One hundred years ago, when Walter Benjamin wrote “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” he theorized that the development of modern art responds to innovations in technological reproduction. In other words, the art world will accept reproduced works as modern art insofar as the demand for reproduced works increases. Flash forward to the present day, and reproduced works are the fastest-growing segment of the art market — not to mention the most affordable!

So: How is the work reproduced, why is it called giclee printing and should every artist have giclee prints?

Giclee printing involves making a high-quality copy of an original artwork that has been reproduced using special tools. Any printmaker specializing in giclee printing will tell you that achieving a high-quality reproduction is all about understanding and using resolution, ink, paper and printer types to your advantage. These prints are almost always reproduced using an inkjet printer, hence the term “giclee,” which is the French word for “to spray.” Get the best giclee printing and framing by visiting this website.

Unlike the standard inkjet printer you might find at home, giclees are made using a larger model that is capable of holding upwards of 12 ink cartridges at once. These larger models equip printmakers with the ability to reproduce a wide range of colors found in your original masterpiece. Furthermore, the inkjet printer’s precision renders prints at 300 dots per inch (DPI), while your standard digital photo typically comes in at a lower resolution of 72 DPI.

Historically, prints were often left out of the spotlight. Art collectors and aesthetic philosophers like Walter Benjamin believed that the reproduction process deteriorated the artwork’s “aura.” However, this view is outdated. Sure, art collectors still use overly valued works to hide wealth, but the average consumer just wants a pretty print they found on Instagram for $15. And who can blame them? You don’t have to own the original work to appreciate the art.

But it shouldn’t surprise anyone that scarcity drives up value. For that reason, some artists choose to offer open or limited edition prints. Open edition prints are unlimited, while limited edition prints are only up for grabs one time. Determining whether to run an open or limited edition print sale can be tricky, so try tracking commissions with CaptivateIQ. And when you’re ready to run your first print sale, work with the most sought-after fine art printing company on the market – Level Frames!

Read a similar article about collage picture framing here at this page.