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The global art market is worth over $65 billion dollars, and the global photography market – over $35 billion dollars. To the creatives who take the photos and process them, and the artists who create their art in their chosen genre, the creativity involved in making the art is worth so much more than the money it makes. It’s known to be a natural antidepressant, and can even help us, as humans, to process trauma. In such a challenging world, we could all do with a way to express ourselves freely if only to catch a breath between headlines.
This creativity and emotional relationship with art and photography is why presenting it correctly matters. Is it nice to make some money from the art you create? Absolutely. But, you’re also putting your very heart and soul out there when you present at a gallery, so the way your art comes across is worth so much more than the price it demands.
Of course, being an artist is not associated with being rich, unless you hit the big time. So, how do you put your work across well without it costing the earth? It seems that either you print low quality posters and give a bad impression of your work to save a quick buck, or you have to find the money to pay through the nose for work that looks beautiful, but that might not sell. Surely there’s an inbetween?
How Can Poster Printing Be A Great Idea For Art & Photography?
Poster printing is not always the obvious choice when artists consider the type of printing needed for a gallery show. Posters are something you might connect with trade shows, large paper posters on billboards, low quality art printed in high quantities. Of course some people do collect movie posters, but they require lots of care, and the quality is not what you would associate with art and photography at a gallery.
These days, though, poster printing has advanced and there is now a place for gallery printing with poster printing methods, it’s just a slightly different approach that is used for this purpose. With a slight adjustment, poster printing for gallery shows is now the preferred method of individuals who have utilised this printing style to the benefit of their presentations.
So how has poster printing improved, and why is it suitable for gallery shows?
It’s all in the finer details…
Posters have traditionally been printed on very thin paper that is light enough to be easily pasted onto surfaces, and cheap enough to be mass produced. The posters are made with dye inks with a glossy finish. All of these factors combined make for a high enough quality for easy advertising and short term use. However, the quality is not high enough that the posters will last if archived. Of course, some posters were printed to a higher grade, and are usually signed and bordered. But the majority of posters you are likely to have seen is of a low quality.
The optimal choice for art and photography, in comparison, is fine art printing. This uses special archival pigment inks and ensures bordering is present so that the art can be fully labelled and signed. Special, thicker medium – heavy weight paper is also used for higher quality and longevity.
When you compare these two extremes, it makes sense why you may consider art and photography for gallery shows to always need to be printed using fine art printing methods and materials. The great news is that these days there are poster papers and pigment inks that are used to create fantastic clean, crisp, vibrant and accurately coloured poster prints that are of a high quality. Those prints can also usually be done in bespoke sizes, and can be archived because of the materials used. You can now pay a lower price to present high quality images to your potential customers, giving your work the presentation it deserves without you needing to break the bank to get it seen.
The Difference Between Archival Poster Printing & Fine Art Printing
Ultimately, fine art prints are the highest quality print you can get for gallery shows. The methods, materials used and results are second to none, because the product is designed to last ideally forever with the right care. Fine art prints can even be done on materials like wood or plastic, and so, they are the highest grade standard for all kinds of art and photography. Archival poster printing is of an incredibly high quality compared to standard poster printing, and it works particularly well when you want to offer your art and photography at different price points.
So, you may offer archival poster prints in one band of pricing, and then more exclusive fine art prints at your higher band of pricing. The quality is still there, it just isn’t that top ranking print quality you get with fine art prints. For artists and photographers who are starting out, archival poster printing can also be a really good way to present your work well at a lower price point.
Speak To A Printing Expert For More Information About Archival Printing For Your Next Gallery Show
If you want to present your work well at a lower price point, speak to a specialist printing expert today to find out how archival poster printing could be a great choice for your next show. With better pricing, excellent results and lots of flexibility this printing method could be the next step in your journey as an artist and as a business able to make money.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
