|
| 1. What is a print? |
| A
print is a graphic image that has been duplicated one or more
times. There are various techniques used to create a print,
such as serigraphy (or silk screening), lithography, etching,
and offset printing. Prints, especially limited editions, are
considered fine art and can be highly valued. |
|
| 2. What is the
difference between a wall poster, a fine art poster, and a fine
art print? |
Generally the difference is in the level of quality. Wall posters
are typically printed in large volume on less expensive paper,
fine-art posters are printed on high-quality paper, and fine-art
prints are printed with careful attention to true color reproduction
on high-quality paper.
LaGasseGallery.com offers a large selection of items ranging from wall
posters to fine art prints, and even limited-edition prints. |
|
| 3. What is a reproduction? |
| A
reproduction is a copy or facsimile of an original work. The
end product of a reproduction is significantly faithful in its
resemblance to the form and elements of the original. |
|
| 4. What is moulding? |
| Moulding is the wood or metal material used for framing a print
or poster. At LaGasseGallery.com, we use the finest quality mouldings,
just as you would find in traditional fine framing stores. |
|
| 5. What is foam
board? |
| Foam
board is a lightweight, stiff backing mounted or affixed to
a print or poster prior to framing. The heat and pressure of
our dry-mount press activates the adhesive coating on the foam
board forming a smooth, permanent bond with the print. |
|
| 6. What is matting? |
| Matting is a stiff paper, fabric or suede border around a print
or poster. Our matting is buffered to an alkaline pH (to prevent
acid damage to the print) and provides consistent colors, clean
creamy bevels, and smooth cuts. |
|
| 7. What is acrylic
glazing? |
| Acrylic glazing is a pane or sheet of plastic composite often
used in place of glass where safety and weight are a concern.
Acrylic is much more impact-resistant than conventional glass
and half the weight. At LaGasseGallery.com we use acrylic glazing for framed
items with a size of 20" x 24" or larger. |
|
| 8. What is a lithograph? |
| A
lithograph is created using a printing technique based on the
principle that oil and water do not mix. Using oil-based ink
or a grease crayon, an image is drawn on a flat stone or metal
plate. Water is applied to the surface and is repelled by the
areas where oil-based images have been drawn. The entire surface
is then coated with an oil-based ink that adheres only to the
areas drawn in oil, ink or crayon. The image is then printed
on paper. Lithography became a popular printing technique because
thousands of exact replicas could be made that were like drawings
on paper, without degradation of the image. |
|
| 9. What is offset
lithography? |
| Offset
lithography is an industrialized version of the same printing
technique as lithography. By using modern printing presses,
high-quality reproductions are produced faster and in higher
volumes than with manually-produced lithographs. |
|
| 10. What is a serigraph? |
| A
serigraph is an original silk-screen color print. Serigraphy
(or silk screening) is a stencil process in which ink is forced
onto the material through the meshes of a silk or organdy screen,
which has been prepared to have pervious printing areas and
impervious nonprinting areas. |
|
| 11. What is a giclee? |
Giclée
(pronounced "zhee-clay") is a French word meaning "a spraying
of ink.” With the advent of giclée, the art of reproducing fine
art has become even more precise. Giclées have the highest apparent
resolution available today -- as high as 1,800 dots per inch.
In addition, since no screens are used, the prints have a higher
apparent resolution than lithographs and a color range that
exceeds that of serigraphy. Displaying a full color spectrum,
giclée prints capture every nuance of an original and have gained
wide acceptance from artists and galleries throughout the world.
The patented printing technology utilizes microscopically fine
droplets of ink to form the image. A print can consist of nearly
20 billion ink droplets. The microscopic droplets of ink vary
in sizes (approximately the size of a red blood cell) and density.
This unique patented feature produces a near continuous tone
image, smoother gradation between tones, and a more finely differentiated
color palette. |
|
| 12. What is a numbered
print? |
| Numbering refers to labeling on a print that specifies its
place in the order of its production when it is one of a limited
edition. |
|
| 13. What does ‘S/N’
mean? |
| S/N
is a symbol used to indicate that a limited edition print has
been signed and numbered by the artist himself/herself. |
|
| 14. What is an
edition? |
| An
edition is a set of identical prints, sometimes numbered and
signed, often printed under the supervision of the artist. Two
numbers are often written at the lower edge of a print -- the
first indicating the print’s place in the order of all prints
in the edition, the second number indicating the total number
of prints in the edition. |
|
| 15. What is a limited
edition? |
| A
limited edition is a series of identical prints, which are limited
to a one-time printing of a certain number of pieces. The artist
determines the size of the edition, and usually signs and numbers
each individual piece. |
|
| 16. What is an
original? |
| An
original work is considered to be an authentic example of the
works of an artist, rather than a reproduction or imitation.
|
|
| 17. What is a vintage
original poster? |
| A
vintage original is a poster generally 50 years of age or older.
Many of these posters were created using a printing technique
known as stone lithography. Most were used much like billboards
to market products and services including food, liquor, travel
and entertainment. |
|
| 18. What is a canvas
transfer? |
| A
canvas transfer is a print or poster image that has been transferred
and fixed to a canvas surface. The result is a piece of printed
art that has the appearance of an original canvas painting without
the high cost usually associated with original artwork. Our
selection of canvas transfers are available stretched onto a
wooden frame, ready to hang. |
|
| 19. What is a hand
colored print? |
| A
hand colored print is a black and white print that has been
individually colored by an artist using high quality watercolor
paints. The artist uses layers of paint to bring depth and vibrancy
to the colors. Our selection of hand colored prints are painted
using traditional techniques that give each piece a rich, higher
quality look usually associated with original art. |
|
