My first experience with printing methods was as a graphic designer for a stationary printing company. We printed millions of cards, notepads, stickers and calendars every year. Part of my job was to perform 'press checks,' which meant going on-site to our print production facility to check color, clarity, quality and accuracy of the printing.
As a small business, most artists don't purchase art prints in bulk that way any longer. The rise of on-demand inkjet and digital printing has made the production of art prints easy and cost effective, without sacrificing beauty and quality. For collectors, purchasing a reproduction of a drawing or painting is a great way to access art, in particular if the art work or artist you love is out of your price range or unavailable.
If you wonder why some art prints are more expensive than others, it typically comes down to a few key factors: margin added to the base cost (we artists do need to make a living), volume discounts the artist achieved from bulk printing (bulk printing enables artists to pass down savings to the buyer) and, the most important variable, the quality of the print itself.
Like everything, quality of art prints can vary widely. Here are 3 things you should look for when looking to purchase a high quality art print or reproduction:
Image Clarity and Color
Without going into detail on the MANY factors that can impact image clarity and color, the important thing is to ensure the print you purchase is vivid, clear and has colors that matching the original. Clarity and color is easy to see if you are purchasing a print in person. However, if you are purchasing online, look closely at the image, compare it to the color of the original peice if possible, and look for, or ask for, a close-up picture of the print to ensure the image and edges are crisp and clear. Don't hesitate to return the print if it doesn't match your expectations.
Ink & Production Quality
There are many printing and reproduction methods an artist can use for their print from woodblock printing (oldest) to on-demand digital printing (newer). These days, artists commonly reproduce a drawing or painting with injet, laser or on-demand digital printing. Don't worry, these are not your home-office printers. These printers have come a long way, offering exceptional resolution, rich color matching and high-end archival inks.
For fine art and photography reproductions, pigment-based printing, such as giclee (prounounced jhee-klay) is the ideal over alternative, dye-based, inks. Pigment-based giclees are fade and water resistant. They typically use archival inks made with, you guessed it, actual pigment. High quality pigment has a 100-200 year life-span and when paired with archival-grade papers extend the life even more.
Dye-based inks are more vibrant initially, but fade quickly (i.e. are not light-fast) because they are made with soluble materials and dissolve, versus pigment which are mostly insoluble.
When purchasing prints look for terms such as archival inks or pigment-based inks.
Substrait (i.e. paper or canvas) Quality
Like ink, there are different qualities of paper, fabric or canvas used in printing which add to the longevity, quality and cost of a print.
Look for prints that use archival papers. Archival papers are made with acid-free materials and high-quality fiber that is more durable when inevitably exposed to light and humidity, and are less prone to yellow and deteriorate over time.
There is no question that giclee and high-end prints are more expensive than lower quality prints, but the saying is true, 'you get what you pay for.' While it may seem odd to 'invest' in reproductions if you won't even be around in 100 years, low quality prints can degrade in as little as 5-10 years.
Most artist will be happy to share details about their process, so if they have not provided details on the quality and process, just ask if you have questions.
--
My art reproductions are high quality giclee prints using archival inks, archival papers and a print partner who uses cutting-edge print technology, ensuring exceptional quality and longevity.
floral prints - 2024
Comments