Digital Copy Photography for Giclee printing

While we are always happy to print from client provided digital files, many of our clients do not have the desire or the ability to create digital files of their original artwork or documents on their own. At Opacolor we are set up to capture and create high end museum quality digital files from our clients originals. We do not use a traditional scanner and can therefor provide a much better end result.

We photograph your originals on location at Opacolor, llc with either a 35mm digital slr or a Better Light scan back. We use both cameras in conjunction with our top of the line studio lighting. This work flow assures the highest quality end product and no file seaming or noise that can result from a flat bed scanner.

Better Light scan backs are acknowledged as the industry leader in producing exceptionally high quality, scientifically accurate digital files. Our Better Light digital files can be saved at resolutions for desk top priting, giclee / fine art reproductions, press and web. Ideal for oversized artwork and originals that should not or cannot be placed on a drum scanner yet the client desires a very high quality digital image that any museum would be proud of. To learn more go to: http://www.betterlight.com/artRepro_feature.html

Our 35mm digital slr photography is perfect for creating portfolio shots, reproducing family heirlooms, or to create power point files.

The History of Giclee Printing and Opacolor

Giclée, pronounced giee-clay, is based on the French word “le gicleur” meaning “nozzle”, or more specifically “gicler” meaning “to squirt, spurt, or spray. It was initially coined as a marketing by Jack Duganne in the early 1990’s to define the process of creating a fine art print with the use of highly calibrated ink-jet printers. A number of years before this term was coined, people were using IRIS ink-jet printers, initially manufactured as pre-press proofers, to create fine art prints.

Before this ink-jet technology was available many artists created fine art prints through lithography, using a traditional printing press, where the unit price is lower however because of the way the presses work the quantity ordered is much higher (roughly 500 prints at a time). Due to the larger inventory there is a lower perceived value by collectors and art buyers and the inks and papers tend to be less archival.

Today the term giclée is the most popular term used today to refer to digital ink-jet printing to create archival fine art prints. The artwork being printed can start its life as an original piece of fine art (painting, drawing, etc) or as a digital / computer generated art file. There are many other people who take advantage of this technology, for example people who are reproducing historical documents or family heirlooms.

When choosing a printer to produce your giclée prints there are a number of factors to consider in order to guarantee the highest level product for your clients:

The way a digital file is created from your original artwork

The way your digital file is color managed and prepared

The use of archival inks (pigment based)

The papers and or canvases are archivally manufactured for ink-jet printing

Giclée printing allows todays artists to provide a museum quality print to their clients in a very cost effective manner. The prints can be produced in small runs or even on demand. With current technology your giclée prints should be rated for an archival life-span of 50-200 years - far outliving any of us.

At Opacolor customer satisfaction is our bottom line and we pride ourselves on customizing our workflows for each of our clients specific needs. We have clients as close as 3 blocks away and others as far away as Italy. We look forward to being able to discuss your individual needs and creating a workflow to meet them.

Giclee Print Certificate of Authenticity

Some artists feel that a certificate of authenticity will add value to their giclée prints and aid in sales. I do feel that they can give more credibility to the quality of your giclée art print.

I suggest that the artist and printmaker both authorize a simple document listing the title of the piece, the size, the medium, the edition number and the date of the printing. At Opacolor we are happy to sign/ authorize your certificates of authenticity for any work we print.

I also highly encourage every artist to sign and number the actual giclée print as often certificates and artwork get separated along the way.

Why Opacolor?

Opacolor, llc is the next generation of service provided by Melissa Sargent and Steve Agard who together have worked in the image making field for over 50 years. Formerly associated with Hyperion Studios, Steve and Melissa have combined forces to advance the craft of producing museum quality giclee prints at Opacolor, llc.

Opacolor, llc is a small, flexible studio that works one-on-one with our clients who need the highest quality reproductions of visual images. We work with images that have artistic applications, sentimental applications, historical applications, as well as those that have technical application.

We do specialty work such as creating fine art reproductions with artists (often called giclée), creating restored heirloom portrait photographs via reproduction, making scientifically accurate digital files, and working with customers to solve their very own unique digital imaging problems.

Opacolor is a professional digital imaging studio specializing in

reproducing fine art often called giclée prints
digital copy photography
scanning
retouching and archiving files and images
large format color printing
solving unique customer needs in the management of digital images.


Opacolor offers a complete compliment of related services including

digital files to slides
laminating and mounting
consulting to assist clients in the management of their own in-house color printing systems

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