Close-ups of a print of REQUIEM - Résurrection by Olivier Ledroit: the cover of Resurrection, volume 1 of Requiem: Vampire Knight, published by Glénat. See the artwork
The same artwork can become a superb print or a dull image, depending on the paper, the ink, the source file and the care taken by the print studio. Here are the criteria we check at Vortex Corner before putting a work on sale, and the ones you can check yourself, wherever you buy.
Art print, Fine Art print, poster: three different objects
These words are often mixed up. Yet they describe distinct things.
- A poster is printed in large runs, often in offset, on thin glossy paper. It is made to be seen, not to last.
- An art print reproduces an artwork on thick matte paper, using a large-format inkjet printer (known as giclée printing). Colour and detail are far superior to a poster.
- A Fine Art print goes further: very heavy art paper (often cotton or other fine fibres), a limited edition, numbered and hand-signed by the artist. It is a collector's piece.
There is also screen printing, where each colour is pushed by hand through a screen: another technique, with its own texture and charm.
1. The paper
This is the first criterion, and the easiest to check. A good seller always states the paper and its weight (in grams per square metre, or gsm).
- Weight: below 200 gsm, paper ripples and marks easily. A serious art print sits around 200 to 250 gsm, a Fine Art print above 300 gsm.
- Finish: matte paper has no glare and gives deep blacks without shine. It suits most illustrations, paintings and drawings.
- Composition: reference art papers (Hahnemühle, for example) are acid-free, which limits yellowing over time.
2. Ink and printing technique
Giclée printing uses inks in many shades, laid down in very fine droplets. The result: smooth gradients, dense blacks, sharp detail right into the shadows.
If you can, ask whether the inks are pigment-based. They resist light far better than the dye inks of office printers, which fade within a few years. This is the choice made by Atelier Kyodai Print, which prints our works with pigment inks.
3. The source file
No printer can invent detail that is missing from the file. A low-resolution image enlarged to a large format becomes blurred or pixelated.
- The standard is a resolution of 300 dots per inch at the final print size.
- Below 150 dots per inch, the loss of sharpness becomes visible up close.
- A good studio turns down a large format when the file cannot support it, rather than sell a disappointing image.
At Vortex Corner, we check the resolution of every artwork for every size. When a file is not good enough for a large format, we do not offer it. We never enlarge an image with artificial intelligence software: it invents details the artist never drew.
4. Respect for the artwork
An art print should show the work as the artist conceived it:
- Never cropped to fit a standard size. If the proportions differ, the work is centred with a margin, not cut.
- Faithful colours: a scan or photograph of an artwork is corrected with care, without oversaturating or "improving" it.
- A proof before the first print run, to check colours and framing.
5. The artist and the licence
A quality print is also an honest print. Check that the seller names the artist and sells the work with their consent. An artist paid on every sale is an artist who can keep creating.
6. Packaging and framing
Thick paper marks at the slightest knock. The work should travel flat, or rolled in a rigid tube, well protected. When it arrives, handle it by the edges, with clean, dry hands.
To frame it, choose a frame with glazing (glass or acrylic) and an acid-free mount. Hang it away from direct sunlight and damp: that is what best preserves the colours.
Our art prints
Our art prints are printed in France, as giclée prints with pigment inks, by Atelier Kyodai Print, generally on 230 gsm premium matte paper. Our Fine Art prints are printed on 315 gsm Fine Art paper or 310 gsm Hahnemühle German Etching, in limited editions.
Every work is published with its artist's consent, shown in full, and offered only in the sizes its file allows. You can frame it with our magnetic hanging bars or a natural wood frame with a Plexiglas front.
See the art prints · See the Fine Art prints
Want to print your own work?
The same rules apply: a 300 dots per inch file at the final size, in RGB colour (sRGB), a paper suited to the style of the work, and a proof before launching the run.
Artists, labels, festivals, publishers: with Vortex Solutions, we design and produce art editions, posters, apparel and custom objects. For a particular size, paper or frame, send a custom request. And if you would like to be published by Vortex Corner, send us your application.