Choosing a Printer
Recently, I have been posting about cards and licensing … you many want to read some of these recent posts. So, I have all my samples of cards from 8 printers with researched information from 12 of them. Modern Postcard is the printer that most local artists use so I need to either confirm them or beat them by some other printer.
Green Seas, Digital © Diane Clancy
The variety of samples is amazing! By the way, I still have all these samples … it seems if I am asking someone to send me their product, I should respect it and keep it in case the situation arises where that is the kind of printing I need.
Some samples priced themselves off the map immediately. And most of those printers were clearly more oriented toward corporate business. I began to see the wisdom of the local artists who had chosen a printer with a specialization in artists. So that narrowed the field down greatly!!
Another other big factor was the type of paper used and the printing method. One very nice place had wavy-ish paper and soft color printing. If I were a watercolorist, I might well have gone with them. The paper was also lighter, meaning not as heavy a stock.
So, I had to think a lot about how I wanted my artwork to represented to the world – because that’s what cards are. Little pieces of my art. My painting are vibrant, colorful and full of power and energy. It became clear that I wanted my fine art cards to have a lot of punch!! That is how I see my paintings as they enter the world … so the cards have to back that up.
Now you may be saying how silly I was to not just go with Modern Postcard. After all, many others I know have just chosen them based on my research. But that is sort of the point. Many of my friends know if I chose them, and our needs are similar, then they could just trust my research.
But this whole process for me was part of taking myself seriously as a business woman and artist. It was important for my owning my own business. But the decision was made!! Modern Postcard quality was very good and the price was good enough. (I don’t need the best necessarily – just very good).
So this story will continue to unfold.
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: cards, licensing, samples, research, Modern Postcard, watercolorist, vibrant, fine art cards, business woman
It’s good to do thorough research and come to your own conclusions. You know why you make a decision and you know what the competition is like. It must all be very exciting for you to see your art represented on so many cards. It’s like your art will multiply itself around the world and hopefully it will be framed everywhere.
You have a sound and logical way of making plans and decisions. The combination of art and logic is well served in you and hopefully the paired talents will result in much financial success!
Yes, I think you have quite a good logical mind, considering that you are also an artist, who probably use a different part of their brain! You seem to think carefully about the decisions. Exciting to see your picture multiplied on so many cards!
Hi Irene, this is a very good way to say why I do do the research myself – great analysis!! It is so exciting to see my images on cards – I love it!! Thank you for your good wishes .. that is my wish too!!
Hi Debi, Thank you so much, Debi … I sure hope you are right!!
Hi Beverly, Glad you are excited about seeing my paintings multiplied!! I do think I use both sides of the brain … I wouldn’t want to give one side up!!
Thank you!
~ Diane