Good source for quality printmaking?

October 24, 2022 6:20 AM

A friend of mine made a series of drawings for me that I would like to make and sell yes, I have her permission. What's a good source to get acid-free semi-gloss prints made? If this matters, I'd like to get something postcard-sized (4 x 6).
posted by pxe2000 to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

What kind of quantity are you looking for? Are they black and white drawings? Are they digital, or are you scanning/photographing them?
posted by jonathanhughes at 6:44 AM on October 24, 2022

Response by poster: The drawings are black and white and digital, and I'm looking for something the buyer could frame and hang on their wall.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:37 AM on October 24, 2022

Without seeing the drawings, it's hard to say what the best way to go would be, but since they're black and white, if you're looking for a larger quantity (like 500), you could have a local printer print them on an offset printer with black ink. Assuming the original file is high enough resolution, this could have a nicer feel than an inkjet print.

If you need smaller quantities, there are a ton of online photo print companies who all offer basically the same thing. I use iprintfromhome.com for photo prints. They can do photographic prints as well as inkjet prints on a variety of papers. They're a small company, and they're always very helpful with suggestions on what the best process and paper would be.
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:49 AM on October 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Prints are not the same as scans or photographs. I know people seem to use the terms interchangeably but If you’re selling reproductions as “ prints”, your customers might not be happy.
Christie’s Guide
posted by Ideefixe at 12:38 PM on October 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks Ideefixee! Any advice on where I could get a reproduction that would meet Christie's definition of prints?
posted by pxe2000 at 1:51 PM on October 24, 2022

You might have some luck looking into Giclee prints. I used to work with a local printer that specifically worked with artists. I had my work high res. scanned by them and could print off small runs as needed.
posted by ljesse at 4:37 PM on October 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Yup, I think giclée prints (fine art prints) are what you’re after. Finerworks is one company I’ve used for printing and they do a nice job. You may be able to find a print shop locally that can print for you and you’d have the benefit of going in and touching the paper choices, etc.
posted by sucre at 9:52 PM on October 24, 2022 [1 favorite]