Giclee - What are some good sites?

KentArtMaster · #1 06-25-2007, 07:13 PM

Hello
I am new here and I would like to know more about Giclee artwork. I know its an inkjet print version of a painting and that giclee painting is just a high-resolution art print but is there anything else important that I should know?

Also do you know of any good Giclee sites were I can find out more information?

Thanks

Art Guy

Swampy · #2 06-26-2007, 07:43 AM

Well done giclee is amazing. I've seen pieces 15 feet long with detail that picks up the highlights and shadows of brush strokes. If you are considering getting giclee work done and you are fortunate to live in an area that provides the service, spend some time looking at their work. Color saturation and coverage is very important and if you can see the original "on screen" and then what comes out of the printer and can compare the density, color and saturation of a shop's work it is a big help.

I use a place in Ft. Lauderdale that caters to the fine art trade called PrintVillage.

KentArtMaster · #3 06-26-2007, 12:06 PM

Thank you for your advice. I looked at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gicl%C3%A9e
to do some research about giclee art prints. I never knew this type of painting really existed. I live in LA so I guess there should be a ton of "artsy" giclee galleries out here. Off to google to find some more information.

KentArtMaster · #4 06-26-2007, 01:52 PM

Some places say they have galleries and some say they do not. Does it matter if a giclee is made from a gallery? Like this site says shows a picture from a giclee gallery About Jonathan Kent. From my google search there wasn't too many galleries just online stores. I'll try ebay and see what happens.

Swampy · #5 06-26-2007, 02:42 PM

Doesn't matter. My giclee printer doesn't have a gallery, but he's got the wide format printers, canvas, silk what ever.

KentArtMaster · #6 06-27-2007, 02:51 PM

Ok. Thanks. I found some giclee printers, they look big and expensive. I guess thats how they're made.

bjdavey · #7 06-27-2007, 09:45 PM

Hi, This is my first post here. I write a blog titled Art Print Issues. It covers the print market, including giclees. The term came about back in 1990 when some of the digital pioneers decided to fancify the term digital art or digitally printed reproductions. Back then, before the Internet, Win95 and other tech breakthroughs, like cell phones and digital cameras, the word digital to describe a fine art reproduction didn't fly.

I posted a topic last month titled, What is a Giclee? I talk about how the word has come full circle with people with home desktop printers using non-archival materials using giclee as a term for art they are selling. The post also includes some links to perhaps the best description of the process and the most accurate telling of the orgin of the usage in the art field. I hope you will read it as I think it will help you.

Swampy · #8 06-28-2007, 07:04 AM

Barney, Thanks for the input. :-)

KentArtMaster · #9 06-28-2007, 06:44 PM

Thank you! I've read that some giclee's use some type of printer or they add some type of layering to make the print look like a real painting, as it would if you had layers of real paint.

skydog · #10 06-28-2007, 08:12 PM

Does anyone have a site you could recommend for such service?

bjdavey · #11 06-28-2007, 10:16 PM

Skydog, if are you asking about where to find a giclee printer, they are everywhere. It has become a cottage industry. Most local art leagues and artists associations have contacts with local giclee printers. The June issue of Art World News has several informative articles on digital printing, including one titled, Choosing the Right Fine Art Giclee Printmaker. You can read the entire issue online. I suggest if you thinking about the print market, you should be reading this magazine.

Another way to get Giclee prints made is to join ImageKind. At this site, you can upload your digital files and the company will produce them on demand for your or your customers in the size they want. They have a gallery where consumers can shop for your work. Kind of one-stop selling, printing and fulfillment all in one place. IK and sites like it are the future for many artists and photographers who would otherwise be stuck trying to figure out how to make a dent in the traditional print market. BTW, IK is hooked up with Flickr and has lots of photographers using its services.

KentArtMaster · #12 06-29-2007, 06:54 PM

I've heard of Imagekind.com and Art.com. Nice looking sites

skydog · #13 06-29-2007, 08:52 PM

There are many sites on the web where one can have a photo printed. I've gotten great results when I've used White House and Ezprints...both were recommended by other photographers. This is why I asked about a giclee site...some may already have experience with the quality, the service and the price and as a result, can make a recommendation. This is what I was seeking.

KentArtMaster · #14 07-10-2007, 12:59 PM

Yes quality, price and service are very important to me as well.

beaucamera · #15 07-11-2007, 04:49 PM

Last night at the Adobe Photoshop Users Group, I heard Mike Chambers talk about printing and color management. His company, Print Element, located in Santa Clara, CA specializes in high end print work including giclee.

He's very knowledgeable and brought a couple of sample prints on canvas to show us his work.

You might want to check out his web site or give him a call.
His phone number is (408) 969-0084

http://pictureelement.com/index.php

beaucamera