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 shipping, or place an order, click the Pricing/Order button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab.
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.
Click the Pricing/Order button below to choose from any of the scanning and prepress services listed below, and add them to your shopping cart.
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.
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.
Metallic Photo Gloss - 255 gsm
This resin coated metallic high gloss photo paper results in prints that are sharp, vibrant, and exceptionally rich-looking. The metallic finish adds a distinctive look and is the perfect way to make portraits, commercial display prints, and competition prints that stand out from the others. It is also adds a distinctive look to black and white photography. While this paper is moisture, smudge, and scratch resistant, we recommend careful handling and framing behind glass. Available in widths up to 44". Approximate longevity of 50-80 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.
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 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 - 18mil
This economical lighter weight polyflax/cotton blend canvas is specifically designed for high volume canvas printing. It is acid free with a low gloss finish, and durable enough that it can be cleaned with water and mild detergent. Can be stretched and mounted. Available in widths up to 73".
Estimaged longevity of 50-80 years indoors.
Satin Decor Canvas - 18mil
This lighter weight polyester/cotton blend canvas offers a satin finish and excellent color reproduction. It's acid-free for fade resistant fine art or photo reproductions and is very economical. Printed with latex inks, it's water and scratch resistant without the need for a surface coating. Available up to 104" wide. Can be stretched and mounted.
Estimaged longevity of 50-80 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 latex 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".
Estimaged longevity of 50-80 years indoors.
Satin Designer Canvas - 20 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".
Estimaged longevity of 50-80 years indoors.
Gloss Designer Canvas - 20 mil
This polyester/cotton blend canvas features a gloss finish and outstanding color depth and saturation. Since it's printed with latex inks, 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".
Estimaged longevity of 50-80 years indoors.
Satin Artist Canvas - 21 mil
This certified archival cotton blend canvas is acid and OBA-free with longevity tested at over 100 years. The satin finish provides good color depth with less glare,making it ideal for museum quality art and photo reproductions. It is printed at 1440 dpi with 8 color eco-solvent inks for the largest possible gamut and accuracy, and the inks are water and scratch resistant without the need for a top coating.
Gloss Artist Canvas - 21 mil
This certified archival cotton blend canvas is acid and OBA-free, with longevity tested at over 100 years. The gloss finish provides exceptional color depth, making it ideal for museum quality art and photo reproductions. It is printed at 1440 dpi with 8 color eco-solvent inks for the largest possible gamut and accuracy, and the inks are water and scratch resistant without the need for a top coating.
Premium Canvas - 22 mil
This certified archival poly/cotton blend canvas is free of optical brighteners that can yellow with age, is extremely flexible to prevent cracking, and offers the largest color gamut available. An acrylic topcoat is applied for resistance to damage from water, chemicals, and scratching, and is available in gloss, satin, or matte finish.
Estimated longevity in excess of 100 years.
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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 Decor canvas is our least expensive canvas option. It's a lighter weight than our more expensive options, but this acid free Fredrix canvas, which comes in Matte and Satin finishes, offers good image quality and some really big sizes. It's available up to 73" wide for oversized canvas prints. It's an excellent value and a good choice for high volume jobs or tight budgets.
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 at 720 dpi with eco-solvent inks, so water has no effect on the print, eliminating the need for a top coating, which is one reason 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 and Premium Canvas are both certified archival and are free of optical brighteners, and have estimated longevity in excess of 100 years. The Artist Canvas is available in a gloss or satin finish and is printed at 1440 dpi with eco-sol inks so it's waterproof without the need for a top coating. It's printed with an 8 color Hi-Fi ink set and is our most popular canvas for museum quality canvas giclee prints.
The Premium Canvas is printed at 2880 dpi with a 9 color water based ink set and has an acrylic top coat that is available in gloss, satin and matte finishes. This is the finest quality canvas print available, but for most applications, the Designer or Artist canvas series are more than adequate and also less expensive.
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 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 by clicking the Pricing/Order button in the Setup and Prepress tab. 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.
Next, you can use the Pricing/Order button next to each item in the Printing Materials tab, and the Pricing/Order wizard will prompt you for the necessary information such as quantity, dimensions and finishing options, and allow you to see the shipping costs. If necessary, you can click the Products tab in the wizard and choose a different material from the drop down menu.
You will also be asked to indicate how you are sending your files and how you want us to handle cropping, if necessary. You will also be allowed to choose whether or not you want a proof, and if so, what kind of proof you would like. You can choose a reduced size printed proof for $30, which will be printed on the same material as your final print, or you can choose to have us evaluate your file to look for any potential problems and send a pdf proof for $15. A reduced size printed proof of the overall design is good for proofing color, or we can print a section of the graphic at full size so you can see how an image will look when blown up. If we feel the file will print poorly or your file doesn't scale to the correct size, we will always contact you to discuss your options before printing, so if you've already examined your files before sending them, a proof is often not necessary, but since custom printed graphics cannot be returned, a proof is your best way to verify what the final print will look like in advance. 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.
Lastly, there is a Special Instructions field where you can provide any information you think we may need to process your order correctly.
Once you've provided all the required information, you can add the item to the shopping cart where you can either check out, or choose to continue shopping to return to the page you came from. 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 a chance to upload your file.
You don't need to create an account to complete your order, but doing so will allow your account history to be maintained for future reference and ordering convenience. The only account information that is stored are your billing, shipping, and e-mail addresses, and this information is secure and confidential. Creating an account WILL NOT result in unwanted e-mails from us, or anyone else.
To finish your order, 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. If you need your order completed in less than the normal 4-5 day turnaround, 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, 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.