What is the expected life of a Giclee print?

Under normal household conditions you could reasonably expect a Giclee reproduction to last 3-4 generations (80 years) without noticeable fading. Unfortunately, the fact is that most things that have colour will fade over time. As far as Giclee prints are concerned, some original watercolours and virtually all lithographs will fade faster than a well-made Giclee.

The thing is even the best testing is done under a controlled environment. No matter how much care we go to in providing the finest quality product, once it enters the purchaser’s environment we have lost control. Tests are conducted under what would be considered “normal” places in which art is displayed and in the main this is what happens.

Do Giclee prints require special care?

We recommend that you treat your Giclees the same as other originals or limited edition prints. They should be protected from water and should not be placed in direct sunlight. Giclees printed on paper should be matted and framed behind glass but only after 24 hours of drying time has elapsed to allow for out-gassing, the proper drying of the inks. Giclees printed on canvas are treated with a liquid UV inhibiting laminate to aid in their protection, however normal care typical of an original artwork applies.

What about the different types of coatings?

Not all Giclee printing companies coat their canvases. Why? we don’t know, maybe it’s too hard for them or they just want to knock the job out quickly and who cares about how long it lasts.

We care! All Art House Giclees on canvas are treated with a specially formulated fine art coating. This fine art product eliminates the problems typically associated with other coatings such as cracking, yellowing & inconsistent texture. Art prints on canvas are available with a gloss or satin finish. We do not coat paper Giclees as they end up behind glass and this is all the protection they need.

All of our canvases can be enhanced by you, that means you can paint on top of them with acrylics to add elements, detail or texture to the reproduction to make it more valuable.

How accurate is the colour?

The resolution and colour can be brilliant and is superior to other methods of art reproduction. However, you must be aware that where you have used fluorescent paint, foil or glitter that it is not possible to reproduce that same effect – inks don’t glitter or glow. During the proofing process we work closely with you to achieve the look and feel in the print that is most appealing and closest to the original as possible.

What happens during the proofing process?

We edit and manipulate images in a number of imaging programs to eliminate flaws such as dust spots scratches etc. and create a digital file that most closely resembles the original artwork.

After the image is corrected of flaws and balanced for colour the initial proof will generally be about A4 size regardless of the final size print you have ordered. This will be on the media of your choice.

What materials or information do I need to provide to get started?

You need to send us one of the following – Ideally we prefer to work from your Original Artwork, if this is not possible then send us the best quality transparency of your image or a CDrom or DVD containing a professional scan of your image. See here for file requirements. It would be advisable to supply a reference print of acceptable colour if you have one.

When sending transparencies of your artwork it is very important to remember that we will colour match to the transparency and if it does not look like the original, your fine art prints will not look like the art either. Is this a good or bad thing? If the original is no longer available for comparison then it is simply a matter of creating a visually pleasing result from what is available. Examine each transparency carefully before sending them to us. From here we will discuss the process of production with you and find out what you need.

Can I use my own digital files?

Certainly – if they are good enough! See here for file requirements. It is important to note that most professional photographers using digital cameras cannot compete with the quality provided by our digital system here. Most digital cameras are equivalent to shooting a high quality 35mm transparency which will succeed if only small prints are required but if you want the best you need to use the best process available to you.

What are the terms of payment?

Our terms are 50% deposit with the order and the balance paid on completion prior to collection or delivery. Sorry, we do not offer accounts.

Why choose Art House Reproductions over some other company?

Art House Reproductions Giclees conform to archival standards consistent with collectible fine art prints. Art House Reproductions Giclees are produced exclusively using the finest quality papers, canvases and inks on the market.

All additional materials & substrates used in the reproduction process are of archival quality and produced by reputable manufacturers. Art House Reproductions Giclees are produced in small runs which frees up your cash flow allowing you to order on demand – order as you sell!

Art House Reproductions has developed specific programs, protocols and colour management systems to produce the finest quality Giclees anywhere in the world!

Why use Giclee instead of other printing processes to publish limited edition art prints?

There are many benefits to the Giclee process. Two of these are versatility and investment. The process allows versatility in subject matter, original mediums and the ability to experiment readily. For the initial investment of a few hundred dollars, an artist can test the market to see what will sell in different locations or break into new untouched areas. This flexibility allows you more creative freedom and helps prevent costly mistakes. It sure beats printing 1000 lithograph prints which you then have to try and sell before they fade!

What is the situation with Copyright?

We require you to sign a form before we begin production that states you are the artist and owner of the copyright or can produce proof that if you are not the artist, you have either purchased copyright or have permission from the artist to make reproductions.

The copyright holder retains copyright of any images reproduced by The Art House and we will not print any work without permission or a confirmed order from you. The artist/creator has the primary ownership of the work and retains the right to produce reproductions even after selling the original.

This is unless a mutual agreement is documented and signed by both parties. After the artist/creator is deceased by 50 years then the image is free of copyright restrictions unless the family or trust maintains those rights.

So in summary… we take copyright very seriously. If you are the artist and owner of copyright life is easy. If you have purchased a work of art it is yours to own, not to reproduce, unless you also purchased copyright and can prove to us that you have the artist’s permission.

How large an image can you print?

The widest material we print on is 60″ (152.5cm) wide and most rolls are a minimum of 40ft (12.2m) long. When printing on canvas you need to allow for wrapping around the stretcher so effectively you end up with a 56″ (140cm) wide image plus wrapping. A large paper reproduction would probably have a similar 2″ border though some artists prefer borders up to six inches wide on very large prints.

How many prints do I get for my minimum order?

We have a $50.00 minimum order policy so if the size you’ve chosen is more than this then your minimum quantity is one!

How can I get my images into your Online Shop?

Any image reproduced by Art House Reproductions can be submitted free of charge to our web site. All you need to do is ask us for the Web Site Image Details Form, fill it in, return it and we will do the rest. We charge you a commission on sales.

How much can I sell my Giclees for?

How long is a piece of string?

Your circumstances affect the price you need to charge. Variables include the size of the print, substrate, framed or unframed, edition number and your notoriety as an artist.

The price of your original art is a relative indicator of what you will might expect for your prints. Typically if you are getting good dollars for your originals you could expect to sell limited editions for anywhere from a tenth to half the price of your original. If you are at the lower end of the market then you run the risk of your reproductions costing you more than you are selling your originals for! We have some marketing thoughts on this situation so don’t give up on reproductions just because you don’t command thousands of dollars for originals.