FIne Art Printing

Our skilled technicians and artists have a combined 100 years of experience in producing the the highest quality fine art prints available. Whether it be traditional silverbased fibre prints or the newest digital technology and substrates, Venetian Arts is the lab of choice for over 700 studios nationwide.

What is Giclee?
The word giclee ( pronounced zhee-clay) originates from a French term meaning " to spray". This alludes to the technology used for Giclee Fine Art Printing, in which special inks are "sprayed" on a substrate.
Venetian Arts uses the newest K3 photographic inks and archival papers, producing prints that have the long lasting archival qualities your photography warrants.

Is this for you?
Giclees can be printed on a variety of
art papers with different textures and tonalities, as well as canvas. When used to reproduce a photographer's artwork these characteristics combine to provide the opportunity to offer Fine Art Prints from your photographic images. The public has been very receptive to this type of print, and even art galleries and museums are increasingly exhibiting giclees.

How does it work?
Submit or upload your digital file. If you provide us with a negative or slide, the image must first be digitized. The image is then cropped and retouched to your specifications. At this time you may decide to have the image digitally painted or stylized as an oil, pastel or watercolor painting. The image is then printed on the substrate of your choice, mounted (if required) and sealed with an additional spray of ultraviolet protectant.

A little trivia . . .
This technology was pioneered in the early 1990's by Nash Editions, founded by music artist Graham Nash.

TRADITIONAL FINE ART - Venetian Arts is one of the last remaining labs still producing silverbased prints using optical enlargers in a traditional darkroom lab. We print up to 30"x40" from negatives (color or B&W) up to 4x5.
Yes! We can produce silverbased fibre prints from your digital files

DIGITAL FINE ART - We must have a digital file to produce a digital fine art print. If you submit transparancies or postive film, a high resolution scan will be made appropriate to the print order. Digital files may be uploaded to our ftp site or mailed on a CD or DVD. Standard print sizes up to 40" x 60"
Panoramic prints up to 20' (Call for details and file requirements.)

CHOOSING A SUBSTRATE - While the variety of traditional silverbased paper has become increasingly limited, giclee fine art papers have an abudance of choices to suit your art and photographic needs. We suggest some of the following papers, but are always open to custom papers of your choice.

INK TECHNOLOGY - We use only the highest grade Ultrachrome K3 Inks for the richest and most archival printing process available. Our customized RIP and printer software gives us the unique ability to combine Matte and Photo Black profiles to give your print the optimal tonal qualities, whether the print is fibrebased, canvas, or high gloss.

Archival Fibre - This unique media offers the same deep blacks, subtle tonal gradations and long-lasting results as traditional darkroom papers. Its fibre base has a rich surface, a continuous tone and satin gloss that are ideal for producing stunning color or black & white prints