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The concept of fine art reproduction has
been popular since the the 18th century. The desire on the part
of the artist to share feelings and thoughts with people has
existed at every stage in art history. Just as the musician has
the desire to communicate ideas to a wide audience, so, too,
do artists in such areas as sculpture, drawing and especially
painting.
A painter expresses his thoughts with shapes
and colors. The artist reproduces his work to share his message
with the rest of the world, relate to a broader range of admirers
and to satisfy the public's demand for art works.
The quality of art reproduction technology
is in a constant state of advancement and progress. The latest
and best technology to date, digital printing, makes it possible
to produce quality reproductions of original art works in an
efficient and cost-effective manner.
Therefore, it is apparent that art reproduction
is a necessary element in the recognition of an artist and his
work. In the past, many original works of art were created on
canvas, leather, wood, metal or clay - relatively durable materials.
Many of these still survive in museums and private collections
around the world. Unfortunately, many fine, historic works of
art were created on materials of lesser quality and have not
resisted the passage of time. Partly out of a lack of technical
expertise, and partly out of irresponsibility and neglect, they
have been lost to the world forever. Reproductions not only increase
the availability of original art, they also ensure the longevity
of an artist's work.
The reproduction methods used to reproduce
paintings and other forms of graphic arts are divided into four
major categories: photography, photo-offset printing, serigraph
(silk screen) printing and continuous-tone lithography. A major
portion of these reproductions are printed on paper rather than
heavy textured canvas, allowing for editions that can be produced
and distributed inexpensively and in large quantities.
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS
The photographic print process is by far the least expensive
in small quantities. However, it is also the least faithful in
color fidelity and contrast and is generally not printed on archival
quality paper.The obvious deficiencies in color fidelity, the
tendency of the colors to fade and the inferior quality paper
has led most galleries to reject photographic reproductions.
PHOTO-OFFSET PRINTING
The photo-offset
is essentially a high volume printing
process. The original image is mechanically color separated,
through a series of filters, into four secondary colors: black,
cyan, magenta and yellow. A halftone screen is introduced to
break the image into a series of dots, similar to the screen
used for photographs in newspapers. Many higher quality offset
prints are printed on 100% rag paper. Color fidelity is better
than with the photographic process, but still not accurate. While
offset prints of pastels and watercolors are adequate, reproductions
of acrylic or oil paintings are generally flat, losing the original's
strength and vibrancy of color. The halftone dots have a tendency
to break up very fine details. Art collectors, galleries and
more knowledgeable buyers tend to avoid photo-offset prints for
this reason.
SERIGRAPH (SILK SCREEN)
PRINT
The serigraph has become popular only recently, within the past
few decades. For higher volume editions, this process utilizes
a four-color photo-mechanical color separation similar to the
photo-offset. A limited number of artists create a separate screen
for each individual color. Each color is then printed, one color
set a time, onto paper. The process does allow for the depositing
of heavier amounts of ink and does allow for some texture. Color
fidelity is generally good. However, the silk screen dots inherent
in serigraphs have a tendency to break up fine detail and make
some colors unachievable. While acrylics and oils reproduce adequately,
pastels and watercolors generally lack the suppleness and softness
of the original art work. This process is quite expensive on
a per-unit basis.
CONTINUOUS-TONE LITHOGRAPHY
Continuous-tone
lithography is a reproduction process
with many of the characteristics of original stone lithography.
There are no halftone or screen dots that break up fine detail
and lower the perceived value of the print. Color separations
are made by hand to achieve the highest possible quality. The
ability to reproduce a tonal range far greater than the photo-offset
and serigraph is what makes continuous- tone lithography the
highest quality reproduction process in the art world today.
Acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolors are reproduced on 100%
rag paper, prepared canvas, plastic and many other substrates.
Over the past 50 years, the art market
has greatly benefited from innovations in printing that surpass
mass commercial print methods. These revolutionary new processes
have allowed for the efficient reproduction of unique Limited
Edition art works.
The canvas transfer, or Linograph, method allows printmakers
to use a mass-produced litho print to create a unique reproduction
on canvas.The Repligraph process uses photographic
prints to produce quality, continuous-tone limited editions on
canvas. These innovations, in addition to improvements on past
methods such as serigraphy on canvas, direct offset printing
on canvas and others, have revolutionized the way we view art
in the modern era. Most importantly, each of these innovations
can be viewed as an attempt by artists, developers and printers
to ensure the longevity and uniqueness of individual art works,
and to protect the investments of artists in the value of their
work.
Giclées or direct ink jet prints
How
we create a true Limited Edition using new standards in digital
printing technology.
With the development of permanent new inks,
digital ink jet printing takes its place at the forefront of
future printing media, surpassing even the time-honored lithograph
and photographic processes. At the same time, as artists and
printmakers alike, we wish to protect our art and investments
from fraudulent duplication. The latest innovations in printing
ensure that our processes are protected from imitators.
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 Any other
direct ink jet prints, produced from any digital plotters (Color
Span, Epson, Iris and Roland among others), cannot create true
limited editions of art in and of themselves. Without specific
treatment processes by artists or printmakers.
- Tim Siahatgar
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