Cumbria Picture Library

Fine Art Print Service

Why our printing is special

To achieve high quality, printers should be able to output a very even (called 'linear') gradation of tones from light to dark. The normal proprietory software that comes with the machine (called the 'driver') can't do this, and there can be a blocking up of shadow detail and fine highlight subtlety. Raster Image Processing software is needed to control ink levels, and we use a colour measurement instrument called a spectrophotometer to 'linearise' this software, in order to prepare files for printing. Put simply, the ink output is modified to get the very best tonal response possible.

In addition we use specialised colour spaces that give control over colour saturation without any of the accompanying distortion of tonal values that can occur. This working method also minimises loss of colours.

Our print specifications

Most print services claim high quality without specifying the actual test details it is based on. You can look ours up - there is an independent scientific test at - www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/4800.html, that gives our print specification a longevity rating of approximately 100 years for colour and 200 years for black and white, before noticeable fading would occur. The testing equates to pictures framed behind glass under normal domestic conditions of humidity and brightness. (Note: Our custom canvas printing below is produced differently, giving even greater longevity ratings).

We have produced an information document on Longevity Ratings.

Prints are carefully made one at a time to order, and normally supplied within 7 days in acid-free tissue rolled in a strong, 3” wide cardboard tube. We can also mount and frame prints if required. They can be made any size up to A2, or wider (17" by any width). Example prices are given below.

We provide three types of print -

1. Fine Art Giclée Prints

'Giclée print' is a general term describing high resolution inkjet printing using archival quality materials to reproduce artwork.

We specialise in making these very high quality fine art prints for display, using the best inks and papers available - 325gsm Innova Warm Tone Gloss a superb fine art paper, with the K3 Ultrachrome pigmented 8-inkset to get both superb colour, and true black and white prints (grayscale, with several black/gray inks).

2. Satin and Gloss Finish Prints

These lower priced prints are made on satin and gloss finish papers to a non-archival quality. The same archival K3 Ultrachrome pigmented inks are used as for the fine art prints. These cheaper prints look identical to the fine art ones, and are produced with our customised technology - the only difference is they do not carry an archival guarantee, but in reality they will last a long, long time, and are fully suitable for exhibition/display. They are still very high quality prints, providing excellent colour and sharpness, and will not exhibit any image fade for many years when mounted behind glass in normal domestic conditions of brightness and humidity. They are also very suitable for use in reproduction in commercial use.

3. Canvas Prints

We can also print on a superb quality matte fine grain canvas - Hahnemuhle's Fine Art Canvas Artist in 340gsm weight, using HP Vivera pigmented inks, the most archival on the market today with a fade-free life under normal display conditions of 250 yrs. These can be produced with a 'Gallery Wrap' where the image is extended round the edge of the frame.

This high quality canvas custom print service is available by quotation from us up to very large sizes, and we recommend advising you in advance regarding the specification of the print file you send us. Contact us for a /discussion and quote.