Zandaloo Gallery Limited Edition Prints

* what is a fine art print?
* what is a giclee?
* what is an original print?
* what is a limited edition?
*What is a lithograph or print in art?
*What is a serigraph?
* what is a monoprint?
* what is a reproduction?


What is a fine art print?

A fine art print is an artwork on paper created by an artist, sometimes in collaboration with a printing expert. The artist makes the final decision on when a print is ready for production, and the artist signs each print.
Art prints have in fact revolutionized the art world,and this article has a few need to know things that can help you in the purchase of your next Art Print.

Because of the advancements in technology,the terms "original" and "Limited Edition" are to say the least, hazy,unlike photographic prints of old that had to be reproduced on photosensitive paper.

Giclée Prints

Art prints on the other hand,are inkjet prints on non-photosensitive papers,or giclée printing. Pronounced "zee-clay" meaning ('"to spray or squirt") inks or pigments onto paper,a giclée print shows a continuous tone image.Giclée prints can be made on most textured papers,and if mounted look amazingly like paintings.

Giclée (IPA: /ʒiˈklɛɪ/ or /dʒiˈklɛɪ/, from French /ʒiˈkle/), commonly pronounced "zhee-clay," is the use of the ink-jet printing process for making fine art large format digital images. The term—from the French verb gicler meaning "to squirt, to spray"—first applied to "Iris prints" created in the early 1990s on the Scitex "Iris Graphics Models 3024, 3047, 4012 or Realist" colour drum piezo-head inkjet proofer, a commercial printer designed to preview what a print will look like before mass production begins.

The term, sometimes anglicized as giclee, is used to describe any high-resolution, large-format ink-jet printer output with fade-resistant dye- or pigment-based inks. It is common for these printers to use between six and twelve colour inks. The use of dye-based inks requires special coating to avoid fading.

In the past few years, giclée, as a fine art reproduction technology, is mostly associated with Archival Pigmented inks and Ultra Chrome Inks (which are guaranteed to last up to 200 years), rather than with dye-based inks which are more suitable for commercial output since commercial banners do not need to last a life time.

The word giclée was coined by Jack Duganne to represent any digital print used as fine art. Its intent was to distinguish commercial digital prints from fine art prints. In much the same way that the word serigraph is used to denote a fine art silk screen print, the word giclée is to be used to denote a fine art digital print.

Though originally intended for proofing, many artists and photographers use ink-jet printers as an alternative to lithography, serigraphy or serilith for limited edition original prints or reproductions. The cost of producing limited edition runs is greatly reduced compared to alternative printing methods.

What is an original print?

The term "original print" does not mean "unique", in that an original print is not (necessarily) one of a kind. A one of a kind original print is called a monoprint (more information below). Instead, the term "original print" means that this is the intended form of the final artwork -- the artist originally set out expressly to make the print. Compare this to my explanation of reproductions, below.

What is a lithograph or print in art? (Further info available from Wikipedia)

Lithography refers to a printing process that uses chemical processes to create an image. For instance, the positive part of an image would be a hydrophobic chemical, while the negative image would be water. When the plate is introduced to a compatible ink and water mixture, the ink will adhere to the positive image and the water will clean the negative image. This allows for a relatively flat print plate which allows for much longer runs than the older physical methods of imaging (e.g., embossing or engraving).

Most people could not afford to own an original piece of artwork by Picasso or Van Gogh, but would like to have a copy of their pieces. This is where a lithograph comes into play. A lithograph is an authorized copy of an original work created by the artist himself or other skilled craftsmen. A lithograph is rarely worth more than the original artwork it reproduces, but if the print quality is excellent and the production numbers are low, it may still have significant value in the art world.

The printing process which creates a lithograph is different from other traditional methods. Most printing presses require the printmaker to etch an image or text into metal plates or physically carve out the image on blocks of wood or other soft material. To create a lithograph, however, no etching is required. The artist/lithographer uses a set of oil based crayons or pencils to draw a mirrored image of the original artwork onto a smooth stone tablet. This is by far the most time-consuming part of the lithograph process.

After the image has been recreated to the satisfaction of the original artist or other authority, it is ready to be turned into a lithograph. The lithographic process uses the principle that oil and water cannot mix. An oil-based variety of ink is applied directly to the plate and immediately bonds with the oily crayon lines. Water is then wiped onto the remaining unpainted areas to discourage the ink from smearing. A sheet of paper, preferably one with a high cotton content, is then placed over the entire plate.

The inked stone or metal plate and the paper are placed in a press and light pressure is used to transfer some of the ink. If the original image were a monochrome pen and ink drawing, this would be the only press run necessary. A color lithograph of an elaborate Van Gogh painting, however, might require several different runs with up to four different color inks -- black, red, yellow and blue. The same paper would be placed precisely over the re-inked plates, eventually creating a satisfactory lithograph copy. This same process is used to create color pages in newspapers.

Since the process for creating a lithograph can be just as time-consuming and detailed as an original painting, printing runs are often kept low to preserve value. A signed lithograph may have a set of numbers expressed as a fraction on one corner, such as 12/300. This means that the lithograph was the twelfth one produced in a series limited to three hundred prints. Some famous artists, notably Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, were more than willing to authorize or create numerous lithographs during their lifetimes. Others are not always eager to see their work reproduced on a commercial scale, so it may be rare to find an authorized lithograph.

There are other ways of duplicating original artwork for the commercial market, so never assume the Monet print in an art store is indeed a lithograph. Ask the proprietor to confirm the printing method used to recreate your favorite piece of artwork. A signed lithograph may have more collectible value, but the print quality itself can be variable. When it comes to buying art, it is most important to buy what you like, regardless of the printing method.

What is a serigraph?

Screenprinting, or serigraphy, previously known as Silkscreening is a printmaking technique that traditionally creates a sharp-edged image using a stencil and a porous fabric. A screenprint or serigraph is an image created using this technique.

It began as an industrial technology, and was adopted by American graphic artists in the 1930s; the Pop Art movement of the 1960s further popularized the technique. Many of Andy Warhol's most famous works were created using the technique. It is currently popular both in fine arts and in commercial printing, where it is commonly used to put images on T-shirts, hats, ceramics, glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, paper, metals, and wood.

In electronics, the term screenprinting or screenprinting legend often refers to the writing on a printed circuit board. Screenprinting may also be used in the process of etching the copper wiring on the board or computer chips.

Graphic screenprinting is widely used today to create many mass or large batch produced graphics, such as posters or display stands. Full color prints can be created by printing in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). Screenprinting is often preferred over other processes such as dye sublimation or inkjet printing because of its low cost and ability to print on many mediums.

What is a limited edition?

A limited edition is a series of identical original art prints, numbered from 1 to whatever, and signed by the artist. Although the prints are not one of a kind, they are each considered a work of art. The key to any limited edition is that the artist only prints a certain number... then, never prints that image again. If the image were from a woodblock or an etching plate, the block or plate would be destroyed when the edition was completely printed.

The numbering system for limited edition prints shows the print number over the total quantity in the edition. Print #7 out of 100 would have this written on it: 7/100. Lower numbers are printed first and sold first, so they are generally more highly prized than later prints.

What is a monoprint?

A monoprint is an original, unique work of art. That means there's just one. A limited edition of one, if you will. It's still called a print since the media is printmaking.

What is a reproduction, then?

As opposed to an original print, the print is not a reproduction or a copy of some other artwork, like a print of a painting, of a photo, or of a watercolor. A poster of the Mona Lisa, for example, would be considered a reproduction.

To view Limited edition Prints, or to own your very own Monoprint ,please feel free to take a tour through http://www.the22ndfloor.com