Subject: illustration: Giclee Prints
Well, I think I've decided on a printer for my giclee prints. There's a place here in Denver who does them on 22" x 30" sheets of cold-press watercolour paper for $45. The price is the same whether you print one large image, two half-size, four quarter-size or more - $45 per sheet. The inks are dye based (I've become interested in the pigment-based inks, but so far, they're mainly for outdoor applications), but they apply a sealer to increase the life and colourfastness.
In case anyone else is interested, you can give them a call:
Lightning Graphics
(303) 932-2015
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I have a very good friend who is my gicleeprinter here in CA. He is right up there on the top of the new inks. He has a beautiful set now that holds subltle colors and doesn't need the sealer because it is in the ink already. The prices sound about the same. I usually get a 33" x 46" print with several of my images on it. The price is around $125. I end up spending about $25 per image. He works with people all over the country so you might give him a call if you are interested.
aka/color
Rich Rothenberg
310-787-2046
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Here's a quote from the April 1998 Artist's Magazine article on giclee prints:
"Perhaps the one issue that has persistently dogged giclee prints is image stability. Because giclees are so new, no one really knows how long they'll last, but a general consensus is that in dark storage (museums' preferred method of preserving valuable or delicate prints), they'll last indefinitely. Recent independent testing has also shown that the life span of a giclee depends entirely on the specific combination of ink and paper used in printing. Under certain test conditions, icluding a clear glass covering and typical home and office lighting conditions, giclees may last as long as 20 to 24 years before perceptible fading will occur. In any event, giclee prints will almost certainly last at least as long as the best offset prints."
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Subject: Re: illustration: Canvas Prints
"Which printing company in Denver is that one? You can email the info privately (or on the list in case there are others) as I would like to ask for a brochure and pricing list."
It's called Lightning Graphics. I don't know if they have a brochure. It's a small operation, a couple working out of their garage. But you could call and ask.
Lightning Graphics
6995 S. Wadsworth Court
Littleton, Colorado 8012
(303) 932-2015
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For those of you interested in the art print market, the November issue of Art Business News has the results of a survey they conducted among North American art galleries on the top selling subjects:
1. Landscapes
2. Wildlife
3. Florals
4. Abstracts
5. Impressionism
6. Marine
7. Traditional/Representational
8. Americana/folk art
9. Historical (non military)
10. Western
Also said that giclee prints are hot ticket items, and gave the average dollar amount of a single sale (not including framing), broken down by region. Mountain/Pacific area (my area) had an average sale of $427.50. New England/Mid-Atlantic had the highest average sale at $769.00.
Kelly Cheek
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