Fine Art Printing - Advantages with Giclee Printing

The fine art giclee printing process was born in the early 1990's as rock musician Graham Nash & and his associate Mac Holbert uncovered a new capability of the Iris inkjet printer called the 3047. These early machines had been developed for digital graphic proofing but it had not occurred to the manufacturer that its equipment would be adopted by artists as a digital method of fine art printing. In 1991, thanks to Mr. Nash's vision, the world's first digital fine art atelier opened its doors. Since this early beginning, the technology in equipment, media, inks and craftsmanship have advanced immeasurably.

Giclee printing has many advantages over other printmaking methods. For example, each piece is individually produced allowing you to order one reproduction at a time if desired, so the artist is not obligated to finish an edition. You can order prints as needed without large up-front costs and storage problems associated with offset lithography. This allows you to test market a new idea or image. giclee printing affords you more control of your career by giving you the ability to start self-publishing fine art reproductions in modest quantities. Artists can build inventory slowly over time in response to the market.

Giclee reproductions are the perfect medium for established and emerging artists, allowing you much better control of your cash flow. You can order just one reproduction to matte and frame as a display piece. Then order more as orders come in. The technology provides incredible detail and brilliant color. The resolution (DPI or dots per inch) is actually higher than traditional lithography which results in crisp contrast with rich, intense color. With the proper surface treatment, you can even paint on top of the image (retouch the image) to produce another individual "mixed media" piece. Digital artists and photographers find giclee ideal for printing their originals.