Frequently asked Questions

What is the difference between normal prints and giclée prints?

Non-giclée prints are generally produced at high-speed using four colour (CMYK) dye inks onto non-coated papers which have been bleached at time of manufacture. This bleaching discolours over time and dye inks are prone to fading.

Giclée prints are produced using eight or more pigment-based inks which are resistant to fading. Giclée papers are specially coated to accept pigment inks, are acid-free, archival quality and do not contain wood pulp which is the main ingredient of standard paper. It is the combination of pigment inks and archival paper/canvas which differentiate true giclée prints from other prints. All of our giclée papers are a minimum of 250gsm in weight which meets ArtSure standards for giclée printing.

 

Can you giclée print onto any paper?

No. You can only print onto specially coated papers, otherwise the ink would simply soak into the paper and bleed out.

 

Do giclée prints fade?

Not if reasonable care is taken, such as avoiding display in direct sunlight. Giclée prints are produced using archival materials, namely pigment inks and high grade archival, fine art papers, some being 100% cotton.
 

What is your maximum print size?

We can produce prints up to 44in x 135in / 112cm x 343cm.

 

Can you print on canvas?

Yes, we have two canvas options; Natural Matt 400gsm 100% cotton base (heavyweight), and Matt Polyester 260gsm (lightweight). If you intend to have the canvas stretched onto a frame, you should allow for additional canvas required for wrapping around the frame when deciding on overall canvas size.

 

Do you stretch canvas?

Yes, we can supply your canvas print ready-stretched onto a frame. Frame and stretching will be charged in addition to the canvas print itself.

 

Can you produce cards featuring my art?

Yes, once we have an image saved, we can produce various sizes of greeting cards and postcards featuring your artwork. All greeting cards are supplied ‘retail-ready’, complete with envelopes and bags.

 

Do you offer quantity discounts on prints?

Yes, there is a 10% discount if you order five or more copies of an image at a given size.

 

Can you print from photographs of my artwork?

High-resolution image capture is paramount for quality Giclée prints and so it is recommended that your original artwork be made available for scanning, wherever possible, for the most accurate reproduction. A scanned image contains significantly more image data than a photograph. It is possible to produce Giclée prints from photographic files, however, colour-matching obviously becomes extremely difficult to perfect, and the supply of several colour proofs may be the only way to ensure a colour-match you are happy with.

 

Can I order a single print?

Yes, that is one of the advantages of giclée printing, prints can be produced one at a time on demand.

 

Can you print metallic colours?

Unfortunately, not, although your print should simulate the effect to a degree. It is important to remember that the shine given by metallic paints is simply a reflection of light and not an actual colour. Many artists choose to hand-finish giclée prints with metallic additions giving a final, unique ‘hand finished print’.

 

Can you send prints ‘flat’?

Prints up to A2 in size can be sent flat, however, larger prints will be sent rolled in a sturdy tube.

Can you send prints directly to my customer?

Yes, that is no problem. We will invoice you for the print plus P&P and then post via a 24hr tracked service and provide you with the tracking details to enable you to see when the item has been safely delivered. Due to data protection laws, you need to make your customer aware that their details will be shared. Limited Edition prints will need to be sent to you to sign and number before you send them on.

 

Can you print digital art?

Yes, but please speak to us first to ensure your digital art is saved in a suitable format and size.

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Can you scan large artwork?

We can scan artworks on paper which are up to 40in / 102cm on their shortest side. If your artwork is on board or a stretched canvas, please contact us to discuss options.

 

Can you scan pastel artwork?

Yes, but please ensure there is minimal loose pastel present.

 

Can you scan pencil art?

Yes! Monochrome pencil/graphite artwork is always printed using colour inks as this gives the image more depth and therefore avoids the print looking ‘flat’.

 

Does oil paint need to be fully dry before it is scanned?

Ideally, yes. Oil paints should be at least dry to the touch before scanning to avoid damaging your painting.

 

Can you scan textile art?

Yes we can. The textiles should have minimal depth because our scanners have a fixed focus. Please contact us for a chat if you are unsure.

 

Why do you colour match scans?

Scanning an artwork gives all the fine detail within the image, however, exact capture of colours usually requires a little

extra work. After scanning we will colour match the scan whilst we still have the original to hand to ensure that your prints are as close a match to your original as possible.

 

Do you have to print at my original’s actual size?

No. Your artwork can be printed larger or smaller than its original size. Enlargement of a scanned image has limitations before visual distortion occurs, and decisions on the limit of enlargement are dependent on the qualities of a particular image.

 

Are you a ‘registered printer’?

Yes. We are a registered participant in the ArtSure scheme. ArtSure was created by the Fine Art Trade Guild to address the need to establish recognised, minimum standards for giclée printing. We have been a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild since 2007 and are committed to upholding the high standards and Code of Ethics of the Guild.
 

Can you print from a jpeg image?

Jpeg is a compressed image format designed for online and screen use. This compression is achieved by removing detail and colour data which does not affect its appearance on screen but is required for printers. We can print from jpegs if that is the only file type you have, however, much better results are achieved from Tiff or PDF files which do not undergo compression.

 

Can I post my art to you?

By all means! Please ensure it is well protected, ideally between sheets of thick cardboard, using a tracked service. We will immediately inform you of its safe arrival.

 

Do you supply picture mounts?

Yes, we do. We can supply custom mounts on demand and also supply your prints ready-mounted for you to pop into a frame.

 

Can you frame my prints?

Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to manufacture or supply frames. However, if you are able to personally supply a frame, we can professionally frame your mounted prints for you for as little as £9.50 per frame.

 

Can I paint over your prints?

It is possible to over-paint prints; however, you should test the effect first and we can supply an initial colour proof for this purpose. Colour proofs are charged at 50% the cost of a print and will be stamped ‘colour proof’.

 

Are your prints waterproof?

No, giclée inks are water-based. We can protect your print by spraying with a protective coating, however, this will not make it waterproof.

 

Do you supply a Certificate of Authenticity?

Yes, every print we produce comes complete with a free, generic Certificate of Authenticity stating the inks and substrate used along with care guidelines. For an additional fee, custom certificates can be supplied with each print stating the details of your choice including the artist’s name, image title, etc. Limited Edition prints are always supplied with a custom, numbered Certificate.

 

 

Can I have a digital copy of my scan?

Yes! Unlike some printers, we can always supply you with a digital high resolution copy of your scan and a smaller jpeg version for promotional use online, upon request.

 

Do you do Limited Edition runs of prints?

Yes we do. If you would like us to manage your limited edition by keeping a record of prints produced and supplying numbered certificates with each print, we are happy to do that. The only addition cost is £8.50 for the setup of your certificate template plus £0.25 per numbered certificate as issued.

You are free to manage the edition yourself and supply your own numbered certificates if you prefer, however, if we are asked to confirm the edition as the printer, we would have to say we cannot confirm it because we do not keep records of prints produced.

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