Tag: giclee papers

6 reasons why should you use a fine art printing company

Originally posted 29th January 2019 – Updated 4th June 2020

As an artist or photographer, there is always the option of taking any printing requirements you have in house and completing this process yourself. This can be a daunting experience and often you’re left wondering, where to start? However, why not let that hassle be taken away? Of course, we believe you should use a fine art printer for your work whether you’re a photographer or an artist, but here are six reasons why we truly believe this is the best and most convenient way of producing your art.

1. Real, honest and bespoke advice

We see thousands of pieces of artwork and photography every single year, therefore, we believe we are in the best place to give you honest and truthful advice when you need it. Experience and knowledge comes from our involvement over the years. We can assist in colour correction and advise on how it is best to print your artwork or photography.

2. Knowledge and understanding of colour and workflow processes

Printing is our day job! Why waste time having to solve the problems yourself? We’ve probably encountered the issue before so can generally have a quick fix with any major problems. Spending time on understanding printers and colour calibration is not what you really want to be doing, giving you more time to create your beautiful artwork. Also, we are the only print studio in the UK to be certified by the three biggest paper manufacturers; Hahnemühle FineArt, Canson Infinity and Epson Digigraphie, proving our expertise in the industry.

3. Options – and lots of them!

Why spend a fortune on purchasing different types of paper? You may want to use different papers for your different subjects; which can be an expensive overhead. We have an extensive variety in stock at all times so we guarantee you will be able to find the perfect paper for your print when ordering with us. Also, if you need advice or guidance on selecting the best substrate for your print, just ask! We will always be more than happy to help. We use the best quality materials and inks and the cost savings of this are passed on to you. Additionally, it’s unlikely for most people to invest in printers that can produce fine art prints much bigger than A3, therefore by using a fine art printing you are not limited in your print size. Our printers here at The Artists Print Room go up to 44″ wide!

4. Technical knowledge

Sometimes, printing isn’t a straight forward process. We’ve all had the dreaded paper jam! But imagine that with heavenly but expensive fine art paper – we take care of all those pesky handling issues that you could encounter when printing at home. In addition to this, we are meticulous about colour and calibration – ensuring that our systems are working accurately, this is a time consuming process which we take care of. Our business is print, therefore we aim to always stay ahead of trends and new technologies.

5. Care and understanding

Our passion is stunning art and photography, therefore, we understand how important it is to get the final print perfect every time. It is the upmost importance to us that you will be more than satisfied with the finished product and endeavour to spend as much time as it takes to get each print right, every single time. You may be able to produce prints at home, but sometimes you can’t get them just quite right. Again, this is where we can assist in taking that pressure off you.

6. Ease and convenience

Probably one of the biggest benefits! When using a fine art printer, we can do everything for you. Our simple online ordering form allows you to work through all the printing options we have in an easy step-by-step process. Therefore, once your print has been ordered, you can sit back and relax until it arrives!

Overall, not only are you purchasing a final print from us,  you’re investing in many years of our expertise and experience. So overall, there are our top six reasons why we believe you should use a fine art printer for both your art reproductions and photography printing requirements. What other struggles do you see in printing your own work at home? Let us know and we would love to be able to show you how we can help!

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Textured Fine Art Papers

Originally posted 2nd July 2019 – Updated 21st May 2020

Some may think that textured papers are just for artists, but this is not the case! Textured fine art papers can really add something a little special to your photography work too. However, with so many paper options to choose from, it can always be a difficult decision of which to go for. Here we are going to look at and give you a run down of the textured fine art papers we offer.

Textured Fine Art Papers

When paper is produced in the paper mill, textured fine art papers are created with a much more coarse felt, this then produces the texture on the finished product. The surface of these papers can then highlight any texture within your image, whether that be photography or an art reproduction. These papers tend to more closely represent traditional watercolour papers with a pleasant feel, adding more tactile qualities to your work.

Hahnemühle Museum Etching

Hahnemühle Museum Etching - The Artists Print Room

This paper is mould-made and 100% cotton with a natural white colour. The etching paper features a distinct textured surface which gives a special touch, feeling like a genuine artists paper. A heavy 350gsm fine art paper which meets the highest industry standards and producing excellent colour sharpness. Due to it’s very beautiful texture, it is similar to traditional etching papers and is a great option when reproducing these prints.

Hahnemühle William Turner

Hahnemühle William Turner - The Artists Print Room

The William Turner paper from Hahnemühle is heavily textured albeit a much finer texture when compared to the Museum Etching paper.  A 310gm mould-made paper which is made from 100% cotton. The William Turner has a natural white colour and is ideal for reproductions of traditional artworks and expressive photography reproductions. This paper also offers a water resistant coating.

Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag

Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle - The Artists Print Room

This 310gsm textured paper from Canson contains no optical brighteners. Again a mould-made paper which is 100% cotton and a natural white colour. A traditional watercolour paper with a unique surface texture and an inkjet coating. Canson Infinity Aquarelle Rag gives a unique and unrivalled character to the fine art reproduction of traditional artwork and photographs.

St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Velvet Enhanced White

St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Enhanced White - The Artists Print Room

Once again, a 100% cotton paper, however, this time from the St Cuthberts paper mill. A 330gsm paper with a velvet, textured surface. The texture of this paper will lift images, giving them a beautifully elegant fine art feel and ideal for both artists and photographers alike.

Hahnemühle Hemp

Hahnemühle Hemp - The Artist's Print RoomHemp is one of the world’s oldest and most versatile natural fibres and this paper is made from 60% hemp fibres and 40% cotton rag. This paper’s base has a bright white natural tone, and thanks to the bright white colour of the hemp fibres, no optical brighteners are required. The lightly textured surface gives the paper a pleasant, silky feel.

Hahnemühle Agave

Hahnemühle Agave - The Artist's Print RoomAgave is a plant which is also known for making tequila! This plant is native hot countries including Mexico. The base material (sisal fibres) stand out with a bright white natural tone and this fine art paper does not contain optical brighteners. The rough, yet delicately defined surface texture gives the subject a captivating sense of depth and impresses with a pleasant, soft feel. Hahnemühle have created this interesting and alternative paper from 70% agave fibres and 30% cotton rag.

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Smooth Fine Art Papers

Originally posted 5th July 2019 – Updated 14th May 2020

At The Artist’s Print Room, we stock a wide variety of fine art papers for artists, photographers, illustrators, galleries and museums. Here we have outlined the different types of smooth and matt fine art paper options we offer.

Smooth Fine Art Papers

When paper is produced in the paper mill, smooth fine art papers are created with a much more smooth felt in comparison to the textured papers, this then produces the surface on the finished product. A smooth fine art paper can often be a good go to when just starting out. Additionally, smooth and matt fine are papers are often compliment portrait photography. However, it is important to remember that when a paper is described as smooth it is not completely devoid of texture though!

Hahnemühle Bamboo 290gsm

Hahnemühle Bamboo - The Artists Print Room

This bamboo paper is made from 90% bamboo fibres and the additional 10% is made from cotton. This particular paper is more environmentally friendly than the cotton papers due to the fast growing bamboo. Furthermore, this also now forms part of the Hahnemühle Natural Line range of fine art substrates. This paper has a lovely warm white colour and due to its tone, it is ideal for warm coloured prints and monochrome images.

Canson® Infinity Rag Photographique 310gsm

Canson Infinity Rag Photographique - The Artists Print Room

This paper from Canson is 100% cotton and has an exceptional smooth white tone. During the manufacturing process, natural minerals are added and therefore this paper has a natural tone. A very unique, smooth surface, however, there is still a tactile element to the paper which you can see in the close up image. This paper provides one of the highest achievable Dmax on the market, therefore, making it a perfect solution for both fine art photography prints and art reproductions.

Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Bright White - The Artists Print Room

Hahnemühle’s most famous paper is probably their Photo Rag and this paper is a brighter version of their famous Photo Rag 308gsm. As above, a 100% cotton paper but with a bright white tone. A smooth surface, this paper can really make your colours ‘pop’ and really add definition to black and white imagery.

If you would like to see all the papers we offer, why not order one of our substrate sample books? This can really make life much easier when making the difficult decision of which surface to have your work printed on. For just £10.00 you will receive samples of the following substrates;

Matt finish:

Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm
Canson Infinity Rag Photographique 310gsm
Hahnemühle Agave 290gsm
Hahnemühle Hemp 290gsm
Hahnemühle Bamboo 290gsm
St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Velvet 330gsm
Canson Infinity Aquarelle Rag 310gsm
Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350gsm
Hahnemühle William Turner 310gsm
Fotospeed Platinium Etching 285gsm

Canvas:

Hahnemühle Daguerre Canvas 400gsm
Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas 385gsm

Gloss finish:

Hahnemühle Photo Rag Satin 310gsm
Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl 285gsm
ILFORD Imaging Gold Fibre Silk 310gsm
Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310gsm
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta 315gsm
Fotospeed Smooth Pearl 290gsm

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Gloss Fine Art Papers

Originally posted 16th July 2019 – Updated 7th May 2020

Deciding on the perfect paper for your photography or art reproduction can be a difficult decision to make. We have put together a list of the gloss fine art papers that we offer. We hope this gives some understanding to each of the paper qualities and what type of finish you can expect.

Gloss Fine Art Papers

The most important thing to be aware of here when considering a gloss fine art paper is that when we talk about gloss, this tends to be more of a subtle lustre or satin finish. Not the high gloss on your standard photographic prints that you have produced from standard photo labs. These finishes are much more subtle and arguably more exquisite and beautiful.

Canson® Infinity Platine Fibre Rag

Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag - The Artists Print Room

The Canson® Infinity Platine Fibre Rag is a combination of the combination of the premium 100% cotton Platinum paper that Canson has supplied for many years to the original Platinum and Platine photographic market, with the latest microporous coating. The paper contains no optical brighteners, thus not affecting the longevity of the print. An excellent choice of paper for both black and white or colour images. A 310gsm which overall provides a stunning satin finish to your image.

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin - The Artists Print Room

As above, this paper from but from Hahnemühle is a 310gsm,  and has a satin finish. A smooth surface and 100% cotton rag, the paper has a lovely natural white tone. A unique paper in that when you image is printed on this paper, the unprinted areas remain matt, however, the printed areas have a slight sheen. Your print will appear like it shimmers in the light.

Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl

Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl - The Artists Print Room

The Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl is a 285gsm paper and provides your prints with a sensational pearl finish. This paper isn’t cotton rag like others previously mentioned, it’s a 100% a-cellulose paper (which is wood pulp) and has a bright white tone. Due to this bright white, prints will have impressive colour contrasts and the black in your images will have an incredible depth.

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta - The Artists Print Room

Photo Rag Baryta is a 315gsm, 100% cotton paper and the ‘glossiest’ paper we offer. Using barium sulphate in the inkjet coating, ensuring the typical gloss that makes this paper a genuine replacement for traditional Baryta papers from analogue labs. The coating on this paper provides a water resistance and the tone of the base paper lends well to black and white prints.

ILFORD Gold Fibre Silk
Ilford Fibre Silk 310gsm

The ILFORD Galerie Gold Fibre Silk 310gsm is a stunning traditional fibre based substrate. This fine art paper has both the look and feel of a traditional baryta paper which many artists and photographers love. With a high quality finish, it produces stunning black and white images in addition to colour prints, thanks to its excellent sharpness and wide colour gamut.

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

12 Fine Art Papers of Christmas

Did you see our 12 days of fine art paper posts over Christmas on Instagram or Facebook? If you missed them, head on over and take a look! We’ve also listed our top 12 papers here for you to check out, featuring Hahnemühle, Canson Infinity and St Cuthberts Mill…

1. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Bright White 310sm

Hahnemühle Bright White Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomOn the first day we have a customer favourite, the Hahnemühle PhotoRag Bright White. This paper is based on the well-known PhotoRag 308gsm, however, it has a stronger white tone which can really make your images pop! Also a great choice for black and white photography

2. Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310sgm

Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomOnto day 2 and we have the Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag 310gsm. This fine art paper is 100% cotton with no optial brighteners added so your prints will truly last. The microporous coating of this paper gives a wonder satin finish to your artwork or photography

3. Hahnemühle Agave 290gsm

On day 3 we have the Hahnemühle Agave which forms part of their Hahnemühle Agave Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomNatural Line of papers. This paper is made from 70% agave fibres and 30% cotton rag making it a sustainable choice for your fine art #photographic or #artreproductions. The fibres of this paper give a stunning natural white tone which adds great definition to your work.

4. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin 310gsm

Another Hahnemühle paper is featured on day 4! The PhotoRag Satin is Hahnemühle PhotoRag Satin Paper Texture - The Artists Print Roomanother adaptation of the famous PhotoRag 308gsm. However, this paper has a subtle satin finish which can really add something extra special to your work. This paper provides a lovely smooth surface in addition to a natural white tone.

5. Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas 385gsm

On day 5 we have a canvas! The Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas is the Canson Infinity Museum ProCanvas Texture - The Artists Print Roomperfect choice if you are looking for canvas wraps to be produced. Just check out that incredible texture that this substrate can give you! Other benefits of this canvas include water resistance and it’s made from 100% cotton!

6. St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Enhanced White 330gsm

St Cuthberts Mill Somerset Enhanced Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomDay 6 features a St Cuthberts Mill paper. The Somerset Enhanced White 330gsm has an outstanding heritage. In addition to this, not only is it 100% cotton but it’s also acid free. The paper with its natural felt texture gives a fine art feel to any artwork reproduction or photography print.

7. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic 340gsm

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomOnto day number 7 and we have some shimmer! The Hahnemühle PhotoRag Metallic 340gsm is one of their more recent papers. The specially formulated coating to this PhotoRag paper gives a shimmer to your fine art print, guaranteed to attract attention! This fine art paper is most suitable for prints that won’t be behind glass so you can benefit from it’s finish.

8. Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag 310gsm

Back to Canson Infinity on day 8. The Arches Aquarelle Rag 310gsm has anCanson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag Paper Texture - The Artists Print Room outstanding texture. Perhaps most popular for watercolour reproductions due to the texture, this fine art paper is 100% cotton and has a matt finish.

9. Hahnemühle Bamboo 290gsm

Hahnemühle Bamboo Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomDay 9 features the Hahnemühle Bamboo which forms part of their new Natural Line of papers. An excellent choice for those that are keen on using more sustainable materials in their artwork and photography. This fine art paper has a warm natural tone and is produced with 90% bamboo fibres (which is fast growing when compared to other paper making materials) and 10% cotton.

10. Canson Infinity Rag Photographique 310sm

Fine art paper number 10! The Canson Infinity Rag Photographique Canson Infinity Rag Photographique Paper Texture - The Artists Print Room310gsm is another firm favourite with our customers. This fine art paper has a smooth white matte tone which is created by natual minerals being added during the production process. Not only is it a brilliant choice for artwork reproductions but it can be used for traditional printmaking too!

11. Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta 315gsm

Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta Paper Texture - The Artists Print RoomWe are nearly at the end! But on day 11 we have the Hahnemühle PhotoRag Baryta. This paper has a high gloss coating which can really add contrast to your prints particularly if they are in black and white. A great alternative to traditional baryta paper used in photography.

12. Hahnemühle William Turner 310gsm

On day 12, last but no means least… the Hahnemühle William Turner Hahnemühle William Turner Paper Texture - The Artists Print Room310gsm. The texture on this paper speaks for itself!  If you’re looking for a heavily textured, matte paper, this is your perfect option!

You can always check out the other papers we offer too on our papers and canvas page. Which one is your favourite?

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Signing fine art prints

When it comes to signing fine art prints, there are some unwritten rules to be aware of. It’s important to consider these factors if you are hoping to make money and sell your work. Here we have put some tips together for you to help explain the most common practices in the industry.

The Importance

Firstly, the most important thing to remember is, it’s really down to you! You’re the artist, it’s your work that you have spent time creating. Signing your print can generally increase the sales price, this Huffington Post article from 2011 suggests the value can be increased by at least two times. Additionally, your work is something to be proud of and you should therefore put your name to the piece and claim your rights as the artist.

Signing should be an automatic part of the production process and should be one of the first things you do once receiving your prints (after unwrapping the packaging, of course!) Also, by signing your prints, you are giving your approval of the work.

Signing The Print

Traditionally, prints are signed at the bottom, in the margin, as follows;

  • The left hand corner details the edition number and edition size (if applicable). For example, edition number 4 of 50 would read as 4/50.
  • In the middle, you would add the title. Again, this is only if applicable. Not all artists title their artwork so don’t feel this is necessary.
  • The right hand side is where the most important thing comes; the signature. Your signature is your brand, be creative and distinctive. We would highly suggest not using your day to day signature that you use for things such as banking. Make this signature different! For creative inspiration, take a look at this list of artist signatures.

It is also incredibly important to not sign within the width of your print area. Make sure you stay away from your borders as if you’re subsequently having your print frame, you may find this is covered over or even worse, cut off! If in doubt, seek advice from your framer before signing your fine art prints.

Tools For The Job

When is comes to signing fine art prints, you need the right tool! We would suggest using a pencil on matt papers such as the Hahnemühle Museum Etching. Here at The Artists Print Room, we always recommend a mechanical pencil such as a Pentel P209 with a 2B lead. However, for other papers with a gloss coating such as the Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag, do not sign with a regular ball point pen or maker pen! It’s vital to use a pen which is archival and acid free in order to prevent any spoiling of your work. One excellent choice would be the Sakura Pigma Pens. Using such pens will ensure the ink doesn’t fade or discolour subsequently affecting your print.

As an alternative or even as an addition to hand signing, you could emboss your print to add a really special extra touch.

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Ordering your fine art giclée prints

When it comes to ordering your fine art giclée prints, it can be a confusing process, with so many options to be aware of. Here at The Artists Print Room, we have tried our best to ensure our online ordering system is straight forward and easy to use.

Firstly, head over to our online shop. You’ll find this option at the top of our website. The blue box saying ‘Order Here!’ will take you directly through to our online ordering system.

The Artists Print Room header image to show main website menu

 

 

 

By heading through to our online shop, you will see the following four options:

The Artists Print Room online shop

From here, to order giclée prints, head over to the printing option. Here you will see a number of different options, including deckled edge prints, poster printing, greetings cards and print proofs. If you’re not sure how your final print will look or your just starting out in the world of producing your artwork or photography as giclée prints, it might be worth considering print proofs in the first instance.

Print Proofs

Our print proofs are 280x120mm as standard (other size options are available though). You can order print proofs on any of the fine art substrates that we offer and prices start at just £7.50. Print proofs give you the best opportunity to take a closer look at the colours, substrates and quality of our products before committing to a full sized print.

Giclée Printing

If you’re ready to go ahead and order your giclée prints, then head straight to our online order form. Here you will be taken step-by-step through the options available to you. Firstly, you will need to select your print size. You can order generic paper sizes or alternatively bespoke print sizes. Prices here start at £9.00 for an A5 print.

Secondly, you can add a plain border to your print. If you’ve added a border to your print file already, please make sure to select the relevant option. Alternatively, you can ask us to add one on for you and let us know what size you would like this.

Then comes the exciting bit! Select from our wide range of substrates available. Take your pick from our gloss, matt or textured fine art papers. We have 15 papers to select from plus two canvas substrates.

Following on from your substrate selection you can add on the option of having a certificate of authenticity. These are a great addition, particularly if your print is part of a limited edition. Once you’ve completed all these stages you will receive a bespoke price according to your selections. Please note, we also offer discounts on multiple orders starting at six prints. If you have a print run of over 100, please do contact us for further information and pricing.

There you go! Ordering your giclée prints is as simple as that! Once you’ve added your products to basket, follow our simple instructions to upload your files, then sit back and relax! Your order will be on the way to you shortly. We will be in touch if there are any issues or questions, additional, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions too!

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

 

 

 

How to select a fine art printing service…

When taking that first leap into the world of producing your work as either artwork reproduction prints or fine art photography prints, it can be daunting. It’s also difficult to decide on who to trust with this specialist work. Here are our top tips in selecting a fine art printing service and some of the important factors you should consider.

Experience

Possibly the most important factor when selecting a fine art printing service. Ensure you are selecting a business with a good number of years behind them. This vast amount of experience speaks volumes in itself. A fine art printing company that has been around for several years, is more than likely to know their stuff, this includes overcoming hurdles such as technical issues. They are also more likely to understand your requirements and be able to advise honestly and truthfully when you need some assistance. If in doubt, it is always worth asking to see some examples of work they have previously printed for other artists and photographers.

Accreditations

There are many accreditations within the industry, in particular ones from paper manufacturers themselves. These large, global firms are not going to recommend fine art printing services of sub-quality. Therefore, shop around, ask the fine art printing companies which accreditations they have. These accreditations proves that they are up to standard and have close working relationships with some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry. Did you know that we are the only UK based fine art printer to be certified by Epson Digigraphie, Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle FineArt and ILFORD Imaging? We are also members of the Fine Art Trade Guild. Having these certifications really allows us to keep up with trends and news from these companies. Additionally, it also proves that we have been rigorously tested and checked in our print standards.

Options

It’s good to use a fine art printing service which provides you with different options. Although, not too many options! You want to use a business that can give you a range of different fine art papers so you have a few choices for which works best for your artwork reproductions or photography. A select number of industry leading papers should be offered alongside a few alternatives; giving you the artist, some variation. Having a select range of substrates ensures the printer knows how to handle each of the papers and understands the colour workflow processes to ensure you have the most perfect print. However, some fine art printing services decide to offer all the fine art papers known to man! This can be troublesome in that it can be confusing with so many options available. Furthermore, it could be likely that some of these lesser used or liked fine art papers could be sitting on a shelf exposed to the elements for a long time which is not ideal!

Convenience

An easy to use and simplistic ordering process is always a good start for time pressed artists and photographers. Being able to upload your images and know they are being cared for can create a great peace of mind for you. As an artist or photographer is important to free up your time so you can focus on creating your artwork. Therefore, always find a fine art printing service that you trust to take this hassle away from you. Also, it’s worth considering if your fine art printing service are easy to get hold of? If you have a pressing question, will they come back to you in a reasonable time period with answers, advice and suggestions? The art and photography industry can be incredibly subjective so it’s always great to have someone to validate your processes and work with. An excellent fine art printing service will do this for you and assist every step of the way.

It’s also worth remembering, cheap is not always best. You are looking for a fine art printing service rather than a photocopy shop! With a slightly higher price, you’re much more likely to receive a more personal service with great communication and advice in addition to the best fine art printing materials available.

Please feel free to contact us for a quick introductory chat, we would love to find out more about you and how we can help you as an artist or photographer. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service so you can also contact us on 07809 381 978 either over the phone or by WhatsApp. You can also get in touch through Facebook Messenger at anytime.

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Hahnemühle Natural Line

Just last week we received a very exciting parcel from the Hahnemühle mill in Germany. This small hemp bag, with an agave ribbon contained a bamboo USB stick. This wonderful gift tied in with their new Digital FineArt paper range; Natural Line, which is officially being launched on the 31st October.

The Natural Line has a special place in the Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection. It focuses on FineArt inkjet papers made from unique raw materials. These plants that provide the cellulose for the paper manufacturing, require minimal maintenance, grow quickly and don’t use any pesticides. Their rapid growth means that more cellulose can be produced in the same area than that with other raw materials. Further to this they also require much less water, helping to save valuable resources and protect the environment.

As a Hahnemühle Certified Studio we have the privilege of a sneak peak at this new range. The Natural Line contains three papers, one of which was their pre-existing Bamboo giclée paper. The three papers which include two new products are;

Natural Line – Agave

Made from 70% agave fibres and 30% cotton rag.

Agave is a plant which is also known for making tequila! This plant is native hot countries including Mexico. The base material (sisal fibres) stand out with a bright white natural tone and this fine art paper does not contain optical brighteners. The rough, yet delicately defined surface texture gives the subject a captivating sense of depth and impresses with a pleasant, soft feel.

Natural Line – Bamboo

90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton rag.

This Bamboo fine art paper was the first in the world to be made from 90% bamboo fibres. The unique combination of sustainable bamboo fibres, soft surface texture and impressive print quality gives the artwork outstanding expression and soul.

Natual Line – Hemp

60% hemp fibres and 40% cotton rag.

Hemp is one of the world’s oldest and most versatile natural fibre. This paper’s base has a bright white natural tone, and thanks to the bright white colour of the hemp fibres, no optical brighteners are required. The lightly textured surface gives the paper a pleasant, silky feel.

We can’t wait to get our first order in for the Hahnemühle Natural Line and give the fine art papers a trial run through the printer! We will keep you updated as to when they are available through our online ordering system.

Did you know that we are the only fine art printing company in the UK which has been accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie, ILFORD and the Fine Art Trade Guild? Also, why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

ArtSure and why we have left the accreditation…

After a long and difficult deliberation, we have had some frustrations with the Fine Art Trade Guild and their ArtSure scheme. Therefore, we have consequently taken the decision to leave ArtSure as we believe this is in the best interest of our clients and is no longer adding value to your fine art giclée prints.

At The Artist’s Print Room, we are constantly striving to push the limits and expectations from fine art giclée printers. We believe an outstanding print quality with great definition; precise and accurate colour reproduction is paramount to this quality. Moreover, consistent reproductions of prints are critical to this standard.

The previous scheme – Approved Printer Programme

Previous to ArtSure, The Fine Art Trade Guild had a standard for printers, known as the Approved Printer Programme. Fine art giclée printers would submit their offered substrates to an independent UKAS approved laboratory for testing. This would test for blue wool scale and lightfastness. If your prints were approved and successful you would receive a certificate. Unfortunately, this was a time consuming and costly exercise with each paper type costing approximately £140 plus VAT. Therefore, change was required and was very much welcome!

The current ArtSure scheme

ArtSure was seen as a great step forward with a predesigned set of standards in giclée papers, inks and printers. It was fortunate in meaning there were no more expensive UKAS lab costs. In particular for us here at The Artist’s Print Room, this equated to a massive cost saving as we were offering 12 different substrate qualities at the time. Consequently, we could pass that saving onto our clients. To begin with in the first year, just three fine art printers signed up to the ArtSure scheme, however, it rapidly expanded.

My initial concern regarding this was the new roll out. For us, it felt the focus was no longer on fine art printers, but it opened the market to self-publishing artists and photographers. Furthermore, it enabled anyone with an approved printer, ink and paper combination to have the ArtSure status, thus, in our opinion losing credibility. Anyone could spend just half an hour and with a few clicks have all the specified materials on the ArtSure list. This would subsequently mean they could gain the ArtSure status. Regardless of the quality of the prints they produced, whether pixelated, blurred, visible banding, missing ink spots or fingerprints they could still be a member of this accreditation. Furthermore, there was no audit trail which was previously required under the old system. Individuals could easily swap products for cheaper alternatives of a much lower quality as this was not checked and audited; therefore this poor quality could be deemed approved by ArtSure.

Under this scheme, it felt like anyone could purchase the required equipment and then purchase the ArtSure accreditation. This was foregoing the years of dedication to the industry, knowledge and expertise we truly believe makes an outstanding fine art giclée printer. I voiced my concerns to the Fine Art Trade Guild and was invited to speak to the guild committee. However, sadly, my invitation never arrived, and I therefore have doubts over the aim of this programme and the true motivation behind it.

Moving forward, the Fine Art Trade Guild have now introduced a partnership with Innova paper, and this will be launched in China which we have our doubts over. It is important to note here that Innova are not a fine art paper manufacturer. Whereas, there are other manufacturers in the industry which are seen as market leaders and have a wealth of experience in paper manufacturing which are not involved in this process, and we believe this is a massive oversight and rather unfortunate. We are concerned that this programme is now no longer trying to strive to improve standards throughout the industry.

The ArtSure slogan, is ‘digital print quality you can trust’. We no longer feel that we can support this in the best interests of our clients. We do not believe that the quality of a fine art print is at the forefront of the programme and thus we will be taking a step back. The focus appears to be on the ‘materials’ used within fine art printing whereas we know there is much more to this process. Good quality materials do not make an outstanding giclée print. It is the knowledge and expertise of the people behind these businesses that bring the true quality and added value to the final product.

Sadly, we feel that the point of the scheme has been missed and we are dubious of the motivations behind this. We really hope this is not motivated by revenue.

Here at The Artist’s Print Room, we want our clients to have outstanding quality prints, and sadly, we no longer feel that ArtSure are supporting the industry in this way with their new principles so will be taking a step back from the scheme. We trust you understand the difficult decision we have come to and if anyone would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our primary focus is to support and develop the industry and consequently providing our clients with the highest quality prints.

The Artists Print Room

We are still the only UK based fine art printer to be accredited by Canson Infinity, Hahnemühle Fine Art, Epson Digigraphie and ILFORD Photo, so rest assured you can trust our quality and fine art printing processes. If you would like further information on anything we have highlighted above or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Why not sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with news, products and future competitions at The Artists Print Room – just complete the form below.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!