-04:00

Many prospective customers who call often enquire about the financial stability of our business; they justly want to make sure that if they invest time and money by scanning, proofing and color correcting with a giclee printer, they will not have to look for someone else in the near future because we closed our doors.

These clients are unfortunately coming out of bad experiences somewhere else. Many giclee printers open their doors and fail quickly because of lack of expertise, high operating costs and unwise marketing.

No one wants to establish a relationship with any company who is at the brink of going out of business.

Rest assured we are a very stable giclee printing business. We do not aim to be the largest but the best. We are rated by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and our financial balance sheet is strong. If you choose not to go with us and you are about to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars with another giclee company, please do yourself a favor and purchase an inexpensive D&B report. It is one of the wisest choices you will ever make.

Giclee canvas stretching

2006-03-25T06:43:00.000-05:00

Although we do offer stretching services for our canvas giclee prints, a more economical way to save on higher shipping costs is to have this done by a local framer.

Our canvas is thick and protected with a very durable coat. We even carry a canvas that does not need to be coated. Whichever one you order, rest assured your prints will not be damaged by too much pressure applied during stretching.

Any reputable framing shop, including large chains, is very familiar with putting giclee on canvas on a frame. The shipping costs are much lower with rolled canvas opposite to sending large flat boxes.

If you live in a rural area without access to framers, plan to order more than one stretched giclee from us. The shipping cost per unit makes it a less expensive alternative.

What is a giclee?

2006-03-12T08:11:00.000-05:00

After receiving so many calls from prospective customers who just learned about the term giclee, it is in probably a good idea to shed some light on the term and what it means both literally and as a product. Giclee is often mispelled as geclee, glicee, gicle.

Giclee is a French noun deriving from the verb gicler (to squirt). It refers to the technology used by inkjet printers to spray inks onto the paper. The term giclee was coined to separate this fine art printmaking method from a lowly inkjet print. The latter is made on a cheap machine with non archival materials and without the technical and artistic skills to produce an exquisite rendering of a digital file.

While there is no set guideline to distinguish a giclee as such, the characteristics of a true giclee are as follows:

-Use of a professional grade printer

-Use of archival inks

-Use of acid free, possibly optical brightnere free papers

-Expert scanning and file preparation

-Use of calibrated hardware with proper ICC profiles

These are basic components of what a giclee needs to be defined with. I know this can be confusing. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for and there is simply no way that cheap hardware and materials will create prints that rival professional grade machines. Last but not least, expensive hardware can be bought but the skills to color correct, research new and better materials, keep abreast of technology are a full time concern.

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New giclee canvas

2006-03-09T06:49:00.000-05:00

We carry a new canvas line from Bulldog Products. The current type (we will add more as new custom profiles are being made) is Green Dot. This is a micro porous waterproof canvas that does not require a top coat and is matte in appearance. Very few canvas made for the giclee market can be left without a coating and used as is. We can of course liquid laminate the canvas to be satin or glossy. As always, a top coat will increase scuff resistance and somewhat deepen colors and Dmax.
Note: only truly microporous, OBA free canvas can be left uncoated.
We tested and keep lokking and many different products and Green Dot stands out for a very high Dmax and colo saturation. For a softer look, Fredrix is indicated.

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