Making a Giclée print starts with a digital file of the image to be printed. Files created by photo-reproduction of paintings, or provided by clients who have sent them to us using an online service such as WeTransfer, or on a thumb drive. I like to work with Tiff files at a resolution of 300 dpi. I can also have film scanned.
Photo-reproductions of paintings start with a photograph of the X-Rite Colorchecker card which creates an accurate color profile used during post production.
After the painting is photographed, the profile is applied to the image in the computer and a very accurate digital file is produced. Today’s digital cameras have built-in software which create images that are often too “snappy” and the colors tend to be over-saturated.
Dorothy Fox - Sundown
An example of before and after the profile is applied. The contrast range is the most notable change.
Victor Valla - Murmuration
Making the Giclée prints. I use beautiful archival papers made by Canson, Hahnemuhle and Moab, up to 44” wide. Again, accurate color profiles are created for each paper, to insure accurate prints. After the files have been sized, checked for correct tonal values and cleaned up, I do a test strip using the paper that has been chosen for the final print. This editing, proofing and tweaking is the process used to make great prints.
When the prints are finished, they can be shipped anywhere in the US. I use very strong 6-8 inch diameter tubes along with thin foam for protection and Fedex Ground. If the print(s) are going to an artist’s client, they can be signed first, before shipment.
Virginia Bradley - Playa Santa 22