Perhaps when you start out looking for someone to do your printing you start with whomever is closest to where you live. Of course this is most convenient as the printing company is nearby and you can hand deliver your files for printing and pick up your order when it is finished. But on the other hand they may not have the best print prices nor do the best printing, and you may be substituting convenience for quality. A little more searching outside your local area, perhaps on the internet, may yield better quality prints at very affordable prices.

Often times when you are looking to get Giclee Prints the first impulse is to compare the costs of prints between different companies. This may be based upon the assumption that all Giclee Prints are the same if they are called "Giclee". However, not all Giclee Prints are the same. The fact is that print companies have many varieties of printer machines and equipment, use a variety of materials, use different kinds of production processes, and have production staff's of differing abilities. Therefore you are well advised to look behind the prices to find out as many details as possible about how the prints are made, about their equipment, materials and staff as possible. A company that is reluctant to talk about these things may be one about which you should exercise caution. In fact it is likely that the old adage applies when looking to purchase anything including giclee prints at good prices, "if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is".

At Perfect Art Prints Stan is always open about and will answer any question that a client poses at any stage of the printing process, and since he is the one doing the printing you will be guaranteed that the prints will be exactly the same as discussed. Stan respects the client and their needs and will provide any information and help he can to create Giclee Prints that please and satisfy the client.

With Giclee printing you get what you pay for. If the cost for Giclee Prints with one Giclee Printing company is more than with another it can very well indicate that prints are made with better materials. For example there are a multitude of papers available for printing. Someone wishing to do Giclee Printing will probably use a coated paper for the best results. It is a fact that most Giclee prints are printed with aqueous (water) based inks, whether they are dye or pigment. To get a really superb print the master printer needs to use a material that is coated for the inks used in the printing. These papers have receptors to receive the inks as they are laid down. Needless to say these papers will cost more than uncoated papers.

The cost of inks used will also vary depending upon the brand used. Most professionals agree that the best results can be gained from using materials and inks supplied by the printer manufacturer. For example Stan uses Canon inks and materials made specifically for his 9100 wide format printer. Other Giclee print companies may seek to lower their client prices by using materials gotten from other 3rd party suppliers that may cost less but make lower quality and hence less permanent prints. It is always advisable to ask specific questions about inks and materials before contracting for prints. Stan makes all this information completely available up front before any printing begins.

Giclee Print prices can vary in several ways. When one does a "Google" search on the internet for "Giclee Prints" one will find a mixture of listings (try it yourself). Some listings are for print shops, some for reviews and discussions, others seem intended for quick sales. Some of the sponsored listings use terms intended to attract those looking for low prices, such terms as "discount", "we will match any price", "giclee for less". etc. Now perhaps these are respectable print houses but compare them with the many others listed there who are more straightforward and up front about what they provide and who do not depend upon getting clients by appealing to the desire to get a better deal, but rather to get a higher quality job.