We have added a new site to FLAAR network: 3d-scanners-3d-software-reviews.org, where you find reviews and evaluations of reliable 3d laser equipment, laser scanners, both handheld and portable scanner, digitizer, for creating 3d models, 3d modeling, with reviews of 3d modeling software, visualization software, including for reverse engineering, prototyping: the whole world of virtual 3d.

Giclee, fine art photography, decor, and interior decoration.

Today in 2010 there is more to giclee than just oil paintings, acrylic or watercolor paintings. You can print your paintings on silk, on cotton, on wood, metal, ceramic or glass. FLAAR has been adding knowledge of these decorative applications since this web site began in the 1990's.

The last four years we have been working increasingly on UV-cured flatbed printers. These are the printers that can handle ceramic wall tiles, wood, aluminum and other metals, glass and diverse thick materials. To bring you accurate information we, have gone to receive training in the R&D facilities and the factories of Durst (three times), NUR (twice), IP&I (twice), Dilli, GCC, ColorSpan, VUTEk (four times), GRAPO (three times), SkyAirShip, Teckwin (twice), and others. Have also been inspecting more eco-solvent printers (spent a week in the Mutoh Europe headquarters, R&D facilities, demo room, factory and have several reports (visit www.wide-format-printers.NET).

During 2007 the FLAAR evaluators traveled over 400,000 kilometers to attend these training sessions around the world. During 2008 and 2009we are still counting the miles, but often there are so many new printing technologies that I simply continue all the way around the world from the US to Europe to Asia and back to the US without being at home. Indeed FLAAR moved its office in the US to near the St Louis airport since most of the year I am at printshops or out doing digital fine art photography in some remote part of the world. I am writing this update after photographing in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, Central America. For 2010 we have three visits scheduled to China, plus trips to Dubai and India.

FLAAR begins evaluation of an HP Designjet Z3200ps for fine art photography and giclee

In 1999-2002, most giclee was printed with a Roland (water-based in those years). From 2003 onward many giclee and decor studios used Mimaki, Mutoh, and ColorSpan printers. From 2004 onward Epson began to become popular as it edged Mimaki, Mutoh, and Roland out of the giclee, decor, photography, and proofing markets. By 2007 Epson had the lion's share of the giclee and fine art photography market. Then Canon produced better printers from 2007 onward and by 2008 Canon market share had risen dramatically. These same years HP came out with several new printers for the fine art and giclee market. Today, in 2010, Epson has lost much of its market to Canon and HP, in part because of all the new thermal printhead technology of these two market leaders. Epson is still a viable product, but tried to move into eco-solvent precisely when the word solvent became synonymous with chemistry that needed to be replaced with more ecologically friendly (such as latex ink). Since over 140,000 people a year come to FLAAR to read our comments and suggestions on wide-format printers for giclee, decor and digital photography, we like to be sure we review the current models, so today (January 2010) we initiate another update, this time to an HP Designjet Z3200 ps Photography. Updated installments of the review will be out by later this week.

Evaluations of Epson, Canon iPF, and HP Z-series photo printers for fine art giclee.

During 2009 FLAAR featured the step by step process of painter Violeta Marroquin as she moves into the world of giclee. We will document what is essential for success for an emerging artist: which art shows? which trade magazine? Which scanning/digitization technology? Which printer? Which inkjet media?

For 2008 we were also evaluating water-based Epson, Canon iPF, and HP Z6100, HP Z3100, and HPZ2100 printers. For 2009 the evaluation of the HP Z3200 will need to replace the HP Z3100. Plus the question is why was the on-board spectrophotometer of the Epson Stylus Pro 7900 and 9900 stalled.

Canon is unlikely asleep in 2010 so it will be interesting to see what on-board color management system it introduces.

But the question really is, do you as a giclee or fine art photographer really need, or want, a spectrophotometer inside your printer? Fortunately there are excellent ICC color profile output solutions that you can do yourself more efficiently outside the printer. BARBIERI electronic would be one good example.

This fine art giclee web site covers much more than giclee.

Our digital fine art photography includes black-and-white digital photography as well as color. For color we use the BetterLight and Phase One P25+. For black and white digital photography we will begin to work with sophisticated software from Nik Multimedia.

Fine art giclee workflow, step by step, starting with digitizing (scanning) your paintings.

For giclee we focus on the workflow, especially the first step: digitizing the oil paintings, acrylic paintings, or watercolor paintings. FLAAR has years of experience with large format digital photography for paintings, both with BetterLight technology and with Cruse technology. In Europe Anagramm is also used.

This year we will add tests and comparisons of scanning with medium format digital cameras, and with the new generation of 35mm digital cameras from Canon and Nikon. If you prefer to use traditional film (4x5 chromes), FLAAR has been covering scanning with flatbed scanners for over 11 years.

Original paintings on silk by Violeta Marroquin, digitized by FLAAR at high resolution, to initiate the giclee workflow.

You can also print fine art photos with large format UV-curing flatbed printers

If you are a photographer, traditional or digital artist, painter, or printer, then this fine art giclée printer site is the information source for you. The advantage to you, is that FLAAR is nonprofit and in his past life Nicholas has been a professor. The art department on our campus provided invaluable tips (their experience with one printer was a disaster, perhaps our report on this can save you from the same mistake... they bought a printer without first finding out what it was really like).

The other benefit of FLAAR is that we cover the entire workflow, color management from ICC color profiles, color calibration, through selecting the canvas, watercolor paper or photo matte, photo satin, through top coating. Plus, we offer assistance, both as consultants and also as publishers of tips, help, information, and documentation on how to set up your own giclee atelier. Since FLAAR is non-profit we don't mind revealing the ways that you too can produce giclee effectively. After all, this is the role of an educational institute: to do the research first, then the practical first-hand practice, and then write up and publish the results.

If you wish to meet Nicholas Hellmuth and ask questions in person, he is available as a consultant anywhere in the world. Dr Hellmuth was recently in Thessaloniki consulting with a new giclee atelier there, started by the Granis brothers. We have a report on their start-up available. Nicholas was then in Istanbul consulting with a new giclee production company in Turkey in September. You could find him in Madrid in October, giving a lecture on UV-curable flatbed inkjet printers (you can print on pre-stretched canvas). Over the summer Professor Hellmuth is in Guatemala, where he does his own fine art photography. If you prefer to reach him by telephone or get his direct personal e-mail, this is available to any of our readers who order any five series of the FLAAR Reports. This way you get the FLAAR Reports, and then you can speak with Nicholas directly by phone to ask your further questions. His quad-band cell phone accepts calls worldwide.

Two years agothe big news was the HP Designjet Z2100 HP Designjet Z2100 and HP Designjet Z3100. Then Epson hurridly responded with their slight update at 17-inch size, the Epson Stylus Pro 3800. But Canon (see below) and HP still have the heavier artillery. HP reportedly spent over 1 billion dollars to develop their technology. Canon reportedly spent close to that over the last several years. Epson does not have that much spare cash, and piezo printhead technology is slow compared to the breakthroughs Canon made in thermal printhead technology.

In the last years the entire digital fine art world has seen major technology breakthroughs. Although Epson has been the clear leader for four years, at Art Expo 2006 HP produced a giant digital fine art exhibit to feature its new comprehensive workflow for giclee production. The 8-color HP B9180 printer, now with a pigmented version of Vivera inks ushers in the new generation of thermal inkjet advances that resulted with the Z2100, Z3100 and Z6100. HP has now issued its HP Designjet Z3200 to correct a few minor issues with the earlier Z3100.

In a modest booth next to Epson, Canon unleashed its imagePROGRAF iPF5000 with 11 colors (has 12 ink lines but uses 11 at a time, switching matte black to photo black). Most of the Canon printers of 2006 have been replaced in 2007-2008 such as the Canon iPF9100, 8100, 6100, 5100, etc.

But what was clear is that these desktop sizes were the hints of what appeared later as 24" and 42" and 60" production printers. Indeed Canon already showed its 60" printer in Europe, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF9000 (but not often in the US; perhaps there are problems that are still being worked out?). It is notable that the two technology advances of 2006 are both in thermal (bubblejet) technology, not in piezo printhead technology. The Canon iPF5000 is already out (we have one) and the iPF6000 and iPF8000 are already being talked about (we lack them). But I estimate that the HP Designjet Z2100 and Z3100 will harvest most of the interest now that they are have appeared.

For 2010 we will bring you evaluations of the Epson printers, including the GS6000, which attempted to take over the giclee market but had a slight issue with color gamut. The FLAAR Reports on the HP Z2100 and Z3100 are already out (as of early February 2008).

Nicholas Hellmuth's pithy, revealing, and unconventional  reports already cover over ten years of printer models such as the Epson  4000, Hewlett-Packard  DesignJet 5500ps, Mimaki JV-4, Kodak  5260, HP 30, 90 and 130 plus HP 5750 for fine art photos, ColorSpan Esprit, ColorSpan DisplayMaker X12, imagePROGRAF W8200, Canon  W6200, Agfa, Mutoh  Falcon II, Iris  3047 giclée printer, Ixia and Encad NovaJet are available  in PDF format. Tips, information, product comparisons, reviews, evaluations  based on factual everyday real-life experiences.

Iris 3047 giclée printers initially defined the giclée fine art print market. But if you prefer an easier to use printer for home, photo studio, or office, we recommend more practical printers of other brands that a normal person can learn to use on their own.

FLAAR Reports tell you, bluntly, what a printer can and can NOT achieve. Since we do not sell printers, we don't have to spin hype and mislead you into buying the wrong brand.

Variable Data Digital Presses

Outputting fine art requires a quality printer to do so. Traditionally, art work is printed on Giclée printers. However, a digital press can provide very attractive results, comparable in some respects to Giclée printers. Some digital presses, such as the Xeikon, offer the capability to produce panoramic images as well as variable imaging capabilities. FLAAR has developed a new site, www.variable-data-digital-press.org. Through this site, we will be developing reviews and reports on printers, workflows, software, archival printing, as well as 1-1 marketing. Digital short-run presses of this nature are especially apt for printing brochures and other mailing pieces about art exhibit openings. A press of this nature could also produce samples of new editions of giclée prints a lot faster and at lower cost than inkjet.

What printer is capable of printing giclée and fine art quality?

In addition to the traditional Iris giclée printer, the high quality Mimaki and ColorSpan wide format giclée printers, which other large format printers are acceptable if you wish to print, sell, and earn profits from printing fine art prints? To find out more, fill out the Inquiry Form so we can send you the latest factual information, tips, help, FAQ's, and news from FLAAR.

Continuing Analysis:

Every day we get e-mail from people who want to know the actual facts. So if you really want to know, just contact us via the "Survey-Inquiry Form" (we have had five Epson printers as well as seven Hewlett-Packard printers, an elderly Encad, two Mimaki printers, an Iris 3047 giclée printer, two Canon wide format imagePROGRAF printers and a second 72" ColorSpan). Presently we have a brand new HP Z3200, which is great for neutral grayscale for black-and-white fine art photographs and giclee.

When a brand is not available in-house, we go out to photo labs, universities, sign shops in Europe, Latin America, or across the USA and Canada to check on them in person. FLAAR can speak from depth and range of experience not available in other reviews of wide format inkjet printers.

If you would like Dr Hellmuth to speak at your university, college, art museum, institute, club, or for your company, please contact us. However this contact point is only for lectures or consulting; general questions need to come via the Survey-Inquiry Form. We are not able to answer general or miscellaneous questions by telephone, Skype or e-mail unless you request a consulting session, or unless you fill out the Survey-Inquiry form. And, if you fly Dr Hellmuth to your city (anywhere in the world) to lecture to your group, you can ask him all the questions that you wish, directly and in-person.

In addition to speaking about fine art photography, giclee production workflow, the distinction between giclee and decor, Dr Hellmuth can also lecture on Mayan archaeology, Teotihuacan art and archaeology, Mixtec, Zapotec or Olmec art, iconography, and architectural history (check out www.maya-archaeology.org). Naturally Professor Hellmuth can also lecture to your group on the year 2012 Mayan calendrical predictions (but from a factual perspective as you would expect from an archaeologist trained at Harvard, Yale, and European universities).

Most recently updated January 7, 2010.

Previous updates: February 9, 2009, January 6, 2009, December 31, 2008, April 16, 2008, February 4, 2008, July 25, 2007, June 21, 2007, June 29, 2006, March 17, 2006, May 13, 2005, March 15, 205. Feb, 17, 2005, Jan. 28, 2005, Oct. 13, 2004. June 16, 2004, April 19, 2004, Jan. 16, 2004. Dec. 15, 2003. Nov. 7, 2003. Oct. 25, 2003, Sept. 25, 2003, June 9, 2003, updated Feb. 14, 2003, May. 8, 2002, Apr. 21, 2002.