| Offset
Lithography
is the process of taking an original piece of art
and separating the colors using a scanner or digital camera which feeds
the image directly into a computer. Using this information and
utilizing the photo offset printing process the press recreates all the
colors in the original artwork. Additional tints or touch plates may be
added to produce a print that is an exact match to the original
painting. |
| An "Edition"refers
to the actual number of prints made
from the plate.
The edition size may be determined by many
things. The popularity of the
artist, the appeal of the particular artwork. Some artists who
are self published will
ordinarily publish a certain number of each of his works. |
| A limited
edition is a picture
that
is one of a
pre-determined number of prints of
a particular original art. after the printing of that
number, the plates are
destroyed and no more are produced in that format. each will have it's
own number and a certificate of authenticity. from # 1 to the
last one printed it is recognized by looking in the margin or corner of
the picture area. you will see 25/500 if your picture is
the 25th one in a series of 500 |
| A "Signed
and numbered" print is a
print from the edition
that
was published. It has the signature of the artist.
Each print will have its own
number. It reads like this 25/1500 This means that out of
1500 prints that comprise the
edition, you have the 25th one that was signed by the artist.
|
| An Edition Size
is
the actual number of prints that have been
published of thisparticular picture. The plates are destroyed. The
number is then
designated by the number after a forward slash. for instance.. 22/100
|
Open
Edition print
Often, an
artist and publisher will
decide to make a picture available to as many who
would like to have a copy.
There is no predetermined edition size. Sometimes it is a
smaller version of one that was
previously published as a limited edition print. It may be a
vignette, or just a section,
often oval shaped, of the original. The format is usually changed,
usually by cropping.
Sometimes the art will not have been previously published. The
paper
quality is usually the same as a
limited edition print depending on who actually
does the
printing.
An open edition is less expensive. They are often hand signed
by the artist and they
sometimes eventually go out of print also. When this happens, the
open edition may increase in
value also.
Back
Up
|
An Artists
proof
When the
size of the printing has
been established, (this may be confusing) actually
more will be printed than the
number stated on the print. This number varies but is usually
small. These prints are
given to the artist to do with as he wishes. Often they are sold by the
publisher. The quality of the
print
is the same. If there were 50 prints set aside for the artists
proofs, they will be
numbered AP 1/50 up to AP 50/50. (An Artist's Proof is a
smaller edition of an image that also has a
regular edition size. It is usually no more than 10 percen t of
the
regular edition size. It will be consecutively numbered and be
accompanied by a certificate of authenticity |
A Publisher's
proof
It is about the same
as an artist's proof
except that the # of prints designated for
this is sold at the
discretion of the publisher.
|
Lithograph
This is the same as an
offset reproduction. |
Serigraph
This is more in the
category of original art. There
will usually be a significantly smaller
edition size. It is done
much like a silk screen. layer after layer of paint is applied
until it is
finished. There is more
brilliant
color and they have a more "original" look about them. They are
hand pulled. They demand a
higher degree of work done by the artist than
offset reproductions.
Serigraphy utilizes the silk-screen printing process. For each desired
color, a stencil is created indicating where the color will be applied.
Then the stencil is adhered to a silk or nylon mesh screen, and paint
of that color is forced through the screen on to the paper. This
process creates a luxurious, vibrant and often-textured image.
Back Up
|
Giclee
The term "Iris
Giclee"
better defines the method used
in limited edition reproduction. Giclee
is a French term
meaning "spraying of ink." Printing directly
from information obtained from
the original painting, Iris printers
spray microscopic drops of color on to a fine art
paper or canvas. Displaying the full
color spectrum, these
artworks have vibrant colors
and a velvety
texture. This is a
sophisticated
technique done with a
computer and printed with special
ink. Much has
been
said about this process in
recent years and stability of inks have been a
subject of interest
in
this type of work. research
has been done and new inks have been developed that
should make
those who
were skeptical of this new way of printing
more sure
of the
stability of colors.
giclee (zhee-CLAY) is
an
individually produced,
high-resolution,
high-fidelity reproduction done on a
special large format printer.
Giclees are produced from digital scans of existing artwork. Also,
since many artists now produce only digital art, there is no
"original"
that can be hung on a wall.
Giclees solve that problem, while
creating a whole new vibrant medium for art.
Giclees can be
printed on any
number of media, from
canvas to watercolor paper to transparent acetates . Giclees are
superior to traditional lithography in several
ways. The colors
are
brighter, last longer, and are so high-resolution that they
are
virtually continuous tone, rather than tiny dots. The range, or "gamut"
of color for giclees is far beyond that of lithography.
Lithography uses tiny
dots of
four colors--cyan,
magenta, yellow and black--to fool the eye into
seeing
various hues and
shades. Giclees use inkjet technology, but far more sophisticated than
your
desktop
printer, with lightfast inks and finer, more numerous,
replaceable printheads, a wider color gamut, and the
ability to use
various media to print on.They
are priced midway between
original art and regular
limited edition lithographs. Limited edition litho prints are
usually produced in editions of 500-1000 or more, but
giclees rarely
exceed
50-100 reproductions.
Giclees were originally developed
as a proofing system
for lithograph printing presses, but it became
apparent that the
presses were having a hard time matching the quality and color of the
giclee proofs.
they
don't have to be produced in huge quantities with their large layout of
capital and storage.
They are created digitally.
Handling, Stretching and
Framing the Giclée on Canvas
Your Giclée on canvas is very delicate and completely intolerant
to water and moisture. It should be handled as carefully as you would
handle an original watercolor taking special care to avoid any contact
with water or mist. Please make certain that your hands are clean, dry
and oil-free before touching it. (Perspiration on your hands or fingers
will damage the image.) Stretch it firmly keeping your fingers on the
border as much as possible. Do not spray or mist the back of the canvas
once it has been stretched. As with all fine art reproductions, please
hang it in an area that is free from strong light and humidity. Handled
properly, your Giclée will provide many years of pleasurable
viewing.
Back Up
|
A Poster
is a
lithograph that is often done to commemorate an event or used as an
advertisement.
Old movie posters
fall
into this category. They
have much appeal and are used often in decorating.
The quality of paper
used
by the publisher varies from
publishing house to publishing house. the same is
true of the inks used
in
printing. They are an
inexpensive way to decorate, the subject matter in limitless
and it is not hard to
find
one that has particular
appeal to nearly everyone. Many works by the "Old Masters" such as
Monet, Manet,
Renoir, Cassatt, O Keefe, and
others are printed as "posters". They are an open edition, although
sometimes
you
will find one that has gone "out
of print". ]. |
| A remarque
is a
small
original
sketch or painting that is
done somewhere in the
margin of
a limited edition print.
Usually an interesting detail from the picture is chosen and used in
the
remarque. |
Art For
Investment
One cannot say that
this does not
sometimes prove exciting
and fruitful. However, it is not
unusual
to find that a print does
not appreciate in value. Buying art for investment is not
usually recommended.
If a
person buys a work of art
because he really likes it, it will never be a disappointment. if it is
a picture
that
does indeed go up in value over
the years, This is an added benefit.]. |
The Care
Of Your Art:
The care of your art is
important. In a few words, it should be kept out of direct sunlight and
heat. away
from dampness and
carefully
handled. If a print is bought
with the idea of reselling it later it needs to be kept in perfect
condition.
Handling in such away as to avoid
any creasing is necessary.
When storing, they
should
be stored flat between acid
free board.
Back Up
|
|
Is One print number better than another?
In original,
or hand pulled
lithography, numbers are
very important. The plates
that
reproduce the original art
work start to wear down as the edition is
printed., making the prints slightly
less defined. The lower the
number, the clearer the image on the print. Artists test the plates by
running a few prints
and
then carefully them for
mistakes. They reserve approximately the first 10 percent of the
edition for Artists
Proofs (AP's) which
cost more than the other prints in the edition because of their sharper
quality.
It is different with offset lithography. Usually
less than 10% of an edition size is set aside for AP's.
so, they are more limited than the
rest
of the edition. An AP will
have an "AP" written beside the print number. "artists proof is
sometimes written out.
the
offset printing process,
however,
is such that print number one should be exactly the same as print
number
1000,
with absolutely no difference
in quality. It is an interesting feature to have # 1 in an edition, or
the last number,
or to
have the same numbers in a
set or a series of pictures. it may or not add additional value to your
collection.
Back Up
|
About Canvas
reproductions and transfers.
Actually,
prints on canvas have been around for some time. The technique
has
been
improved
and adds exciting
possibilities to those who love art and are involved in interior
decorating.
There
are advantages.
First, the resemblance to the original art. This is not to say it
is like the
original.
just
that it has many
features of original art that makes it advantageous. Most
impressionistic work,
for instance, is
done with oils and
acrylics on canvas. stretched on stretcher bars or on masonite.
No
glass is used
in the framing.
In a canvas
transfer
or a picture directly printed on canvas,
It is stretched onto a
stretcher
bar and
framed similar to the
way the particular art was intended
to be framed. Without Glass.
Not
needing the glass
means that you will not have the glare associated with a framed work
under glass. You
can get non glare glass
and special glass that is very expensive (that may help).. Non glare
glass in some
instances is good, but
it has its own problems. Mainly a frosty haze. The larger the picture,
the better some
art is on canvas.
Canvas
is durable. and
can
be carefully cleaned. Most will have an ultraviolet filtering
quality
in the coating which
helps prevent
fading. Some artists enhance the canvas by painting over it,
giving it highlights and making
it a bit more special.
There
are different
techniques used for applying the picture to the canvas.. Some are
printed directly
onto the
canvas. With some, the
print is first removed from the paper and transferred to a canvas that
has been coated
with a substrate.
Then
a layer of an acrylic substance is applied and
special effects like
brush strokes or crackling can be used. Serigraphs are often done
on canvas. these
are a wonderful
addition to the choices we have in selecting fine art.
There
is some art that
would not be as appropriate on canvas. This would include watercolors,
pastels,
and
pictures that the artist
would originally frame under glass. ].
|
|
What is conservation
framing
With time, you may
notice changes in a picture after it has been framed. There may be a
shift in color,
a tendency toward brittleness and discoloration of a picture. If you
have pictures from the past hanging
on your wall. you may find that this is certainly true. In the past,
the materials used in framing was much different than it is today. This
may still be true today in some
instances, where less expensive items are sold, and cost cutting is
important.
Corrugated cardboard is acidic and is sometimes used in the backing of
a picture.Paper matting is sometimes used .In the past few years
it has
been a buffered paper . This is much better than what was previously
used, It still has not stood the test of time.
If you are concerned about maintaining the quality of the item you are
framing. Conservation
framing is definitely recommended.
In conservation framing, all acidic materials are not used. This
includes matting, backing, adhesives
and tapes. Scotch tapes and masking tapes are among the worst enemies
of valuable paper items.
Museum,
or conservation framing is done with lignin, alum, acids and other
impurities. 100% rag matting is most generally used. Conservation
glass filters 95% of light
and is used to help prevent any fading.].
|
What
is the Secondary Market?
Secondary Market is one source for obtaining prints or canvases after
the edition is sold out from the publisher. The value and availability
are based upon supply and demand. The secondary market can be extremely
unpredictable as price is determined by the value of the print to the
individual consumer and may differ from one geographic area to another.
Will
Limited Editions Increase
in Value?
The value of a limited edition print is unpredictable and based upon
the public's demand for this image. Since it is a limited edition and
only so many prints will be sold, when the print is sold out the value
may increase if additional people desire to purchase it. Limited
editions and all other art work should be purchased because you love it
and want to enjoy it everyday. If a print increases in value, then you
have an added bonus.
Back
Up
|
|
