A fine art reproduction (giclee print) consists of three elements; the medium, the ink and the top coat. If any one is compromised, the whole print is compromised.
THE MEDIUM
The medium is whatever the giclee is printed on. It can be anything from photo paper, a range of art papers, to canvas. Due to the nature of paper itself, all art printed on it, must be framed under glass. That is, if you want to get any longevity from your print. The glass will protect your paper from moisture, fingerprints and anything else that might find its way onto your art piece. And if you have kids you know what I’m talking about! Canvas on the other hand, is gloriously resilient. It can be displayed in an open frame without the glass. The breathable cotton and cotton/poly blends allow the fabric to dry should it get wet. It’s strong enough to stretch tight over wooden stretcher bars, flexible enough to resist punctures and tears with normal handling, and it doesn’t warp! Sounds perfect doesn’t it? There’s a catch. Most giclee printing canvases on the market are infused with optical brightener additives or OBA’s. The additives make the canvas bright and white. Giclee art needs bright white medium because ink jet printers do not use white ink. All the white in your print is the absence of ink with the medium shining through. So why would you care? Because the OBA’s break down over time when exposed to light, turning the canvas strange hues of blues and yellows. Your art print goes from beautiful to bazaar…How much did you pay for that piece?…Thankfully there is OBA free giclee canvas on the market. If the outfit you’re buying your art from does not tout the benefits of their OBA free canvas, you can bet their not using it.
THE INK
Almost everywhere you read about ink on the Internet, you’ll hear about them being ‘archival’. The claim is that they will last for 75-100 years or more! Well…we just don’t really know do we? They haven’t been around that long. Let’s assume that modern technology can simulate a “100 year” test and conclude that the ink will actually hold up. One thing I can tell you from first hand experience, ink is not water proof. Some sellers will tell you the ink is water resistant all by itself and doesn’t need a top coat. It’s not. I’d hate to see the neighbor kid blow a PB&J sneeze on one of those prints! Also, giclee inks deteriorate significantly when exposed to light. Sound familiar? That brings us to the next element of our print.
THE TOP COAT
Top coat doesn’t sound very exiting does it? Oh, but it is! The right top coat applied to your print can mean the difference between life and death (for your print, that is. Or maybe you, if you happen to be an overly emotional Artist). A top coat serves two ESSENTIAL purposes. Protection from ultraviolet light and protection from water. Did I mention essential? I’m trying to make a point here. A giclee print not treated with a top coat is doomed to a short life. Glass can protect the print from moisture but not from light. Most sellers of prints will tell you not to hang your print in direct sunlight. Even a giclee printed on water color paper or photo paper under glass should be treated with an ultraviolet / water resistant protective top coat. Here we go again back to modern technology. ‘Testing’ has shown that a UV top coat SIGNIFIGANTLY increases the longevity of ‘archival’ inks under exposure to ultraviolet light. For canvas giclee prints, one of the top performers in top coats is Glamour II. What it does for a print is just as the name implies. It makes the colors pop, acts as a barrier to all things evil, and virtually gives your print that rich oil painting feel. If the seller isn’t bragging about Glamour II or a high grade equivalent (like BullDog), their probably not using it. Or worse, they may not be using any top coat. Yikes!
So there you have it; the medium, the ink and the top coat. If any one of these three elements are compromised the whole giclee print is compromised. You don’t want to get stuck with a mess that was once called called Art. When you’re looking for that perfect print for the wall above the mantel, just make sure you’re getting your moneys worth.
About the Author:
Cathy Robertson is an Artist and writer for Fine Art Castle. Have fun, informative decorating & design articles delivered to you! Sign up for our monthly Newsletter today at http://www.fineartcastle.com/decoratingtipsanddesign.aspx . Or stop by and take a peek at our Fine Art Prints for your Canvas Art decorating needs at http://www.fineartcastle.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Fine Art Giclee Prints, What You Should Know Before You Buy so You Can Get Your Moneys Worth
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