Tag: giclee printing UK

Smooth Fine Art Papers

So previously we looked at textured fine art papers, but how about smooth fine art papers? All the papers listed below have a matte finish which are ideal for both photographers and artists for artwork reproductions.

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 or often used with portrait photography. It’s important to remember that when a paper is described as smooth it is not completely devoid of texture though!

Hahnemühle Bamboo
Hahnemühle Bamboo - The Artist's Print Room
©Hahnemühle Bamboo

This Bamboo paper is made from 90% bamboo fibres and the additional 10% is made from cotton. More environmentally friendly than the cotton papers due to the fast growing bamboo, this paper has a lovely warm white colour to it. Due to it’s tone, it is ideal for warm coloured prints and monochrome images.

Canson® Infinity Rag Photographique 310gsm
anson® Infinity Rag Photographique 310gsm - The Artist's Print Room
©Canson Infinity Rag Photographique

This paper from Canson is 100% cotton and has an exceptional smooth white tone. During the manufacturing process, natural minerals are added and therefore give this tone to the paper. 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
hahnemuehle photorag bright white - The Artist's Print Room
©Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White

Hahnemühle’s most famous paper is probably their Photo Rag and this paper is a brighter version of their 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.

 

 

 

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 Artist’s Print Room – just complete the form below.

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Textured Fine Art Papers

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
Museum Etching - The Artist's Print Room
©Hahnemühle Museum Etching

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
©Hahnemühle William Turner

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, again similar to the Museum Etching as it is 100% cotton. The William Turner has a natural white colour and is ideal for reproductions of traditional artworks and expressive photography reproductions. The paper also offers a water resistant coating.

Canson Infinity Arches Aquarelle Rag
©Canson Infinity Aquarelle Rag

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
somerset-velvet-surface - The Artist's Print Room
©Somerset Velvet Enhanced

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.

 

 

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 Artist’s Print Room – just complete the form below.

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

Bespoke Greetings Cards

Did you know that you don’t just have to have your work reproduced as standard prints? You can also create bespoke, stunning greetings cards from your art or photography. By having your image printed on a card, you’re really giving loved ones something bespoke, personal and special. You could take your favourite holiday image, whether this be either a photograph or a painting of the scenery and turn it into greetings cards that your recipient can keep and frame.

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 six-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 or short side). Additionally, we can produce square cards for something a little different which are 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 six greetings cards per design and all are provided with corresponding envelopes 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 three and seven days, however, this can be slightly longer at peak times so please check with us if you’re working to a tight deadline.

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 Artist’s Print Room – just complete the form below.

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

Hahnemühle Mill Visit

We are off on a trip! After meeting with Hahnemühle back in March at The Photography Show, we have been invited to visit the paper mill over in Dassel, Germany. We will be meeting with Henrik Bernander the Global Sales Director of Hahnemühle.

We are looking forward to our trip which is coming up in July and we are currently putting a list of questions together to ask about the paper production process and the variety of fine art papers that Hahnemühle offer. However, we would like to open this up to you too…..

Do you have any questions you would like answers to? Please send us any burning questions you may have for Hahnemühle and we will be more than happy to ask them on your behalf! Just submit your questions below.

Submit your questions for Henrik Bernander, the Vice President of Hahnemuhle
Thank You.
Submit

 

As a Hahnemühle Certified Studio we are particularly excited about seeing the paper manufacturers headquarters.

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

ILFORD Certified Print Partner

Last week, we received the brilliant news that we had been awarded the ILFORD Certified Print Partner status making us one of only two in the UK! This means we have met their high requirements in colour management, processing, quality control and customer service!

We are proud of our latest achievement and this ILFORD Certified Print Partner status compliments our other industry accreditations including; Hahnemühle Certified Studio, Canson Certified Print Laboratory and Epson Digigraphie Certified Laboratory.

ILFORD

ILFORD was founded in 1879 and since then has been a name people associate with photography. The company has evolved over the years, however, their drive and passion to provide customers with world class products is still as strong as it was over 140 years ago.

ILFORD Certified Print Partner

ILFORD is renowned for its premium quality and its inkjet photo products are selected by professional photographers wanting to achieve the look and feel of professional quality prints. The programme was introduced for photographers that do not have the time to print their own work but are looking for professional prints, produced to the highest quality. The programme includes print partners across Europe that all share the same values of quality that are synonymous with the ILFORD brand and their selection of products. Each of the accredited ILFORD Certified Print Partners have been through a stringent and complex evaluation process to ensure we all meet the required standards set by the ILFORD Technical Team.

Therefore, with this great news, comes further great news! We will soon be be expanding our paper options by offering some of the wonderful ILFORD fine art papers for your prints. We will keep you updated with further information in due course.

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

Limited Edition Giclée Prints

When reproducing your artwork, one of the major considerations often surrounding this, is how many prints should you include in your print run. There are many ‘rules’ surrounding the concept of limited edition giclée prints and here we hope to answer some of those questions to make your process much easier!

What is a limited edition giclée print?

To begin with and to put it simply, a limited edition print is a set of prints of the exact same image which will only be produced to a maximum number eg. 100. These series of prints will always look exactly the same when processes such as accurate colour correction and artwork reproduction are followed. It is also worth noting, all prints in your edition do not have to printed at the same time either avoiding the costly overheads – you can print as required (eg. when you sell a copy – see our on demand section here).

The ‘rules’

One of the most comprehensive resources surrounding this topic comes from The Fine Art Trade Guild. The Fine Art Trade Guild provides a lot of excellent guidance on how limited edition giclée printing should work. Firstly, it is recommended that a limited edition print run is kept to below 850 prints worldwide, however, you can have as few prints as you like. This also includes any artist’ proofs. But it is worth considering that the lower the edition run, the ‘rarer’ your prints will be – potentially this can be good for resale, however, the more prints produced, the higher the potential income initially. This is really for the artist to decide upon as it depends on your objectives and purpose. We can of course, help advise and give guidance if required.

The Fine Art Trade Guild also states that, ‘a limited edition print is based on an agreement between the licensor, usually the artist or artist’s estate, as a holder of the copyright, and the licensee, usually the publisher.’ The licensor should agree that no previous reproductions have been made and will not be produced again for publication. The publisher will also agree to not exceed the agreed print run which has previously been specified.

Additionally, to comply as a limited edition giclée print run, the image should not be produced in any other format, anywhere in the world. This includes on other items such as mugs or other items for example, or as a different sized print. However, there is an exception in that it can be printed for promotional purposes in items such as brochures or books.

Certificate of Authenticity - The Artist's Print Room

All print edition details should be included in the certificate of authenticity which is provided with the print included which print number the specific print is and out of how many.

You don’t always need to limit!

Alternatively, you don’t need to ‘limit’ your print production and you can produce open edition prints. Basically, this means you can print as many as you like in whichever formats you like! Again, this is your personal choice and agreements need to be put in place. However, it is worth considering the sales value and resale potential with open editions can be much less than with limited edition prints. With limited edition prints you tend to find that there is value added due to the uniqueness and exclusivity. Open edition prints are much better suited to mass production and high turnovers.

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

Artwork Reproduction Photography

Artwork reproduction – turning your original art into stunning, true giclée prints! We have recently made a few updates to our Artwork Reproduction Service including providing you with a FREE postage label so you can easily send us your original piece to be photographed.

Artwork Reproduction Photography

There are only so many pieces of original art that you can create in one lifetime. With artwork reproduction you can have one piece created as many times as you like sharing your work near and far thus making your artwork ideal for resale. All artworks can be reproduced, including; watercolour, pastel, oil, illustration or acrylic. Even 3D sculptures can be captured and produced as a fine art giclée print and accuracy during this process is incredibly vital.

Artwork Reproduction Services

When it comes to reproducing your original artwork the first and most vital step in the process is the image capture. Artwork reproduction photography is a specialist process which requires outstanding accuracy and a thorough understanding of colour workflows. So, if you are looking to reproduce your original artwork to sell we offer a professional artwork reproduction photography service with an exceptional reputation for attention to detail. Using our vast experience, understanding and specialist equipment, we can capture the subtle hues and fine details in your original artwork. This is extremely important as any fine details missed in this process will subsequently be missing from your final fine art giclée print. We have experience in handling delicate artworks, so you can be assured your original will always be in safe hands with us.

Soft Proofing Set-Up – The Artist’s Print Room

With our custom-built artwork reproduction photography set up the final file of each piece of artwork we photograph is a massive two-times the size of the original piece. With the incredibly large file size it ensures that there is an incredible high-colour depth, all minute details included, full tonal range and perfect accuracy. For example, a typical 16” x 12” original piece will produce an image file of 160mp and an immense 900mb (16bit) at 300ppi. Consequently, this will then produce a final giclée print of 36” x 24” at 300dpi without any additional enlargement or distortion.

Service Details

Prices for these services starts at £60.00 and all our prices are based on per square inch, it doesn’t mater whether your artwork is matt, gloss or varnish. We also offer 15% discounts for every additional pieces to be photographed. Additionally, for those that wish to send us their artwork for image capture, we will provide you with a FREE postage label so you don’t need to worry about delivery costs to us. Our Artwork Reproduction Services can be ordered online through our online ordering system.  Included in this is the image white point and colour balanced in addition to a printed test proof. Additionally, we will provide a 72ppi image file which you can use for your records and your website. For a full breakdown of our prices please view our pricing page. View our artwork reproduction photography page for further information and to start your order. Additional charges apply for colour editing.

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

Win 4 x A4 Prints on Canson Infinity Rag Photographique!

Now if you follow us on Instagram, you would have seen our latest competition which is also now open on Facebook!

We are giving you the opportunity to win 4 x A4 prints on Canson Infinity Rag Photographique 310gsm. This stunning paper is a 100% cotton museum grade white fine art and photo paper. The exceptional smooth white tone is achieved during manufacturing by introducing natural minerals to the process. It has been developed to address the need for continued longevity requirements in the Digital Fine Art market. This paper offers a unique and extra smooth surface with an incredible sensual feel to it. It additionally provides one of the highest achievable Dmax currently available on the market, thus making it ideal for fine art photography, artwork reproductions and fine art printmaking.

How to enter

To enter our competition, all you need to do is share with us the image you would like printed. Just make sure you use the hashtag #TAPRWin when sharing your image on Instagram so we can see your lovely work! Alternatively, share your image on Facebook in our post comments! Then once shared, head over to our competition page to enter your details and register your entry. This competition is running from the 5th April 2019 through to the 28th April 2019 on Instagram and 13th April to the 28th on Facebook. We will select the lucky winners (one from Instagram and one from Facebook), at random, on the 29th April at 7pm! We will be in contact with the lucky winner to arrange printing of your image and shipping will be included too!

Full terms and conditions can be found on our competition page but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we can help.

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

Giclée Printing Services

Here at The Artist’s 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 Artist’s 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.

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How to sign your fine art print

Questions regularly crop up surrounding signing fine art prints, therefore, 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.
  • 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.  For creative inspiration, take a look at this list of artist signatures.
  • Make sure to your sign within the width of your print area and stay away from the edges of your border, otherwise your framer may be forced to mount over or cut away your signature during the framing process.

This general guide and industry standard can be seen in both artwork reproductions and fine art photography prints.

Tools For The Job

When is comes to which implement to sign with, we would suggest using a pencil on matt papers such as the Hahnemühle Museum Etching.Here at The Artist’s 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. 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.

Certificates of Authenticity

To supplement your signed print, why not compliment it with a Certificate of Authenticity? Find our more in our previous blog post.

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