What is digigraphie®?

A new horizont for art

Digigraphie^® by Epson will open a whole new horizon of possibilities. Thanks to Digigraphie, the art world can now utilise the advantages of digital technology.

Origin
The creation of the Digigraphie^® label is relatively recent. Digigraphie^® was officially launched on 13th November 2003, at the centenary of the Autumn Exhibition. But its practice is much older. For several years, photographers, sculptors and painters, as well as service providers (photo laboratories and lithographic studios), have been using the technology of Epson printers to produce prints on art paper. This in turn has opened the doors to a new discipline: the digital reproduction of a work of art.

The search for a name

But what should a high quality, digital art print created with an Epson printer be called? This question arose as long ago as 1991 in the USA, when Jack Duganne, head printer at Nash Editions, needed a generic term to describe the works of the artist Diane Bartz, produced using inkjet technology. He used the French term "jet d'encre" (inkjet) which he refined to "gicleur" (jet/sprayer) and then "Giclée" (sprayed). A new label was born. (Source "Digital Printing" by Harald Johnson, Eyrolles editions).

French artists were also faced with the same problem as Duganne. They immediately chose discard the expression "ink jet print", which they found to be inappropriate for an art print. Some of these artists therefore decided to create their own label. This was the case for Philip Plisson, the marine artist who created "Pixographie", or Jean-Noël l'Harmeroult, the fashion photographer who called his works "Hyperchromes".

These two image professionals therefore used a personal label to describe their limited-edition art prints created using Epson Professional photo printers.

The arrive of  "Digigraphie®"  label
Faced with these developments, Epson France registered the name Digigraphie® with the INPI (Institute Nationale De La Propriété Industrielle / National Industrial Property Institute) and the OHIM (The Institute for the registration of European Trade Marks) in 2003. The trade marks then became European. All those who comply with the usage rules may now use this label.



A technnology for art


Thanks to the tecnology of its printer and to the quality of  UltraChrome™ inks, Epson gives dynamism to the art and new points of view to artists, galleries and museums.

A large choice of Art papers
Digigraphie is directly related to the support materials used. Epson has selected a range of art papers dedicated to Digigraphie, to provide artists with a vast choice of materials: Art paper that is smooth, ultra-smooth, textured, watercolour, velvet, canvas, etc. All these materials have been tested by independent laboratories to guarantee the stability of the work over time.  The complete list of Digigraphie^® art papers can be found on  www.digigraphie.com

Digigraphie® : reflection committee
Composed of the pioneers of this technique, Epson set up a committee uniting several photographers, sculptors and painters. Its role: to define the rules of use for the label, ensuring its harmonisation across the different artistic disciplines during its evolution over time and, finally, to advise on the adaptation of the Epson technology to their specific requirements.

Who and why can create Digigraphie® ?

1 Arts world
Artists and museums want more freedom, more visibility and allows them to control their own production, and the customers want also more quality of  works  over time.
Also, the photographer is not just content with taking a photograph, but also produces the print and gives the image the layout he prefers. The possibilities are endless.

More visibility
By definition, an original work is unique. Digigraphie® offers every artist the opportunity of wider distribution of their creation by offering a high quality limited-edition.

Controlled production
Epson printer technology enables artists to control the quality and quantity of their production. Digigraphie® prevents any plagiarism as each piece of work is numbered, stamped and signed. Each print is part of a limited-edition. Once the limited-edition quantity is reached, there are no additional prints.

Prints as required
Artists are free to print their works over time, when they wish, without the risk of tarnishing their creation. Digigraphie® guarantees perfect reproduction of colours and nuances. The work does not change over time. Artists can, therefore, produce their works based on demand.

Better use of heritage
Using Digigraphie®, means extending the life of a work. Artists have a new form of expression and a new support for renewing their heritage. It is a valuable alternative to either single work or large print-runs.

An online gallery
Digigraphie artists now have their own gallery on this site: www.digigraphie.com. Each artist can register and present their portfolio of Digigraphies for free.

2 Galleries bursting with life
Digigraphie® offers exciting opportunities for galleries. One advantage is Digigraphie® offers galleries new original works. Every print produced by a Digigraphie® artist is, in effect, an original creation, numbered and signed. Galleries can therefore have a multiple offer and can sell a limited-edition series of a unique work.

Digigraphie® Collection
Another advantage of Digigraphie® is the sale of Digigraphies Collection. This specific label relates to the works of deceased artists. The heirs of a deceased artist can produce Digigraphies of his/her works and exhibit them in a gallery. This is a way of re-valuing the artistic heritage of an artist.

3 Museums proud of their heritage
The Collection Digigraphie® label attracts museums across Europe. All museums, both national and private, can now offer visitors the chance to acquire a limited-edition quality piece of work. Digigraphie can offer visitors the chance to leave with an exceptional, durable reproduction of their favourite work (painting or photo). It's a fantastic opportunity to introduce an artistic heritage into your home. The sale of Collection Digigraphies could be done during a temporary exhibition or during a visit of permanent works.

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Source: www.digigraphie.com.