Decor Tips
Buyer Be Aware!
by Nancy Muldowney
As a consumer, you are apt to buy a product because of the familiarity of the trade name or because of the reports that you have read on the product. When it come to art and art prints you have no such standard to depend upon. You buy the artwork because it appeals to you or you buy it because the artist is popular in your area or is well known.
Reproducing images for multiple sales has made art affordable to the general public instead of being confined to a select few. The only problem is that there are many types of prints available. Knowing the quality of what you are buying can be very important to your overall satisfaction. With all the technology and advancements in reproducing images, it is sometimes difficult to tell the quality of your purchase by just looking at it.
Sometimes artists will reproduce their artwork on color copiers in order to save on the sizeable production costs involved in color printing. These "laser" prints usually are put on low quality paper and the durability over time is questionable.
Most paper is made from wood pulp and very acidic so over time it may change color and become brittle. Have you ever opened an old book and had the pages break off in your hand? Usually you can tell by the weight of the paper, if not the finish, as to whether or not it is pulp or rag in content. The heavier papers that are not clay coated, are usually made of cotton rag.
Most prints today are printed on a slick, clay coated, paper which is made from wood pulp. Limited editions and special prints like a Giclee are printed on cotton rag art paper which will last a long time under normal conditions. Giclee prints are quality prints with high quality inks "squirted" onto the paper. It is important for the inks used for reproduction to be fade resistant as they age.
Most prints are lithographic reproductions mechanically produced versus an original hand- pulled lithograph. There are a number of publishers who are very reputable and produce high quality prints. A noticeable factor in deciding the quality of the print is the cost. High quality prints will cost more, especially if they are "limited editions", which means a set number will be printed once and then the plate with the image on it will be destroyed.
There is much more that could be said but for the sake of space I will conclude with the suggestion that you should ask some questions of the dealer when you are purchasing your prints. Make yourself familiar with the print world in order to be a knowledgeable art shopper.