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Giclee or what?
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Posted
Responding to Michaels comment re our absobtion of all things New Website ...in fact Michael might well be the person to ask.
Has anyone had their paintings made into Giclee prints or something similar.?
If so how do you go about it, yes I know I can google printers etc but experience and recommendations is what I am looking for. What is an expected price range,?how do you sell them to Joe Public ?and what sort of mark up.per print?...do you put it in a mount ?
If not Giclee any other suggestion . Ta in advance .
Posted
Well Sylvia, I have looked into giclee printing in the past but frankly found it expensive.
Of course it all depends on what size and your choice of paper or canvas to some extent, obvious I know! but it doesn’t come cheap!
I looked at a well established digital printer who advertises in The Artist magazine called ‘Salt of the earth ‘. On request they will send you samples of paper and their printing. I was well impressed, also some guidelines on prices.
In my case, it would have meant selling my prints at too high a price for the outlets that I have, so I didn’t proceed any further.
Yes they do benefit from mounting if they are printed on paper, not on canvas I wouldn’t think. Start off by getting your sample pack and decide for yourself, that’s the best way forward.
Don’t get involved with printing stuff off on your own printer, and keep clear of offers of cheap printing. Ink quality and printing methods are key, cheap printing ink on inferior machines will certainly fade after a short time, don’t risk it!
Mark-up is up to you, perhaps 35% as a ballpark figure to start with, others may have more idea on that point. I guess it depends where you are going to market them.
Lithography print runs are another option, but that’s only economical for large quantities - but depending on size, many different images can be incorporated onto a single set of printing plates, so worth considering. A1 size or SRA1 as it’s known could fit a fair few small images on it.
I can elaborate on this method if you need me to.
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
Sylvia
I’ve had some Giclee prints done a few months ago to provide a medium priced alternative at an exhibition as I had nothing between cards and paintings. I used a firm called KMS Litho partly because they are based near a class I go to, and I was able to pop in and discuss what they had to offer, and what I wanted etc, and to actually see the papers and canvas surfaces. They were very helpful, and while I realise they are nowhere near you, at least I think it’s good to use local where I can, and to be able to have personal contact.
The charge was initially roughly£40 for each proof (which you check to make sure you’re happy with colours etc) which I understand is average, and then about £7 for each print you have made. This will vary on size and numbers done, mine were A4 and A3. I then got slip mounts from Cotswold Mounts who I think advertise in The Artist. They were also very good and very reasonable, and also do the celophane wrap to sell in. All looks very professional and I was really pleased with them. I think the slip mounts and wraps were about maybe £2 per set, can’t remember exactly but cheap.
Hope this helps. I would say if you can find a printer within visiting distance, that’s the way to go.
Tessa
Posted
I've had some of my paintings made into greetings cards in the past, at a local printers. I've currently still quite a stock, but wanted to add some new cards to my range without having to print hundreds (to be cost effective per card). I decided to invest in a good colour printer so that I could print my own. It did take some trial and error to find decent card to print on, but I also bought the printer so that I could do my own prints. They're not giclee (it's an ink-jet printer), and I've found a great acid free archival matt paper (from Marrutt) that I like. Getting the colours right from computer to printer has been a bit of trial and error, but I'm getting the hang of that.
I bought grey board and cello bags from ebay quite cheaply, and am really happy with how they've turned out. I researched online a bit about 'how much to sell them for' and one site (can't remember where, sorry) recommended approx 15 times the cost of the sheet of paper. So, if a single sheet cost you £1, sell it for £15, and so on. (Rather than costing up all they ink cartridges, backing board, cello,bags, mounts, etc). Of course, it depends on how much mark up you want to add, plus if you are doing limited editions you'd probably add a premium for that.
I don't add mounts to prints at present, but may do in the future. I can print up to A3+ size, which, if a square print would give me a nice 30cm square. I've had the printer about a year now, sold prints either in cello wrap with grey board support, and also sold framed (standard sized frames from the Range), and they make a nice inexpensive ready to hang picture. I've had a table at one or two craft fairs last year and it's been good to have less-expensive things to sell than original paintings, as people generally don't take a lot of money to those kind of events.
The printer has't quite paid for itself yet, but not far off, so I feel it has been a good investment for me.
Posted
You’ve made a good choice by using archival paper for your prints Helen, really essential in order to get the best quality from your printer.
Just to clarify a point you make, giclee prints are produced using an inkjet printer. The quality of the top industrial printers, which can cost thousands of pounds, and which can print up to 12 colours, will make a difference in the end result of course, but your printer is obviously doing a very adequate job for your needs.
I’m sure some of us would be interested in knowing what make and model your using.
Posted
Thanks Helen, this looks a good machine, and reasonably priced.
Using an 8-ink dye system, the print quality should be excellent, the industrial printers do use a 12-ink system, but cost thousands.
Lots of scope here to produce some quality home printing for a ‘reasonable’ cost and outlay. It’s got me thinking!