When I started Fleur & Mimi, I spent weeks trying to figure out which printer to buy and then which papers to use. I decided to buy a Pixma Pro 10S which prints up to A3+ paper sizes.
I initially only printed my own art prints as Giclée Art Prints on this printer having bought acid free museum grade archival paper (Canson Velin Museum Rag 315gsm). The printer uses pigment inks and the results are stunningly beautiful. As you probably know my illustrations use vibrant colours and the combination of the printer and paper did not disappoint. I purchased my papers from Sheldon Long at Fine Art Papers in Dublin. Cannot recommend him enough, great customer service!
With the thickness of the paper I was limited to having to add a 3cm border allround so as not to damage the print head. Printing illustrations on A4 paper with such a big border was not ideal. I decided to outsource printing the A4 illustrations (albeit that these art prints were no longer Giclée Art Prints), so I could offer a smaller white border or borderless prints. Again, I was always lucky with the results.
I still print my own Giclée Art Prints, but mainly for 6x6inch, 8x8inch or 10x10inch frames.
I have since bought another Pixma printer (Canon Pixma iP8750), which is also an A3+ printer. This printer uses dye-based inks, and again the results are fabulous and it is very happy to print borderless prints. The paper I use is Epson Archival Matt Paper which I bought from Barker Photographic Equipment and Supplies.
I'll do another post where I list all the tools that I use for my creations.
Stay tuned!
Bea x
