MEDIA
As a general rule most work looks best on a media that is close to the type that the original was produced on. For example, watercolors on watercolor paper look best when reproduced on watercolor paper. The same is true of paintings on canvas. The texture of the original is always reproduced to some extent in the print and the mind of your customer will usually find something subconsciously unsettling about printed textures not agreeing with the media texture even if they don't realize why.
PRINT SIZES AND PROPORTIONS
With a direct scan of the original a giclee can be printed up to twice the size of the original with no loss of sharpness. There will however be a perceived loss of detail because all of the detail is now twice as large. The same principal works in reverse also. A general rule is not to enlarge to more than 125% of original size. Proportions of prints can also be changed by squeezing or stretching the image one way or another. A change of more than 10% is usually not a good idea but small changes with a judicious crop or two can sometimes result in a more pleasing print.
I recommend that prints on canvas be done in standard sizes to allow the use of ready-made frames. Prints on paper can be almost any size and or proportion but framers will appreciate you keeping sizes to the nearest half inch.
FRAMING
Always frame so that your art will look its best. Never frame to match the couch, the art will still be on the wall long after the couch is worn out. After eight years in the gallery and framing business and over 9000 frame jobs these rules never failed us.
LITHOGRAPHS VS GICLÉES
If you can sell more than 100 prints per year of a particular image of one size, you may want to consider having it done as a litho. The problem with lithographs is storage and managing that many prints. Giclees provide much better print quality and higher profit per print.
PIGMENTED INK
For a giclee it is the only type of ink to use! Anything but a true pigmented ink will fade.
MARKETING
(now that I printed
it, how do I sell it?)
The Internet, Art Shows, or Galleries and Frame Shops? Assuming that your art is good and that people will pay you money to hang it on their wall, the best method by far is to KEEP A MAILING LIST AND USE IT! Keep the address of everyone who buys your art and anyone who expresses interest. If you are a computer person get email addresses. Send out notices of new prints, shows, or even a newsletter if you have the time. If you market to galleries/frame shops do the same with them. A catalog of prints was one of the best things we ever did to help sell my Dad's art (Phil Capen). You can do it yourself with Microsoft Publisher and print it on your inkjet printer or we would be glad to help you set it up. A web site is a catalog that you don't have to print every time someone asks you. It can also collect email addresses and take orders for you. A web site doesn't have to be expensive to look good but a nicely designed site gives a much better impression of you and your work.