Giclee accuracy???
 

Hello all,

Does anyone have experience creating giclees? I'm working here with a giclee company in China, and they did a very nice job in all but one area. The giclee print on polyester that they sent me as an example of what the copies would look like was wonderful. I accepted it, and then they sent me the 15 copies that I asked for. All of the 15 copies were slightly greenish. It was slight, and maybe the inaccuracy is common, I don't know. However, it seems if they could do the color right the first time, it should be 100% exact the second time. Am I right? They told me it is not possible to be exact. I like the company, and believe they are the best that I've found in China, but I do need to know if this is an unavoidable problem, or just laziness on their part. Please remember, the difference is slight, but noticeable.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

Anthony

Once I've seen proofs (printed on exactly the same surface I was going to have the final prints on) the color matching was great. I don't know what kind of printer my giclee guy uses though. Maybe that's the issue.

Hi Anthony

I'm used to it being a standard that once you have accepted a colour proof it's the printers job to stick to getting the rest of the run to that standard, otherwise, if you are confident it really isn't up to scratch then you should be within your rights to get them to do it again...

One thing that occurs to me, you said they sent a proof on polyester, was the rest of the run produced on exactly the same surface?

I ask because Giclee printing is notoriously variable, the same print from the same printers, same inks etc etc will look quite different depending on the surface used... if the printers really assure you it's the same it could even be that the polyester manufacturer has changed something about their product!

It's a minefield area really! I sympathise - I know how frustrating it can be. Hope you get it resolved.

Mary Jane

Thank you both. I will see what they say about doing it again.

Anthony

Oh, and yes. It was printed on the same material.

Anthony

Hello Mary Jane and Michele,

Being new to the world of giclees, I was going to accept the giclees assuming that inconsistencies were the norm. However, after reading both of your responses to my question, I called the company back, and after a few moments of peaceful discussion, they agreed to redo the whole lot. Thank you both.

Much more than the redoing of these giclees, the fact that I feel as if I am workig with a company willing to take responsibility for their errors is gratifying.

Incidentally, Just moments later, a client who'd seen one of the giclees a few days ago inquired about purchasing one. Sssttrraaannggeee!!!
Anthony :)