Fine Art Prints
Fine art prints (gicleé prints) are created on Canson Infinity Edition Etching Rag fine art matte paper. It is an archival, museum grade, premium quality, 100% cotton rag fine art paper. It has a smooth, slightly textured surface, reminiscent of the original genuine etching and printmaking papers.
This paper is acid free and offers resistance to aging by using natural minerals. It has the purest white tone available on the market, without any Optical Brightening Agents, also called OBAs. (Optical brightening agents are artificial brighteners that deteriorate over time.)
Images are generated from high resolution digital photographs, and are printed with Epson professional, archival quality pigment inks. Pigment inks excel in performance.
This paper/ink combination is given a permanency rating of 132 years when framed with UV protective glass. The gicleé printing process provides better color accuracy than other means of reproduction. Gicleé prints are commonly found in museums, art galleries, and photographic galleries.
Prints are unmatted and unframed. They have a white border for easy matting, but they can be easily trimmed for framing without a mat.
Care of Fine Art Prints
Handling: Protect your fine art reproduction print at all times by keeping it in plastic wrapping until it is framed behind glass. If there is need to remove it from the plastic or framing, keep handling to a minimum. Handle it only by the edges or the white border. Fine art papers can scratch easily, therefore, do not place it face down or place objects on top of it, and do not rub it. It is best to store an unframed print in a plastic wrapping. Avoid getting the surface of the print wet and do not attempt to clean it with water, damp cloths or solvent.
Occasionally, you may see specs or dust on the print. You might be tempted to blow off the dust, but avoid doing this since drops of saliva can stain the print surface. You can brush off the dust with a very soft brush like a soft watercolor painting brush.
Framing: avoid contact of the print surface with the glass when framing. You can use art matting, which acts as a spacer between the glass and the print. If you prefer to frame the print without a mat, have your framer use art framing spacers. You can see an example of art framing spacers at the following website: http://www.artspacers.com
Lighting Conditions: It is recommended that you do not hang your fine art reproduction in direct sunlight or near a bright window. This protects it from harsh sunlight since the print does not have protective ultraviolet coating. It is best to frame it with conservation or museum glass, which are UV protective.
Environment: It is recommended that you keep your gicleé reproduction in a relatively controlled environment. Repeated exposure to extreme and/or sudden changes in humidity or temperature can have an adverse effect on the longevity of the artwork surface and substrate materials.