simon barlow
fine artist
about limited edition prints
What is a Limited Edition Print?
Limited edition prints are always more desirable than mass produced, or open/unnumbered editions. Today limited editions can be found in as many as two or 1000. Given today’s art market, smaller editions are more common, as it is assumed the lower the number in the edition, the more valuable and collectable the limited editions are likely to be. Once the edition has been sold no more prints should be reproduced of that image.
LE’s should to be distinguished from the original, they should be carefully produced directly from the original work and printed under the artist’s supervision.
A limited edition is normally hand signed and numbered by the artist e.g. 16/100, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the artist and/or the Printmaker.
What is Giclee Printing?
Giclee (pronounced Gee’clay) is a French term meaning to spray or squirt, which is how an inkjet printer works. However, it is not the same as a standard desktop inkjet printer, and is much larger and more detailed. Giclee prints can be over a meter wide and are printed on high quality archival papers and canvas. Giclee is the best way to produce archival reproductions of fine art. Giclée art printing achieves its quality from its seemingly “dot-less” imaging technology that varies from traditional fine art printing which typically relies on screen pattern dots to reproduce full-range color halftones. The Giclée process enables reproduction on virtually the same media as the original artwork whether it’s canvas, textured watercolor paper, or specialty fine art papers.
What is the process from artwork to print?
The artwork is photographed or scanned using a high quality digital camera or scanner, resulting in a high resolution digital image. Once ordered by the client, the print on paper or canvas can then be printed using a large format printer. The biggest contrast between a standard inkjet print and a giclee print is that giclees are printed using pigment-based inks rather than the dye-based inks found in lower-cost inkjets. Pigment-based inks have a longer lifespan, and can, if properly cared for by the owner, last anywhere from 100 to 200 years without significant fading. Once printed, Simon then signs the print, and with the canvas prints, applies a liquid laminate to not only protect, but enhance the image. The print is then carefully packed in a shipping tube and sent to the buyer.