Fine art and giclée printing — Hahnemühle certified studio, Istanbul
DIFOART produces fine art prints for artists, photographers, galleries, museums and collectors at its studio at Seyrantepe Mah. Akbulut Plaza Asaf Cad No:1 K:1 34418 Kağıthane, Istanbul. A fine art print is an artwork or photograph printed on archival paper with colour accuracy that is measured, not estimated; what separates it from ordinary photographic printing is that the paper, the ink and the colour management are all measurable. The studio has been a Hahnemühle Certified Studio Gold since 2013 (certificate no. 260589) and continues a photographic laboratory tradition that began with REFO in 1969.
What giclée means
The term giclée was coined in 1991 by Jack Duganne, from the French verb gicler, to spray. It describes a pigment-ink print made on archival paper with a wide colour gamut. In practice it means the same thing as fine art printing. The correct spelling is giclée.
Printing systems
Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-6100 — 11-ink pigment set with Chroma Optimiser, 2,400 × 1,200 dpi, up to 150 cm print width. Giclée prints are produced on this system.
Durst Lambda 131 — laser exposure onto true photographic paper for chromogenic C-prints, up to 127 cm, at a perceptual resolution equivalent to 4000 dpi.
The object decides which system is used: pigment printing is stronger on matt, textured art papers; C-print is stronger on photographic surfaces. Because both are in the same studio, the choice is technical, not commercial.
Papers
Hahnemühle fine art papers for pigment printing — 11 options: Photo Rag® 308 · Photo Rag® Satin 310 · Photo Rag® Pearl 320 · Photo Rag® Metallic 340 · William Turner 310 · German Etching 310 · Museum Etching 350 · FineArt Pearl 285 · Photo Matt Fibre 200 · Photo Glossy 260 · Photo Luster 260 gsm
Fujifilm photographic papers for C-print — 3 options: Glossy 240 µm · Lustre 230 µm · Pearl 245 µm
The Hahnemühle fine art range is acid-free and made from cotton or alpha-cellulose fibres. Paper is chosen with you, according to the texture of the work and the light it will hang in — we can print the same file on two papers so you can compare.
Colour management
- Spectrophotometer — paper and ink are measured
- Calibrated monitor — assessment before printing
- Paper-specific ICC profile — a separate profile for every paper and machine combination
- Physical proof — final approval, 2 working days, chargeable
We do not use generic profiles: the profile is built for the paper, rather than the paper being forced to fit the profile. For file preparation, resolution and proofing, see File Preparation and Colour Proofing.
Sizes and presentation
Up to 150 cm wide in pigment printing and 127 cm in C-print; length is limited by roll size.
Presentation options: 5 mm Forex with aluminium subframe · Dibond backing panel · DIFOPlex acrylic–aluminium sandwich · canvas on kiln-dried imported pine stretchers · wood frame with museum glass or Matobel anti-reflective glass · Artbox · Box Frame with 1–3 cm between glass and work · Floating frame. We do not source frames — we make them in the studio.
Certificates
Certificates are issued on request: either Hahnemühle's own certificate or one produced by DIFOART. It is optional.
Choosing a fine art printer in Istanbul
Four things, all of them checkable:
1. Are the machine and the paper named? If not, you do not know what technology your work is printed with.
2. A paper-specific ICC profile, or a generic one?
3. Is a physical proof offered? A screen is not the equivalent of paper.
4. Is the archival claim based on a measurement?
Who we print for
Artists and photographers · galleries and art fairs · museum and exhibition production · collectors · hotel and corporate collections. DIFOART has completed over fifty museum projects and represents more than 40 photographic artists.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a fine art print and an ordinary photographic print?
The paper, the ink and the colour management. A fine art print uses acid-free archival paper, pigment ink and a paper-specific ICC profile, and the result is verified by measurement.
How long does a print last?
Hahnemühle states a lifespan of over 200 years for its museum-grade papers printed with archival pigment inks, based on accelerated light-fastness testing. For C-prints, lifespan depends on the paper and the display conditions.
Can I get a certificate with the print?
Yes, on request — either Hahnemühle's own certificate or one produced by DIFOART.
I do not know which paper to choose.
Tell us about the work and where it will hang; we will suggest two papers and print a proof.
What is the largest size you can print?
150 cm wide in pigment printing and 127 cm in C-print. For larger work we produce exhibition prints up to 320 cm on latex and UV systems.
How should I send my file?
All common formats are accepted; the minimum is 150 ppi at print size. See File Preparation and Colour Proofing.
+90 212 278 78 47 · info@difoart.net