at the printers
We are very pleased to offer limited editions of selected paintings using the highest-quality gicleé printing processes. Since the giclée printing process is a relatively new tool in the reproduction of fine art, we thought you might like to read a brief explanation of just what giclée is and why many artists are choosing to offer prints of their work in this format.
What is it?
The word "giclée" (pronounced zhe-claý) is used to describe the entire printmaking process, but it specifically refers to the final step in the process in which an extremely high-quality large-format ink-jet printer is "spraying" (English for "giclée") the image on the medium. The pigment-based inks and archival media used in this final step are responsibile for making giclées true fine art reproductions, but there are other elements involved that contribute to the beauty of the finished prints. Let's take a look at the process from the beginning.
Step 1, Creating the Image
Gicleé fine art reproductions are made from digital images. Just as much attention to detail goes into creating the digital image as the final print. To capture the image, our printers use a large-format (4 x 5) camera using a digital back, which eliminates the steps of developing and scanning the photographic film, thereby avoiding the errors in hue and contrast that films typically introduce. Top museums consider this the finest technology available for capturing images of priceless artworks.
Step 2, Editing and Proofing the Image
During this step, the digital image is carefully evaluated for color balance, tonal range and sharpness and matched against the original. Some pieces require ultra-high precision in the color-matching step. A color proof is then printed and sent to the artist for approval. The artist approves the proof by signing it, at which time it is archived as the BAT (bon à tiré, meaning something like "good to go" or "ready to shoot"), which is the reference for all future prints.
Step 3, Printing
Our printers use the Epson line of wide-format printers. These printers print by spraying a fine stream of pigmented ink at a rate of more than four million droplets per second onto the media, which can either be archival-quality watercolor paper or canvas. The printer lays down such a dense layer of these tiny droplets that this intricate printing process can take up to an hour or more for each print. Our printers use only the finest acid-free 100% cotton fine art papers and canvas, and then add a liquid-laminate protective coating for an extra measure of UV protection. The archival properties of the new pigment-based inks and media create an image so faithful to the original and so archivally stable that a finished print can provide at least 75 years and up to 200 years of permanance.
What All This Means...
is that when you purchase a giclée from BFree Studios, you can rest assured that you are buying an artwork in a medium that is well-accepted in museums, galleries and the fine art community all over the world.
