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Shark · September 22, 2009

I was wondering, if you purchase a photo printed in the Giclee Watercolor process, or on canvas, does one of these options produce a print that looks as if it was painted? I've seen some photos that look like that and was wondering if it is one of the processes that is available here.
Thanks.

Shark

Shark · September 22, 2009

Nobody knows?
Does anybody know if this type of print is available through SmugMug?
Thanks.

Shark

Shark · September 23, 2009

Another route.
I am looking for help from anyone who may have purchased photographs using either the Giclee Watercolor process, or printed on canvas. Can you describe how your photos turned out? I am looking for a particular finish, and am wondering if one of these two options will provide it for me.
Thanks.

Shark

WinsomeWorks · September 23, 2009

Shark wrote:

I was wondering, if you purchase a photo printed in the Giclee Watercolor process, or on canvas, does one of these options produce a print that looks as if it was painted? I've seen some photos that look like that and was wondering if it is one of the processes that is available here.
Thanks. Shark

I don't know how you have your galleries set up, but I believe both of those options are available through SmugMug from the Bay Photo lab option. I only see the canvas option available through EZPrints; I think they do not offer watercolor. I just bought a Giclee watercolor print (large-- 18 X24") of one of my photos from a local camera shop. It was on the smoothest watercolor paper they had. From a foot or so away, you might have thought it were simply a matte print. The colors are just slightly less bright & less intense than a glossy I had made at the same time from the same file. I wouldn't say the smooth paper delivered a real painterly effect, but in my case that's not what I was looking for. I did see some others when I picked it up, and the more textured papers definitely have the more painterly look that you might want. My print, once put behind glass, will probably not be any more attractive than a regular glossy inkjet print although it feels very nice to the touch. But a more textured one, if the right kind of photo is chosen for it, might be a great look. I see why people like these for wedding portraits or certain landscapes.

I haven't tried canvas yet, but it seems that at some shows, the gallery wraps & etc. are selling well. I saw some prints on canvas at the same shop, and they too look a little more painterly due to the texture. If you want a print for its sharpness & brilliance & detail, canvas may not be the way to go. But if you want it to have a bit of the look of a realistic painting instead, I'd say try it. Some labs will print you several test swatches for a low cost, so that you have a reference point for the various finishes/ looks. And from what I can tell, "Giclee" is usually, when seen in photo labs, just a nice French word for an inkjet print. Btw, as I just learned from Andy, if you want to switch your preferred lab, you evidently need to go into "pro tools" to do it. There's another recent thread (from me) on support that mentions this.

Shark · September 23, 2009

Thanks for the reply. That is exactly what I wanted to know. I know how to switch my preferred labs, but I just wasn't sure what both processes looked like. So instead of paying a lot of money to test it out, I thought I'd ask someone who has already chosen these two styles.
Thanks again for getting back to me on this.

Shark

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