Why are our reproductions more expensive than those offered by sites that specialize in making art prints?
To be clear, we aren’t talking about inexpensive glass posters of the works of famous Russian artists like Shishkin, Repin or Ivan Kramskoy, which date back to “Soyuzpechat’” time. We are talking about large-format modern reproduction canvas prints. Now then:
1. The artist. If you place a reproduction of a Matisse, van Gogh or Dali in your apartment or office, no one will think that it is original, even if the reproduction is exquisitely framed, boasts excellent quality, including subsequent varnishing, modeling gel, etc., and may not really differ from the original piece. In this case the closer the reproduction is to the original, the more likely others will think the owner is trying to pass it off as the real thing. Obviously, the owner will not gain any respect in this case. We offer reproductions of the paintings of the talented Russian artist Victor Bregeda, who is less known in our country, but is extremely popular in the USA. Victor has a permanent personal exhibition in Hawaii; and a number of celebrities have purchased his artwork.
2. File quality for printing. To get a good, high-quality reproduction, you must have the correct source for printing. Who can provide a file of masterpieces from around the world with the required resolution? Perhaps a museum, in which one or more works of art are kept, but by no means a company which specializes in printing reproductions. We use a highly professional, new generation Cruse flatbed scanner, which is the same equipment the world's leading museums use to digitize their inventory. By starting with the original paintings, we can achieve the highest quality. The resolution allows us to print a picture on canvas up to 70 square meters without noticeable pixels.
3. Printing. Reproductions are printed on the most advanced Durst printing equipment, which allows us to take advantage of the superior quality of the scanned artwork. On a computer screen, the same colors in a picture may appear differently depending on the monitor settings. Similarly, each printer has individual settings. Therefore, to ensure that the colors, halftones, and saturation do not differ from the original, color proofs are made prior to printing. The files are processed, printed, settings are modified, they are reprinted, and the process continues until the reproduction is an exact copy of what the artist painted. It goes without saying that companies that offer tens of thousands of options are not concerned with these key details.
4. Expendable materials.
Canvases can be cotton, linen or synthetic. A cotton canvas is cheaper, softer and more absorbent. It is more susceptible to external influences, and eventually may start to sag. In addition to the country of origin (there is also a Chinese canvas), you should pay attention to its density. The smaller the details are that you need to print, the denser the canvas is required. Needless to say, with our attention to scanning and printing, we will not skimp on the basics. We use only high-density linen canvases for our reproductions. Their only drawback is their high price.
The next factor we should mention is ink. Here’s a quick review of the main considerations. The vast majority of advertising companies that specialize in large-format printing use solvent inks. Not all of them inform their clients that such inks should only be used for outdoor advertising because one of their components contains cyclohexanone – a substance that can be dangerous to humans. A reproduction printed with these inks, even if it has been varnished afterwards, will slowly and steadily affect the health of everyone nearby.
A newer alternative are eco-solvent inks. They do not contain harmful ingredients, but they also have less surface activity and therefore don't penetrate a canvas; instead they kind of stick to it. Because of this the coat of paint can be easily damaged by physical contact.
Water-soluble and pigment inks are eco-friendly, cheap to produce and use, but have low resistance to environmental factors. They are very susceptible to exposure to moisture, dust and light. UV curable inks, which we use in printing reproductions, are unrivaled for their resistance, are absolutely safe, provide the highest quality, and help to achieve deep, vivid colors. The only disadvantage of this technology is its high price, explained by the usage of expensive equipment and expendable materials (the inks).
5. Final preparation. After printing, each reproduction is hand-varnished with a special composition (based on varnish and all necessary admixtures). This process allows us to match the original exactly. Even experts are not able to tell if the picture is the original or a reproduction without closer examination and special equipment.
Thus, our price is the perfect aesthetic: an exact replica, safe and long-lasting. Years and even decades will pass and our reproduction will continue to look as exquisite and respectable as the day it was made. The only difference from the original oil painting is its museum value.
The choice is yours.
A reproduction, and in this case a copy of a painting, is the ideal solution for your interior design plan since it can be customized and made to any size in a relatively short time. When framed it looks like a familiar painting, yet it is much cheaper than the original.
The reproduction cost is dependent on the size of the final product; to determine the price you need to enlarge the reproduction and click on the “sizes, cost” section. Please, note that only the size of a canvas with a picture on it is included in the price calculations (without a frame and a subframe).
