What does it take to make a museum quality print, and why does it matter?

Quinte Photo Services specializes in high quality, colour-calibrated, fine-art printing for photographers and artists. The term Giclée is recognized as the highest standard of digital printing, using specialized wide format printers, a wide gamut of archival pigment inks, and finest quality archival papers and canvases. All fine-art prints produced at Quinte Photo Services are of Giclée quality and are made using top of the industry printers, inks, and papers. As a Hahnemühle Certified Gold Studio, we are held to a high standard of printing excellence and quality consistency. We are here to help make a complicated process simple for you.

The Paper

It all starts with the paper, and not all papers are created equal. Paper can be smooth or textured, and the variety of textures available is incredible. I believe the wide variety is essential in order to properly complement each individual image being printed. There is also a large discernment between coated paper and matte paper. Coated papers provide an integrated gloss to the image, and different coated papers provide varying degrees and types of gloss. While all of our papers are white, temperature is so important. Some are cooler (or bluer), while others are warmer (yellower). And of course some are neutral white. We put a lot of time and absolutely love getting into pairing images with complimentary papers to create optimal prints. Different papers can illicit different emotions from the image to the viewer. Quality and longevity are paramount. We use papers from Hahnemühle, Epson, Moab and Breathing Color that are archival, acid and lignin free, and contain no optical brighteners.

The Printers

We have invested in a lineup of Inkjet Printers that bring the highest quality prints to our clients. Epson and Canon are at the top of the industry and are a cut above the rest and our printing lineup includes machines from both. We have 13″, 24″ and 44″ printers that are all integrated and calibrated in our colour management protocol that keeps prints consistent. All of our printers use 12 archival pigment-based inks that stand the test of time and will not discolour or fade. This widens the colour gamut far beyond the capabilities of standard 4 ink commercial printers.

The Profession

Master Printers truly understand colour science, the balance of hues, the interplay of shadows, and the impact of textures. We have a screen-to-print, colour calibrated system that keeps consistency at the forefront of our process. Our screen is optimized for printing and colours are manually certified and calibrated. We have aggregated unique and accurate printer profiles designed specifically for each paper that optimize ink amount, head position, and print speed. We are diligent in our paper handling. Papers are stored protected, in a climate controlled area and printed in a studio free of harmful contaminants, and always handled with gloves. We are in lock-step with the creators we work with in prioritizing quality and having a deep appreciation for extraordinarily accurate and authentic reproductions. The finished product of a Giclée print is amazing, from the deep range of colours to the textile feel of the papers.

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