Topic: Archival Pigment Print

[beck]

I went to the local framing shop and had one of my works printed on one of those huge Epson printers. Forgot the model name. But they only had two types of paper and I chose the Epson Enhanced Matt. I think this was printed using the tri-tone (3 tone base) inkjets rather than the 8, etc...though the machine was equipped for such. I was blown away by how nice it came out. The look and feel of it is like that of velvet. I asked what should I call this method (print) if I were to ever have it chosen for a show or what have you and he basically said, archival pigment print. Close to a Giclee I asked? Not really as most traditional giclee prints typically use 8 to 12 color inks.

Anyhow, the klutz that I am accidentally scraped a tiny piece of the print. Ugh. But, none to worry. I simply used a black charcoal pencil and filled it in and it blended beautifully....much to my surprise. Thankfully it was near the edge where there is heavy vignetting. The ink and print seem very delicate and prone to scratches and such. Which I found out.

So I got to thinking. Because the pencil did so nicely....I was wondering if I could use these pencils, including white for contrast, etc., to render some sort of hand colored picture? I am thinking I can. Something to enhance in an artful manner. But, hoping that I could, what can I do to preserve the end results? I have no idea.

I wish I could scan the print but it's 12x12 and doesn't fit on my beat up scanner...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think I discovered a new love....hahaha. 

[Francois]

So I got to thinking. Because the pencil did so nicely....I was wondering if I could use these pencils, including white for contrast, etc., to render some sort of hand colored picture? I am thinking I can. Something to enhance in an artful manner. But, hoping that I could, what can I do to preserve the end results? I have no idea.

This sounds so Thomas Kinkade-ish (sorry to put things so bluntly... yikes that's gotta hurt  )

As for preserving the print, Krylon makes a great product called Workable Fixatif. It's a flat varnish that helps seal in charcoals and dry pastels... can be found at any art supply stores.

[original_ann]

Francois beat me to it: I was going to mention the protective art spray!  (I say give it a go - I doubt you'd lean toward a Kinkaderized output and I'd be very curious to see the output!   Not sure how to scan large images... don't Kinkos have large bed scanners? I'm about 95% positive that they do.  Give one a call!

[tijeras]

I have never used the Krylon stuff on a photo, but I can tell you the stuff does have an odor and if you do use it, be sure to spray so the mist just drifts down on the print.
Too close and you will literally blow some of your charcoal or pastel off the surface of the paper.

Use sparingly, and in a well ventilated area, unless of course you want some extra kick    to the whole experience!

Try a test sheet first, and see if you like it.

[Francois]

The easiest way to keep a duplicate of a large picture is to put it on a flat surface outside at about 45 degree angle on either a white cloud day or on a sunny day and take a digicam picture of the whole... that' how a local photographer used to work.

As for the Kinkade comment, it's because I once saw a report on him (I think it was on 60 Minutes) and he explained how taking photo silk screen prints of his paintings and having people on his "team" add white highlights over the existing ones made the picture "come to life"...

[db]

I laughed out loud to read the phrase 'traditional giclee'. They haven't been around that long have they? And I wouldn't have a problem calling it a Giclee which, from my very limited language skills I think is simply French for 'spray'.

I have also heard people use the term 'Dry Printing' as a catch-all for these sort of technologies.

And I'd expect your original print to become dryer and more resistant to scratches in time. Some paper and ink combinations feel dry immediately, but will set better in a day or two. I often spray or brush a laquer or varnish onto Dry prints for protection or for the effect, or for both.

[Francois]

I often saw the term Piezography being used to describe inkjet prints...

As for Giclee, it is a trademark for a company that disappeared (as faras I know). It is not really the word for spray (though it is very close), but an invented word based on the verb gicler, which means to squirt out

A giclee print has more charm marketing wise than a squirt print 

[moominsean]

print out a small one and mess about with it!

while i see this format being useful for personal prints and stuff to share with friends, i refuse to buy any 'art' that is basically a fancy inkjet print. if it's cheap, maybe, but i see people selling giclee prints of original works online for $200.

[greenstphotography]

I know I am coming to this discussion a bit late, but here goes.

First I also recomend the fixatif, i use it on all of my inkjet prints.  It does smell, and should be used in a well ventilated room.

As for the term Giclee prints.  My understanding (it may be wrong) was that this was a term coined in the early days of inkjet photo printing.  There was basically (as always with a new way of doing things) a distrust of the idea you could make good prints using an inkjet printer.  Plus the first inkjet photo papers hadn't been proven to have much longevity.  So someone coined the term Giclee to make the printing process sound more "high end" if you will.  In the end Giclee is just an inkjet print.

Sean I am guessing your are talking about non photographic works of art.  In that case I can agree with not spending so much on a reproduction.  On the other hand I put wet darkroom prints and digital prints on the same level.  Just my opinion, I charge the same for prints made by either method.

[Francois]

In the early days of the inkjet photo prints, most of the work was done using modified plotters which came from the engineering world.

Here is the story of the Giclee print on Wiki

I remember reading about another thing called the Cactus print system many years ago. The setup consisted of Four computers, all accelerated Mac Quadra 950 (tha's how old the information is). One was used only to prepare the raster image (RIP) and one was used to drive the printer because the files produced were simply huge by the standards at the time. The system was also dreadfully expensive. It used a Versatec wide format printer (42 inches) which deposited color toner on the paper (the company was later bought out by Xerox). Using their custom software, they claimed you could scan a picture and print it within 15 to 20 minutes...

The one drawback was the price: over 200,000$ US for the whole setup...

[Info Red]

I have been experimenting with hand coloring digital prints on Epson Enhanced Matte paper as well, using Prismacolor pencils, and have had excellent results.  I have been hand coloring my silver prints for 30 years or so, but have been hesitant to color the digital stuff, until now.  I recently bought an Epson 4880 printer and it does phenomenal b/w prints!  I've been a silver printer for a very long time, and will not quit any time soon, but I'm also "blown away" by the quality of image coming out of that printer. 

The only differences I see (so far) in using silver vs digital prints are that you can't use photo oils, like Marshalls or Pebeo, and you can't use an eraser the way you can on a silver print.  Archivally I don't have a clue about longevity, etc.

Grab a box of Prismacolor pencils (they come individually or in sets) and do a whole lot of playing.  You can get the pencils at hobby shops, art stores, etc. 

I've seen a lot of your work on other forums and know what a sense of wonder and play you have in your work.  I'd love to see you post some hand colored work.  I think you print your own silver prints, and if you do, then just do some prints on a matte surface paper like Ilford MW MG fiber based paper.  It is terrific, and will also allow you to use the Marshall and Pebeo oils. 

I took the liberty of posting one of my own hand colored (silver) pieces, done with Infrared Film and colored with Prismacolor pencils.


Info Red

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