art prints
Do you know what’s the difference between printing a limited and an open edition? What are the best papers for printing art? This will provide you with all the necessary information.
What are art prints?
An art print refers to a reproduction of a digital or physical artwork. In other words, it’s the closest representation of an original piece of art.
Art prints can be created by using various techniques and printed on a variety of paper and canvas types. These materials and production choices depend on the quantity of reproductions as well as the complexity of colours in the piece of art. Although there is plenty of techniques to choose from, the most common way to create high-quality art prints is a technique called Giclee (read “gee-clay”) printing.
What Is Giclee printing?
Giclee comes from French and means “to spray”. It is a printing method that provides the highest quality of imprints, turning it into a perfect choice for working with detailed graphics and drawings. In Giclee printing, a set of small spraying devices is used to recreate the particular artwork. Thanks to this technology, you get the best quality photo definition with deep shades and soft gradients.
Giclee printing helps to make a long-lasting imprint too. When printed on an approved Fine Art paper, images can be preserved for more than 200 years without losing their vivid palette or colour variation over time.
Giclee printing is the only system accepted and recognised by international Art Galleries and Museums.
What Is Hahnemühle Paper?
Hahnemühle paper comes from one of the last paper mills, which used to produce high quality papers for artists along with high-purity filter papers for various purposes. The beginnings of its production is dated around 1584. For years, it has been widely known for its unparalleled quality.
All Hahnemühle papers are extremely resistant to aging (they are produced in compliance with DIN 6738), therefore keeping their original structure intact for several hundred years. Thanks to the highest quality and production standards, Hahnemühle paper is great for art prints.
Hahnemühle papers are accepted and recognised by international Art Galleries and Museums.
The best choice for printing paper – Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350gsm?
Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350gsm paper is produced with cotton. It is a dense, with a feel of genuine art paper that guarantees a perfect quality of art prints.
This type of paper offers a surface with a distinct texture, that’s finished with matt inkjet coating. Thanks to its technical specification, Museum Etching brings the most vivid colours and guarantees high sharpness of every art print. It’s perfect for artworks with colour graduation, soft tints or nuances of fine grey shades. The cotton-based paper Museum Etching preserves an archival standard and lets you feel the genuine texture that’s soft to the touch. It is an ideal canvas for high-quality art prints.
Signed art prints – higher market value
A vast majority of artists sign their artworks and art prints at the bottom right corner of the piece. This is regarded to as a mark of artist’s approval. The act of signing a print means that its author claims it as her or his own work. Interestingly, some printers also leave their own signatures. In such cases, the reproduction includes two separate signatures.
Art prints with signatures are not just a sort of flight of one’s imagination. Such signed prints are usually valued higher on the market, mainly due to the authenticity and the more personal touch to them. This signature can double or even triple the market price of an art print. Therefore, if you have a choice, it’s always better to go for the signed version.
Limited Edition Prints
Every artwork is produced in a series that’s called an edition.
Such an edition contains a specific number of prints made from a single plate in a single run of production.
Editions can be limited or unlimited (also known as open editions). The latter refers to an ongoing production, issued without any kind of limitation.
Limited editions, on the other hand, are issued within a certain amount. This amount depends on numerous factors, such as the printing technique used or the artist’s personal choices (sometimes, it can be even tied to the artwork’s meaning). Usually, limited art print editions vary between two and several thousand of prints. Obviously, small-scale editions are usually considered more premium. As a result, limited editions of art prints reach significantly higher prices in the market.
What Is A Certificate Of Authenticity for art prints?
The Certificate of Authenticity is a document that provides all the necessary information concerning the certain piece of art. It’s usually included in the package when the piece is sent to the purchasing collector.
As an artist, you have to remember about the Certificate of Authenticity for each of your pieces.
Eder Sanchez limited edition prints: here