How to create fine art giclée prints of your artwork
Creating prints of your artwork is a wonderful way to make more money from one piece of work and gives your fans access to your art without the high price point of an original. Creating prints of your artwork isn’t as scary and complicated as you might think so to help you out I am going to through all the basics with you!
Common questions about giclee printing:
1. What is giclee printing?
2. What is the difference between Open or limited-edition prints?
3. How do I digitize my art?
4. How do I choose the right paper?
5. Do I need a Certificate of authenticity for my prints?
6. How do I sign my prints?
7. What do I charge for my prints?
8. Where can I get fine art prints of my work?
What is giclee printing?
Giclee (zhee-KLAY) is a fine art printing process which combines pigment-based inks with high quality paper. This combination gives the print a soft textured feel which is closer to the feel of the original artwork and is often used for limited edition print runs. Lithographs printing is a cheaper option and is sometimes used for open edition prints but do not have the same feel as giclee prints. Therefore, giclee is more favoured among artists.Another benefit of Giclee over Litho is that you can print on demand, therefore avoiding expensive mass production costs. If you want high-quality reproductions, giclee really is the best way to go.
What is the difference between Open or limited-edition prints?
An open edition print is a print that has no limit to the number printed. You can change the size and finishes of your print as you go and they can be printed on demand. This is a great option for printing merchandise such as mouse mats, mugs etc. These prints can be signed by the artist but are not numbered. Since they are open ended print runs, they are typically valued less then limited-edition prints.A Limited-edition print is one that is numbered and signed by the artist. You can choose the number of prints you want to create in your print run, but you cannot change this number once it is set. A good place to start could be anywhere between 20-250, while some artists go as high as 500 prints. The lower the number of print the higher the value can be. You can have different sizes of your limited-edition print and these will still need to be numbered accordingly.You can also produce limited-time print runs, so how ever many sell in a specific amount of time is how many prints there will be available. This means you only have to create the number of prints sold rather then holding stock of unsold prints.It is important to be consistent with the production of your limited-edition print runs so they hold their value and gain the trust of your buyers. Always have the same sizes, print on the same paper, use the same finishes and sign and number in the same place for each one.
How do I digitise my art?
You can digitise your artwork yourself using a scanner or high-quality camera, or with a printing company. Getting a printing company to digitise it for you can be expensive but is very useful because they will colour match your prints to the original artwork and make sure they are perfect.If you choose to digitise the artwork yourself make sure it is a minimum of 300dpi to ensure it is high quality and captures all the details of your original artwork. Sending your own digitised file to a printing company means that any colour differences or inconsistencies are your responsibility to solve. Some printing companies provide colour matching guidance on their website or can provide you with test prints which is perfect for making sure your print is how you want it before you have a few created.
How do I choose the right paper?
Choosing the type of paper for your prints is completely up to you and the paper the printing company has available. Some printing companies can provide a sample booklet so make sure to get one before you order from them. For the best results use either archival or museum grade category paper which are normally named as matte, cotton-rag or canvas. Archival means it is resistance to deterioration and there for will last a long time.A 300-310gsm 100% cotton smooth paper is the most common choice for limited edition prints because it looks more luxurious and attractive. Open edition prints are normally printed on lighter paper, 180-210gsm to keep the costs down.
Do I need a Certificate of authenticity for my prints?
It isn’t a legal requirement to include certificates of authenticity but it does give buyers confidence in their purchase. These can be created by you or some printing companies include them as one of their options for open and limited-edition prints.If you choose to create your own COA then it is important to include the following information:
Artist’s name.
Print name.
The print edition and number of prints available, for limited edition print runs.
Paper type of the print.
Artist’s signature.
Printer’s signature, if printed by a company.
Design your COA as you wish!
How do I sign my prints?
For limited edition prints, the signing and labelling of them needs to be consistent so try and keep them in the same place every time. Use a well sharpened pencil and sign in the bottom white border area outside of the printed image. For example, in the bottom left you could indicate the print number (1/10 etc), in the bottom centre you could write the title of the print and in the bottom right would be your signature. This is how I normally like to sign my prints as it is easy to keep consistent.
What do I charge for my prints?
There is no wrong or right way to price your prints but there are a few things to consider. There is not strict formula but roughly your print could cost around 10% of the value of the original artwork. The fewer prints you have available, the more valuable they are and the higher you can price them. You can add more value to a print with additional finishes such as adding paint, embossing, gold leafing, framing, custom packaging etc. The value of the print also depends on the reputation of the artist and can increase over time as you become more well known. If you choose to get a printing company to digitise your artwork for you, include this cost into the cost of the print.
Where can I get fine art prints of my work?
Finding a printing company isn’t difficult, just look for anyone that can provide giclee printing using pigment/archival inks, to ensure your print’s longevity. Get test proofs of your prints and samples packs of their paper before making your decision. As soon as you start a limited-edition print run you want to stay as consistent as possible.In some instances, you can outsource the printing, packaging and shipping to the same company. This cuts into your profit but will give you more time.The type of prints you create are completely up to you and your art, there are no limits! You can test out the market with a bit of trial and error to see which prints work best for you. Learn more ways of making money from your art in my book, ‘Art is my career’.
