Giclee Fine Art Printing
Our giclee fine art printing service is the highest quality, most archival, and most cost effective method of art reproduction, either as open editions or limited editions. Our techniques and equipment are state-of-the-art to ensure the highest quality giclee printing, and we utilize a variety of equipment to ensure the best results whether printing on canvas, watercolor paper, or photo paper.
Since we work on projects of all sizes for artists of all kinds, we are sure to be able to help you with whatever fine art printing needs you have.
This page describes our services for the reproduction of artwork. If you are new to giclee fine art printing, or just curious, there are pages on this site that describe the reproduction process, and answer our most commonly asked questions. If you are interested in our giclee fine art printing services, you should look through the information on these page as they can give you valuable information that will make the process smoother and may save you time and money. If you are a photographer, there are pages that describe our services for the reproduction of photographs including professional photography as well as consumer digital photography. These pages can be accessed by clicking on the text links or by looking under Printing Services in the main menu above.
You can also visit our Gallery page which showcases the work of our clients.
The information below explains the setup costs, shows the variety of materials we offer for fine art printing, has our recommendations for the best materials to use in different situations, and explains how to place an order.
If you would like to get prices on printing and our other products and services, you can use our Price Calculator from the Quick Links menu on the left, or click the Calculate Price button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab. The calculator is basically the same as the first part of the order process, so if you're thinking about ordering, you may want to use the Order Form to get pricing information, since that way you will have the option to continue on and actually complete the order.
All the printing materials in this category are eco-friendly, so they are not individually marked as such.
- Setup and Prepress
- Printing Materials
- Our Recommendations
- How to Order
Setup and prepress describes the process of getting an image into a digital form so that it can be printed using our giclee fine art printing process. The steps involved will vary depending on what we have to work from. If you provide us with an original painting, we will either scan it directly or perform a high resolution digital capture, depending on the size of the original. If you give us film, such as a transparency, slide or negative, we will scan it using our Heidelberg prepress scanner. The same is true of photographic prints.
If you give us a digital file, then none of these steps would be necessary, although we do like to have either the original or a proof for reference when possible with digital files so that we can make any adjustments to the color before printing, if it appears that your file will not match your original or proof. The panels below contain pricing and information for these and other related services.
Most if this information can also be found using our price calculator, or on the order form, but it is shown here as well for convenience.
Scan of Transparency or Film with Initial Color Correction and Proof
$60 to 16x20
$75 up to 24x30
$90 up to 30x40
$105 up to 50x60
Digital Capture of Original with Initial Color Correction and Proof
$60.00 up to 12x18
$175 to 16x20
$190 up to 24x30
$210 up to 30x40
$250 up to 50x60
Proofing of Digital Files
$30.00 for 12x16 proof on desired media
Color Correction and Retouching
$75 per hour
These charges are generally included in the proof or scanning prices, but are not included when a digital file is submitted for printing and the customer requests color correction and/or retouching of their file.
Artist Proofing
The first proof (up to 12x16) is included with the scan. If additional proofs are required after the initial proof, the charge is $40.00 each and this charge includes the necessary color correction. This applies to color correction and proofing of submitted digital files. Larger proofs can be made for an additional charge.
Prepress Package
Includes digital capture, all necessary proofs, color correction, and a copy of the final image on CD for the artist. With this option, the only other charges would be the shipping charges for the proofs.
$150 up to 12x18
$250 up to 16x20
$300 up to 24x30
$350 up to 30x40
$400 up to 50x60
Certificates of Authenticity
Certificates are available for each print we make that is part of a limited edition at the cost of $1 each. We do not provide certificates for artist's proofs or unlimited or open editions, as the certificates state that each print will be signed and numbered. There is a place on the order form where you can indicate you want certificates, and if you select this option, the form will request additional information we need to complete the certificates.
Curation
Each print is individually examined in order to meet our high standards. Prints are then trimmed to your specifications.
Image Archiving
We keep the finished digital files ready to reprint until you instruct us to delete them, and there is no charge for this service.
Copies of Digital Files
If you would like a copy of your finished files, we will provide the final, color corrected files in a size large enough for most promotional uses or website work for $25 per CD. The uncorrected full size scanned images are also available for $25 per CD. The full size retouched and color corrected files can also be purchased, but at our regular prepress scanning and color correction rates. The price will vary by image and size as each one takes a different amount of time to correct, so contact us for a quote.
Photo Papers
Below are the photo papers we offer for giclee fine art printing. Photo papers simulate the look of traditional photo prints, but are still printed using the giclee printing process. They are popular because they offer tremendous color depth and saturation, and are the least expensive materials for fine art printing.
Fine Art Poster - 270 gsm
This smooth, natural-white, acid-free paper has the look and feel of a heavy, matte offset paper. It is made in Switzerland and has excellent water resistance. It’s great for giclee fine art printing, photographic reproductions and posters. It delivers exceptional print quality at an economical price. Available in widths up to 36".
Approximate longevity of 50-80 years.
Premium Semi Matte Photo Paper - 270 gsm
This professional photo paper offers excellent color and a heavy 270 gsm weight. The semi-matte finish is the lowest gloss level available in a professional photo paper. This paper is moisture and smudge resistant, but susceptible to scratching so we recommend careful handling and framing behind glass. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years. Oil by Kinuko Y. Craft - http://www.kycraft.com
Professional Photo Satin - 300 gsm
This professional photo paper offers excellent color reproduction and a heavy 300 gsm weight. The traditional E surface finish provides an elegant texture consistent to that of a dark room. Also available in high gloss. While this paper is moisture, smudge, and scratch resistant, we recommend careful handling and framing behind glass. Available in widths up to 60".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Professional Photo Gloss - 300 gsm
This professional photo paper offers excellent color reproduction and a heavy 300 gsm weight. The high gloss surface provides excellent color depth for situations where glare isn't a concern. Also available in a satin finish. While this paper is moisture, smudge, and scratch resistant, we recommend careful handling and framing behind glass. Available in widths up to 60". Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Simulated Canvas - 16mil
This economical canvas look material is composed of an archival photo paper with canvas textured laminate, creating the look of canvas without the cost. An excellent choice when the print will be mounted to a rigid substrate, such as foamboard, or when a less expensive option is required. Available in widths up to 60".
Approximate longevity in excess of 100 years.
Watercolor Papers
Below are the watercolor papers we offer for giclee fine art printing. We offer watercolor papers from a variety of paper mills in a range of weights and textures. For the most part, these are the same papers that artists use for watercolor painting, but they have been specially treated for giclee printing. Some of the papers below were created specifically with giclee printing in mind, but all of them produce excellent results.
Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper - 310gsm
This rough textured, acid-free watercolor paper offers a natural white, matte finish and great color range providing excellent reproduction of both photography and traditional art. Though careful handling is always recommended, this paper is designed not to mar or scuff during normal handling like some other fine art printing papers. Available in widths up to 60". Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Sunset Cotton Etching Paper - 285gsm
This lightly textured, acid-free watercolor paper is made from 25% cotton and offers a natural white, matte finish and great color range providing excellent reproduction of both photography and traditional art. Though careful handling is always recommended, this paper is less likely to mar or scuff during normal handling like some other fine art printing papers. Available in widths up to 60". Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Crane Museo Max - 250gsm
This acid free paper combines breakthrough technology with the finest 100% cotton rag to produce a paper capable of vivid colors and subtle detail. This paper contains no optical brighteners and and has durable, flake free finish. Excellent for both fine art printing reproductions and photographic prints. Available in widths up to 60".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Hahnemuhle German Etching - 310gsm
This 310 g mould-made, acid-free watercolor paper offers excellent color range and depth in a lightly textured watercolor paper. As the name suggests, it has a surface similar to etching paper, which is excellent for both photography and fine art printing. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Canson Edition Etching - 310gsm
This museum-grade 100% cotton rag paper is internally buffered and acid free with no optical brighteners for the highest archival quality. The excellent white point makes for rich, accurate color reproduction, making it an outstanding choice for both fine art printing and digital photo reproduction. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Canson Rag Photographique- 310gsm
This 100% cotton museum grade white fine art and photo paper has an exceptionally smooth white tone that is achieved during manufacturing by introducing natural minerals to the process. The extra smooth finish and deep blacks make for excellent fine art printing and photography. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
BFK Rives - 310 gsm
This is the world’s number one mould-made traditional printmaking paper, with more than 500 years of history and heritage. This exceptional 100% rag museum grade paper is ideal for fine art printing and photographs and gives them a very prestigious aura. The unique pure white tone is obtained without the use of optical brighteners, and the paper has a very specific smooth and velvety texture. Available in widths up to 44". Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Crane Textured Fine Art Paper - 225gsm
This 100% cotton rag, acid free paper is great for art and photographic reproductions. It is available in both a smooth, hot press finish and a classic textured cold press finish (shown). It is also available in sheets in an extra heavy weight of 425 gsm in both finishes. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Somerset Enhanced Velvet - 255gsm
Somerset Enhanced Velvet is made by St. Cuthberts Mill in England. This unique fine art paper has a fine texture and beautiful photo realistic definition. This is a special version of the popular watercolor paper designed for digital fine art printing. Also available in a 505 gsm sheets. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80 to 100 years
Hahnemuhle 230 - 230gsm
This natural white mould made paper is lighter weight, but more heavily textured than many of our other watercolor papers for those who desire a more pronounced texture. Founded in Germany in 1584, Hahnemuhle produces quality fine art printing papers for the discerning user. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Hahnemuhle Torchon - 285gsm
This watercolor paper is made by Hahnemuhle in Germany. It's a fine art printing paper with a unique parchment texture that produces photo realistic definition and tremendous color range and depth. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Arches Aquarelle Rag- 310gsm
The world’s number one mould-made watercolor paper is now available for giclee fine art printing. This genuine 100% rag watercolor paper complies with the highest archival standards with no optical brighteners and is extremely age resistant. It gives a unique and unrivalled character to traditional artwork and photographs. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Schoellershammer Linen - 300gsm
This unique paper has a natural canvas-like appearance and produces outstanding color. Made in Germany by Schoellershammer, producing quality paper since 1984, this 100% cotton fiber paper has a bright white color (without the use of optical brighteners) and is acid-free, lignin-free, and non-yellowing. Available in widths up to 44".
Approximate longevity of 80-100 years.
Canvas
We offer a broad selection of canvas options to cover most any need and budget. All of the canvas choices below are specially treated for giclee printing to provide superior results, and all of them can be mounted on stretcher bar without fear of cracking.
Matte Decor Canvas - 17mil
This polyester/cotton blend canvas is specifically designed for high volume canvas giclee fine art printing. It is durable enough without a finishing coat that it can be cleaned with water and mild detergent, which also makes it our least expensive canvas printing option. Can be stretched and mounted. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Gloss Decor Canvas - 22 mil
This polyester/cotton blend canvas is specifically designed for high volume canvas giclee fine art printing. It is durable enough without a finishing coat that it can be cleaned with water and mild detergent, which also makes it our least expensive canvas printing option. Can be stretched and mounted. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Matte Designer Canvas - 20 mil
This polyester/cotton blend canvas is acid-free and is designed for fade resistant giclee canvas fine art printing or photo canvas reproductions, and is great for those who wish to retouch their prints. Since it is printed with solvent inks, it’s water and scratch resistant without the need for a surface coating, which makes it more economical. Available in widths up to 60". Longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Satin Designer Canvas - 24 mil
This satin finish polyester/cotton blend canvas offers excellent color reproduction and is acid-free for fade resistant giclee fine art printing or photo reproductions. Since it is printed with latex inks, it’s water and scratch resistant without the need for a surface a coating, which makes it more economical. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Gloss Designer Canvas - 24 mil
This polyester/cotton blend canvas features a gloss finish and outstanding color depth and saturation. It is durable enough to be cleaned with water and mild detergent without requiring a top coat, which makes it an economical choice, and like all our giclee canvas, it won’t crack when stretched or mounted. Available in widths up to 60".
Longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Artist Canvas - 20mil
This poly/cotton blend canvas provides exceptional color gamut and longevity, and is ideal for both giclee fine art printing and photo canvas reproductions. It is finished with a flexible protective coating, available in a gloss, semi-gloss or matte finish, which prevents the print from moisture and abrasion damage, and won’t crack and become brittle as it ages. Available in widths up to 60". Estimated longevity in excess of 100 years.
Premium Canvas - 20mil
This high-end poly/cotton blend giclee printing canvas uses a 12 color ink set to produce the broadest color gamut possible. An acrylic topcoat is applied for resistance to damage from water, chemicals, and scratching, and is available in gloss, semi-gloss, or matte finish. Can be stretched or mounted. Available in widths up to 60".
Estimated longevity in excess of 100 years indoors.
Photo Papers
Photo papers are the least expensive medias for giclee fine art printing, but they are not used as often as canvas and watercolor papers. Part of what makes giclee printing special is the ability to print on these art medias, so most people take advantage of that fact by choosing canvas and watercolor paper. However, when a glossier, more photographic product is desired, or a less expensive option is needed, photo papers are an excellent choice. In this group, the Fine Art Poster Paper is the most economical choice. It's a heavy weight matte finish paper that simulates the look and feel of lithographic prints. Because of the matte finish, it doesn't have as great a color depth as the glossier papers, but instead prints more like a watercolor paper. It is only available up to 36" wide, so it can't be used for prints larger than about 34 inches in the shortest dimension, depending on how much border is desired. The Professional Satin photo paper is a heavy 300 gsm weight, produces excellent color and is our favorite for a giclee photo paper.
Watercolor Papers
Watercolor papers produce softer color than glossy medias, and there is no way around that. However, we use special inks designed to optimize color depth on watercolor papers and the results are stunning compared to what was possible even a few years ago. All the watercolor papers we offer have been specially treated to allow the ink to stay more on the surface and therefore produce better color, and the best image quality. Of these, the Crane Museo Max, Canson Edition Etching and Canson Rag Photographique papers are our recommendation because they produce the best color depth. The Canson papers are heavier and also easier to handle without damaging the print compared to most other watercolor papers where extreme care must be taken not to mar the image prior to framing. The Arches Aquarelle is also a favorite when a more textured paper with a warmer white base is desired. If you want a paper to impress your customers, BFK Rives has a 500 year history and is one of the most prestigious fine art printing papers there is. It also prints and handles very well.
The Sunset Textured Fine Art paper, and the Sunset Cotton Etching paper are both excellent choices for a high quality watercolor print at the lowest possible price. The other choices all satisfy particular needs and tastes, such as a brighter white color, more or less surface texture, heavier or lighter weight, etc. We have printed samples of all of our papers, so contact us and we will be happy to send you sample so you can see and feel the paper for yourself.
Canvas
The Matte Decor canvas is our least expensive canvas option. It does not provide the same shadow detail as the other canvases we offer, and it's the lightest weight so a little extra care must be taken when stretching so as not to tear it, but it's an excellent value and a good choice for high volume jobs or tight budgets.
The Gloss Decor canvas is our best value, offering excellent quality, heavy weight and a low price. It's only available in a gloss finish, but that is by far the most popular finish since it provides the greatest color depth.
The Designer Canvases offer color depth and gamut similar to our more expensive Artist Canvas, so they are quickly becoming our most popular canvas options. They are printed with latex based inks, so water has no effect on the print, eliminating the need for a top coating, which is why they are less expensive. The Satin Designer canvas is an excellent choice when you want to avoid the glare of the gloss version without giving up as much color depth as a matte canvas requires.
Our Artist Canvas can have a gloss, semi-gloss, or matte finish. It is printed at 1440 dpi with water based ink and has a solvent-based acrylic coating. The Artist Canvas is printed with an 8 color ink set and is our recommendation for the finest quality canvas giclee prints. While the Premium Canvas has the benefit of the 12 color ink set, very few images can take advantage of the subtle improvement it offers to make it worth the difference in cost for most clients.
When you're ready to order, you can use the main menu above or the Place Order buttons next to each item in the Printing Materials tab. We've worked hard to make the order process as simple as possible while still collecting all the information we need to quickly and accurately complete your order. This section will cover in detail the steps you need to take to place an order for giclee fine art printing using our order form.
If you are submitting a digital file for printing, be sure you know where it's located on your system so you can send it during the order process. If you don't want any of your image to be cropped off in the final print, you should make sure that your image scales to the print size you are going to request.
If the image you want to use is not in a digital format, that is to say you have original artwork, photo print, slide, or negative, then the first item you'll need to add to your order is the scanning service, which is listed under Scanning and Prepress Services. You can add either one of the Scan or Capture and Proof options, or a Prepress Package. The difference between them is that the Prepress Packages include all the proofs that may be necessary, while the Scan or Capture and Proof options just include the initial color correction and proof. In many cases, additional proofs are not necessary, but if you are looking for a very exact match to your original, or you think you may need quite a bit of color adjustment and proofing, the Prepress Package is a good option.
When you first open the order form, there will be an expanding list of items on the left. If you use the Place Order button, you can skip to the next paragraph, otherwise, choose the Art & Photo Reproduction category, then Giclee Reproduction and choose Canvas, Watercolor Paper, or Photo Paper from the drop down list. If you haven't already decided on the material for your print, you can select different materials in this list and read about them to help you make your choice. If you need some help in deciding, you can also look in the Our Recommendations tab for some suggestions.
Once you have decided on the material you want, you will need to indicate if you are sending a file, or providing an original, photo or film to be scanned. If you need scanning, you will need to indicate in the next step that a file is not needed for your order. If you are sending a file, then you must indicate how you are sending it. You can choose Upload Now and click the Upload button that appears to send your file at this point, which is recommended, you can choose to send your file later, or one of the other options.
Once you tell us how you are sending your file, you will be presented with a form to complete. Here you need to tell us the printed image width and printed image height you want for your job. You must also indicate the finished trimmed width and height. For paper prints, you can make the trimmed size the same as the image size if you want your image to extend all the way to the edge of the paper. If you want to have a margin of paper left around the printed photo then make the finished trimmed size larger to allow for the margin you want. If you are ordering a canvas print, the finished trimmed size is automatically entered for you to allow for a standard 2" stretching margin.
Next enter the number of copies you want printed in the quantity field and the price will be calculated.
If you are ordering limited edition prints in a numbered series, and wish to have certificates of authenticity with your order, check the appropriate box on the form and complete the additional information required for the certificate. Keep in mind that we don't offer certificates for open edition prints or artist's proofs, although you can create your own if you find you need them for these types of prints.
If you are ordering canvas prints, you also have the option to choose from several canvas stretching options. A description of each option will appear next to the selection to help you choose the service you want, if any.
Next you can request a proof. A printed proof on the actual material that your final print will be on is $30, but an electronic pdf or jpg proof is free. A pdf proof is good for checking the cropping and final sizing of your print, but if you're concerned about the print quality of the file you have chosen, a physical proof that shows a section of the image at full size is the best way to see for yourself how the final product will look. If we feel the image will print poorly, we will always contact you to discuss your options before printing, but since our expectations and yours may not match, and since a custom printing cannot be returned, a proof is your best way to verify what the final print will look like in advance. If you ordered a scan or prepress package, then printed proofs are already included and you don't need to make a selection here.
The final step before adding your print to the shopping cart is to tell us what you want us to do if your image doesn't fit the size you told us to print it. The options are to have us size your file to fit the dimensions you provided and crop any excess, or to contact you for instructions. If you're sure that your image actually sizes correctly to your dimensions, it doesn't really matter which option you choose because neither one will be necessary. But, if you're not sure, you should either choose to have us contact you, or tell us to crop the image to fit. We'll do our best to crop your image in way that makes sense, but you should also be sure to request a pdf proof so you can see the results of the cropping.
Once you've complete all the previous steps, click the Add to Cart button to add this print to your shopping cart. On the shopping cart screen you can see all the items you've added to your order, delete any that you don't want, and have another chance to upload your file if you chose Upload Later from the order form. You can also choose Add Another to add another item to your order.
You don't need to log in or create an account to select and add items to your shopping cart, but you will need to do so in order to complete your order. This is so your account history can be maintained for future reference and ordering convenience. Your account information is secure and confidential, and creating an account WILL NOT result in unwanted e-mails from us, or anyone else.
Once you have placed all the items in your cart you want, and are logged in to your account, click the Order Now button. You will be asked to specify either normal turnaround time for your order, or provide a specific due date. If you do specify a due date, you will also be given the option to authorize rush charge for your order. Please allow 7-10 working days to complete the scan and initial proof if an original is sent, or 5-7 days if we are working from a photo or film. Once the proof is accepted, or for printing orders without scanning or prepress, orders takes 3 – 5 days for printing. If you need your order completed faster than this, you should authorize rush charges to ensure you get your order on time. Rush charges are 50% of your order total, up to a maximum of $75. If we don't have to bump other jobs to meet your deadline, you won't be charged the rush fee, but if you don't authorize the charges, we'll do what we can to complete your order on time, but won't go so far as to bump other jobs. If you specify a due date that is not a rush, we will adjust the shipping method, if necessary, to ensure your order arrives by the date you specified. In this case, extra shipping charges may apply.
Next you will be asked to select the shipping method, and finally the payment type. You should know that your credit card is not being charged when you submit the form. We are collecting the information for your order, but you will not be charged until we have verified your order to make sure there were no mistakes made. That way, if there are aspects of your order that change, we can adjust the order and the shipping cost, if necessary, before you are charged.
Once you click the Order button, you will receive an order summary via e-mail for your records, and we will receive your order and the process can begin.
As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please Contact Us and we'll be happy to help you with the process.