What exactly is giclée?
Giclée is a word coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made on inkjet printers. It is based on the word gicleur, a French technical term for a nozzle which sprays ink. Unlike a four-color home printer, the printers used by Artisan Press Works have either nine or ten color cartridges to provide more color accuracy and consistency.

High quality: Giclée prints are known for their exceptional quality. They capture intricate details, vibrant colors, and tonalities that closely resemble the original artwork or photograph.

Longevity: These prints are often created using archival-quality inks and materials, making them resistant to fading and deterioration over time. They are designed to last up to 200 years without losing their quality when properly cared for.

Do I need an appointment to bring my originals in for image capture?
Nope! While we do prefer scheduled appointments, we are open 9-4, M-F for walk-ins.

Do I receive high resolution files of my work?
We provide a high res .tiff at the original size of the artwork, which is identical to the file we keep in our archives. We also provide a reduced (medium) size .png that is easier to work with on a typical home computer. The third file is a web ready .png, sized to provide a clean image on screen but small enough to prevent unauthorized reproductions.

What is your turnaround time for image captures and prints?
Times vary depending on our current queue size. We typically turn most image captures around in 5-7 working days and most prints in 4-5 days. We’ll do our best to accommodate rush orders. Please call us for an up-to-date turnaround time.

Do you varnish canvas prints? Can I embellish them?
All canvas prints are varnished with Glamour 2, museum grade print varnish at no extra charge. The varnish provides protection from UV rays, dust and other environmental contaminants. Once varnished, prints can be embellished using standard acrylic paints. Be sure to let us know ahead of time that you plan to embellish the final print so we can discuss finishing options and techniques.

Can you make giclée prints from cell phone shots of my painting?
Phone photos are almost never of the quality we print from.

Do I have to come to your shop to pick up finished work?
When we do image captures, we ask that you come in to approve our color match and pick up your original. If you choose to rely on our color acuity, you may authorize in-house approval. Once the color is approved and printing is completed, you can rely on our full-service shipping capabilities and experience to ship your finished piece safely. We can send your piece to you or directly to your client

Can you only print to canvas?
We have a wide range of media to choose from including canvas, metallic canvas, matte papers, photo papers, watercolor and art papers. Our Hahnemühle Digital Fine Art Collection consists of true artist papers for art reproductions. All the Hahnemühle inkjet media allow for fine art prints featuring an extensive color gamut, best contrast and finest nuances.

Do you have a file transfer service?
We can accommodate file transfers via DropBox, but our web-submission form is preferred for all order submissions!

What if I want notecards made from your captures?
We can accommodate any of your printing needs. Cards, postcards, books and posters are most popular but our wealth of experience we can find a print solution to meet your budget.

I have a unique project in mind that isn’t standard, but I am not sure how to pull it off. Can you help?
Absolutely. At Artisan Press Works, we pride ourselves in the collaborative nature of our customer service. We work closely with artists to help them realize their dreams. To name a few projects: we have built backlit lightboxes, created large puzzles and printed on unusual substrates. We strive to offer you all the choices available in this modern, creative world.

Do I need to varnish my painting before it’s photographed? Not necessarily. We use a technique called cross polarization to eliminate glare, gloss differential and specular highlights. The technique allows us to accurately capture all the detail and color regardless if the original has been varnished or not.