GICLEE PROCESS

Our IRIS prints are made by scanning the original artwork or transparency into a computer at the highest resolution possible to capture all of the nuances in the artwork. Our scanning device is a Phase One PowerPhase FX+ digital back attached to a 4x5 camera connecting directly to the computer. The Phase One provides a scan that holds more information than 8”x10?film and has more precise colors and a larger dynamic range. The Phase One produces the largest uninterpolated scan of any digital camera, 380 MB in RGB. 

Using a color management system we manipulate the image to achieve the desired results, proofs are then printed for the artist to inspect. In order to keep our cost low all proofs are printed in small sizes of approximately 7”x10? Large sized proofs are available at additional costs. Once the desired results are achieved the image is stored on a compact disc and the image may then be output on the printer.

The use of computers in giclée printing does not mean the process is automatic. The ability to capture the digital information accurately and precisely, and to produce a print that honors the original art is a marriage of the technical and artistic ability of the operator and the quality of the equipment being used.

PRINTERS

ZheeClay Arts Ltd uses two of the main types of giclée printers. The Iris is a continuous tone drum printer with the printing substrate attached to the drum. The print head moves slowly across the spinning drum in one pass, spraying ink from all four nozzles on a continuous basis. The drum spins at 150 inches per second during the printing process that takes an hour to complete. The printer uses dye based inks and has a maximum print size of 35”x47? The exacting control of Iris printing contributes to it’s superiority in its ability to honor the original artwork 

The Mutoh is a roll style printer that utilizes 6 piezo heads. It as a print on demand printer, it only sprays each color of ink when the computer instructs it to. The roll of material at the back of the printer is slowly fed into the printer while the printing heads pass back and forth over the substrate during the printing process. Our Mutoh is a 62?width large format printer using six colors of pigmented inks with water resistant canvas. The versatility of the Mutoh is its ability to print any length on a variety of materials.

INKS

Each ink-jet manufacturer offers a variety of ink sets, each with its own attributes. All substrates and inks used by ZheeClay are considered archival. The IRIS uses water-soluble dye based inks, which are formulated specifically for fine art applications. 

The Mutoh can use both pigmented or dye base inks. We use pigmented inks in our Mutoh to offer an alternative to the dye based inks of the Iris. 

Pigmented inks are known to have a smaller color gamut than dye based inks. Over the years we have perfected our color profiles so we are confident of the gamut of colors we can now achieve with pigmented inks.

PROOFING

There is the limitation of CMYK to print certain colors e.g. Ultramarine Blue and Cobalt Blue which becomes either too warm or too cool. Another example is Cadmium Orange, a color with a chroma too intense to be duplicated with yellow and magenta. There is a certain amount of compromise in reproducing original art as many colors cannot be reproduced exactly.

IMAGE ARCHIVING

This is an exciting feature of giclée printing in which an edition can be printed on demand. However there is the misconception that results can be duplicated exactly at any time. The factors that contribute to repeatability are numerous and include paper, inks, and weather. We know that winter paper is more consistent than spring and summer paper. Also the inks that we use are subject to variation. And further, when a huge gain in longevity is established by the introduction of new dyes, we utilize them in the form of new ink sets. This almost always produces a slightly different color gamut from the previous set. So it isn’t expected that an image stored on a CD at ZheeClay Arts Ltd., can be repeated exactly each time.

SUBSTRATES 

The Iris papers are 100% acid free made from natural fibers of cotton and/or wood pulp measuring 35”x47. Our stock paper is Somerset Satin, Velvet and Textured finishes available in 140lb or 300lb. Other papers are available on request. Our stock canvas is Bulldog Blue Dot coated 100% cotton canvas measuring 35”x 47?br>
Our Mutoh printer is only used for canvas printing as the Iris paper prints has such a original look and feel that all paper prints are done on the Iris printer. The Mutoh is very versatile in that the prints are only restricted in the width of 62? Please note that all substrates used are made from natural fibers and small imperfections may appear on some substrates.