Canvas prints - giclee vs bonded prints

shadowblade

I normally sell my photos printed on metal, as it tends to suit my high contrast, highly-saturated landscapes, but have recently been asked about printing on canvas.

As far as I'm aware, canvas has the disadvantage of losing fine details in the print (although this is mitigated when making huge, 40"x120" prints) and having less shadow detail and more muted colours than other mediums.

I've also noticed that there are two different methods of printing on canvas - direct giclee prints (using a large-format inkjet printer) and making a normal print on photographic paper (including metallic), then bonding the print to canvas or transferring it across otherwise.

Which is the better method? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

arodney

I'd suggest ink jet (please, lose the term 'glclee'). Wider gamut, more options for differing canvas materials, more light fast, faster to produce (you can do it yourself).

Art Scott

arodney wrote: »

I'd suggest ink jet (please, lose the term 'glclee'). Wider gamut, more options for differing canvas materials, more light fast, faster to produce (you can do it yourself).

Please explain why the term Giclee should not be used??

Thanx.

shadowblade

arodney wrote: »

I'd suggest ink jet (please, lose the term 'glclee'). Wider gamut, more options for differing canvas materials, more light fast, faster to produce (you can do it yourself).

Does it really have a wider gamut than standard photographic prints?

What do you mean by more options for different canvas materials?

Do you find the narrower dynamic range, more muted colours and limited surfaces (e.g. no metallic) limiting?

Note that my photos tend to be highly-detailed, highly-saturated landscapes.

arodney

Art Scott wrote: »

Please explain why the term Giclee should not be used??

Thanx.

Its a BS marketing term that doesn't mean anything even remotely useful to describe the process. Look it up (if you want, the history of this process starting at Nash Editions). In my mind, the usage of the term Giclee automatically describes someone trying to sell you something (that isn't what they are selling) or someone who doesn't understand either the history or the process or the actual definition of the word.

arodney

shadowblade wrote: »

Does it really have a wider gamut than standard photographic prints?

On a modern ink jet, yes. In some areas significantly.

What do you mean by more options for different canvas materials?

You could select any material designed for this process and there are a number of such vendors. Silver? I suspect one or two.

Do you find the narrower dynamic range, more muted colours and limited surfaces (e.g. no metallic) limiting?

Much depends on the printer, the canvas etc. We can't make a general statement. It probably will have a lower contrast ratio than say a smooth glossy paper. That said, the Dmax of a really good modern ink jet should exceed silver material a bit.

Other than maybe cost to the consumer, I don't see any upside to the silver process. That cost savings would be for the service only (the equipment is very high). So for control, speed, light fastness, gamut etc, ink jet.

arodney

Since there are questions about the so called giclee origin and maybe the OP wants to have a shop make him a print on Canvas, consider contacting Mac Hobert formally of Nash Editions: http://www.rmacholbert.com/