Tag: giclee print

Choosing your Print size for Giclée Printing

Choosing your Print size for Giclée Printing

When giclée printing whether you’re an artist, illustrator or a photographer, the same principles apply when choosing print sizes of your art and photo images.

It is important when choosing sizes for giclée prints that you make decisions around the artworks and photos you create and consider your brand and image as part of this.

To begin you need a digital file of your artwork or photograph

For photographers and digital artists, you need to use software that allows you to scale up or down your image, to avoid pixelation and you need to make sure your file is saved as a tiff, psd or good quality jpg.

For artists you need to ensure your artwork has been digitally captured to a high standard, preferably photographed by a fine art photographer. Photographing art is highly technical. By ensuring a high quality digital file, you’re protecting the quality of your giclée prints.

 

Technical Considerations

Firstly the major factor having an impact on the size of giclée print that can be ordered, is the size of the digital file you have of your artwork or photo. Typically the file needs to be 300ppi high resolution, with an embedded RGB colourspace. So a wider range of colours and definition can be achieved in the giclée printing process. 

If you’ve created a digital file of your artwork using your Iphone or similar, it looks great on the screen, but the odds are the actual file will only print to the size of a beermat. A Fine Art Giclée Printing company have ways and means of enlarging this file, but this will be limited by the quality of the file. If there is any out of focus or blurred sections to the digital image, these will only be magnified by enlarging the file. These imperfections will also appear in the giclée print.

So as a general rule of thumb, the larger the print size you choose, the sharper the digital image needs to be, unless artistically you want an out of focus image. Also there is always a slight discrepancy allowed for viewing distance.

Please check out our Digital File to Print Size Calculator to help you

Giclee printing same size as original

The simplest giclee printing option is to create a fine art print the same size as the original photograph or artwork, but this might not work for you.

One of the first issues is, what if you paint different sized originals, you could could end up with several print sizes, with varying price points for your customers. Which will not only be difficult for you to remember and keep track of, but your customers may feel overwhelmed too.

When it comes to photography giclée printing, the final image after editing and cropping may mean as a photographer you have several sized images too. Again this can lead to a complicated pricing system, that in the end no one can make sense of. 

Your customers will love the original, so you might not want to stray too far from the original look. Therefore it might benefit you to class a range of sizes within a range of small, medium and large. You’ll be offering your customers a choice of size and budget to suit them. This will also allow some movement in what is classed as small i.e you’ll be able to have a discrepancy of a few inches within the size, to suit several giclée prints. This applies to medium and large as well.

Knowing your Target Audience

Artists, illustrators and photographers need to know their target audience. This will be based partly on the type of images and artwork you create. For example if you create landscape images for the hotel or corporate world, they are more likely to buy large giclée prints. The more unique and specific your original images are, the more niche your target audience becomes.

First and foremost you need to identify who your target audience is. You’ll have a better understanding of their budget and what sizes they are most likely to buy. You also have to consider your international market too. Some countries live in larger houses, apartments and so will be more inclined to buy larger giclée prints. The opposite can be said of other countries. 

Keep it Simple
giclee print from The Artists Print Room
Fine Art Giclée Print

So you need a system that works for you. By thinking ahead and getting used to the various size options and ratios, means you may think before you crop that photograph or put paint to paper.

An experienced fine art giclee printing company will be able to offer you great advice about how you can choose print sizes. At the Artists Print Room we offer a bespoke giclée printing service, giving you a greater freedom of choice. We print up to 1117 mm wide and 2400mm length on rolls. We have 19 genuine fine art giclée papers and canvases from Hahnemühle, Canson-Inifinty, Ilford Imaging and St Cuthberts Mill.

Know Crop Ratios 

Some artists and photographers choose print sizes based on what frames their customers can readily buy. Again you have to consider who your target audience is and what their expectations are. Also don’t forget large giclee prints can be great, but by the time you’ve added a mount and a frame, it could be very large indeed. 

Before you decide on the size of your giclée prints, you need to know about crop ratios. They relate to the original size of your artwork or photograph. Then you can see how to  scale up or down from the original size. By using a crop ratio chart you can see what sizes large or small can be achieved, without losing or cropping any of the original image.

See our crop ratio charts for help.

Editing your image for Giclée printing

As a rule of thumb giclee prints generally match the original artwork or photograph. Though creativity doesn’t have to stop there. You may want to change colours, edit the layout or change the overall tone. Maybe you want to create a special edition, which is slightly different from the original image. There are no hard and fast rules on what your final giclée prints have to look like. The only problem is, if you make drastic changes for each new giclée print, your collection of prints won’t look cohesive. They could confuse your target audience.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, generally any print size can be achieved with giclée printing. Though bear in mind there are technical factors affecting what you can actually print. Including the actual size and quality of digital file you have of the artwork or photograph. Also don’t forget about assessing crop ratios, knowing your target audience and remembering to keep it simple. 

Get in touch  if you’d like to discuss your giclée printing options.

 

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!

The importance of certificates of authenticity

Originally posted 20th May 2019 – Updated 18th June 2020

As an artist or photographer, it is highly likely that you want to give your customers reassurance in your product as well as protecting the integrity of your finished print. That’s where certificates of authenticity come into play. Designed to protect and authenticate your fine art prints, these certificates add a perceived layer of value and trust to your customer.

What is involved?

Typically there are a certain few things that should be featured on each certificate of authenticity, this includes;

Title of the artwork: arguably one of the most important features. What’s the name of your piece?

Artist: Again, as above, one of the most vital pieces. This if your ‘stamp’ on the certificate. Ensures your link to the work and gives you the recognition that you deserve.

The date: May seem an obvious one but it’s worthwhile at least adding the year to the certificate of authenticity.

Small image of the piece: Immediately makes the certificate of authenticity linkable to the finished print.

Certificate/print number: Particularly important if your print is part of an Certificate of Authenticity - The Artists Print Roomedition. For example print number 1 of 500 – this information should be included on the certificates of authenticity. Each print will then have the corresponding number pencilled on to provide a pair! One certificate to one print.

Material/Printer/Inks: These are other variables that can add perceived value to your piece. By detailing the substrate printed on in addition to the quality inks, this highlights and ensures the archival qualities of your fine art print.

Finally, you, as the artist should sign the certificate.

Additionally, on our certificates of authenticity you will also find a declaration of intent, signed by both the artist and publisher.

How do certificates of authenticity benefit you?

By supplying certificates of authenticity with each of your prints you show your dedication as an artist and this can make your artwork easier to sell as well as potentially increasing the value. By having this document linked to your work, your customers can have the confidence in purchase. Sadly, there is no guaranteed way to 100% prove the piece is authentic further down the line when it comes to reselling, however, providing a certificate of authenticity provides good reassurance where possible. In addition to this, many companies, including fine art paper manufacturers and organisations such as ArtSure from the Fine Art Trade Guild offer services where you can upload details to an online register to give an extra level of confidence.

Here at The Artists Print Room we can provide certificates of authenticity with each print. Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements and we will be more than happy to 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!

 

 

 

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!

Bespoke Christmas Greeting Cards

It’s coming up to that time of year again… The nights are starting to draw in, the temperature is dropping and our supermarkets are being stocked full of seasonal goodies! Christmas is now just around the corner and it’s time to start planning.

This year, why not do something extra special and have your artwork or photography printed onto bespoke Christmas greeting cards? You could increase your turnover by producing your artwork or photography as an additional product. By having your image printed on a card, you’re offering your customers something truly special and bespoke. You could take your favourite winter holiday image, whether this be either a photograph or a painting of the scenery and turn it into greetings cards that recipients can keep and frame.

Bespoke Christmas Greeting Cards

Our greetings cards are digitally printed using pigment inks and FSC approved acid free 300gsm card. This allows you to order quantities as low as twelve-cards per design, provided they are on the same substrate (we also provide discounts for larger quantities). We offer various sizes including; 6×4″, 7×5″ or 8×5.6″ all available as either portrait or landscape (folded along the long side). Additionally, we can produce square cards for something a little different which are 100x100mm and 145x145mm. Each greetings card can be printed either with or without a border and we also include a small thumbnail on the back of each card of your work and also the image title, your name and website address.

But, the best bit! You don’t need to worry about downloading a template and having to layout the design yourself! We are happy to take that pressure away from you. Once you upload your image through our online ordering system we will design and proof your greetings cards (free of charge!) Of course, we will send you a proof for approval before going to print ensuring you’re happy with your personalised product. Our minimum order is just twelve greetings cards per design and all are provided with corresponding envelopes and cello sleeves and are sent to you flat packed and pre-creased so your cards are ready for their handwritten note and then the postbox!

Turnaround time for greetings cards printing is between five and ten days, however, this can be slightly longer at peak times so please check with us if you’re working to a tight deadline.

Order your bespoke Christmas greeting cards online using our simple to use online order form.

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!

Giclée Printing Services

Here at The Artists Print Room giclée printing is our speciality. We offer giclée printing services for all artist and photographer requirements. Additionally, we are the only UK based fine art print studio to be certified by the three most prominent paper manufacturers in the industry; Hahnemühle, Canson Infinity and Epson Digigraphie. These three accreditations prove our outstanding quality and enables us to stay at the forefront of new printing technologies and bring you the newest and highest-quality papers.

“Giclée is a digital printing process in which an inkjet printer is used to produce a high-quality art print”

We are a ‘true artist’s giclée printer’, therefore we truly appreciate and understand that your prints must be accurate in reproducing the fine hues and subtle details of your original work. We specialise in high quality substrates and exceptional giclée printing services, regardless of your order quantity, everything is produced to an exceptional standard.

Our Fine Art Printing Process

Artwork Photography: When it comes to art reproductions, the perfect giclée print; starts with perfect capture, get this wrong and your giclée prints will never be right. Our unique style of capture produces exceptionally detailed giclée prints that you can be proud of.

Editing: Colour editing is critical, everyone sees colour differently, apart from you the artist. It’s your work, so why let someone else colour correct this for you. View live soft proofing and print proofs. With us, you are always in charge.

Giclée Printing: Perfect capture and perfect editing, along with perfect ICC colour management means perfect giclée prints time and time again. Printed onto genuine fine art papers or canvases.

Direct Shipping: We can ship direct to almost anywhere in the world, either flat-packed or in postal tubes. All carefully packaged in archival wrapping and sealed ensuring that your prints arrive in perfect condition each and every time.

The Giclée Printing Process

The giclée print process requires four important aspects which are; resolution, inks, archival quality paper/canvas and the printer.

Resolution

Images you see on computer screens are usually at 72ppi (pixels per inch), however, for a Giclée quality print, an image must be at a minimum of 300ppi when an image is being viewed at 60cm or less distance. With a minimum of 300ppi, you are guaranteed the best quality print and ensuring your final image doesn’t appear to be ‘pixelated’.

Ink

Here at The Artists Print Room, we only use genuine Epson UltraChrome HDX pigment inks. These particular inks have high density levels of pigment giving you the most accurate of colour reproductions. In addition to this, the genuine Epson inks guarantee longevity when combined with the other aspects involved in the Giclée printing process.

Paper and Canvas

A vital part of the process which can also seem very daunting! With so many options to select from, the most important factor here is the archival qualities of the substrate. A fine art quality paper or canvas needs to be acid free and certified to last for at least 75-100 years. We stock the widest range of Hahnemühle Fine Art papers in the UK and you can find out more about our papers and canvases here.

Printer

A Giclée printer is very different when compared to a standard desktop inkjet printer. Typically to produce a Giclée print the printer requires at least eight different inks. Our Epson SC-P9000 printer provides the most superior quality images and can produce prints up to 44″ wide!

To find out more about our printing services please visit our Giclée Printing page.

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