Firm offers artists Giclée to mass produce works on canvas

Mr Arnephi

A new firm, High-Tech Graphics, has introduced a new technology, Giclée, to enable professional artists to digitally reproduce and better market their works done on canvas.

Inside High-Tech Graphics at Bel Eau

Based at Bel Eau, High-Tech Graphics, which is a colour separation service bureau, is being run by a young Seychellois businessman and professional graphic designer, Michael Arnephi, who has some two decades of experience in graphic designing.

Elaborating on the Giclée technology Mr Arnephi said this technique is being used by several artists worldwide to mass reproduce their works at high quality.  Paintings for instance are still photographed then processed through the digital printer where they are printed on canvas materials, cloth or paper used by artists. Using the Giclée technology artists can also produce their works digitally on a computer then print it out on canvas. The texture of the work reproduced has the same feel as an original.

Mr Arnephi told Business Nation recently that this service would enable artists to keep the original copies of their work but at the same time boost their earnings from the sale of the digitally reproduced copies. He said it would also be to the advantage of clients who cannot afford to buy an original artwork.

"Giclée will give our artists the chance to have a return on the investments made to develop their talent," he said.

While a number of artists have already shown interest to try out the technology, Mr Arnephi said he would be meeting with other artists to further explain to them about Giclée. Once he has enlisted the support of artists, High-Tech Graphics plans to set up a Giclée exhibition to further sensitise the public on this new technique.

The company has also set out to boost the country's publication industry with new technologies that will bring wider choices to graphic designers.

Besides other common graphic services, which comprise mainly pre-press work of documents prior to printing, such as scanning and layout, the company has invested in a computerised image setter for film output and other technologies for digital photo reproduction and large format digital printing. The company also does website development and offers consultancy services.

In terms of website development, High-Tech Graphics will also be developing sites that will enable e-commerce transaction, especially for business clients. The company is currently developing a sample site www.eshop.sc whereby companies can have an idea of how to go about selling their products on-line and getting access to credit facilities.

High-Tech Graphics is the second company apart from Nation Publishing to offer colour separation services.

The digital printing technology through which the Giclée technique will be available

With regard to printing services, the company offers what Mr Arnephi claims to be a more cost-effective option of short-run digital printing where films are not required. But this targets only a certain volume and size of publications only, for instance it can print 50 A2 posters or leaflets.

Mr Arnephi, who has spent almost 20 years in Australia, said through the services being offered he hoped to further raise the quality of designs and publications as well as give clients value for their money.  Given what he said is the high quality of services available at High-Tech Graphics, Mr Arnephi said people no longer needed to go to countries like Singapore and Mauritius to do film output for their documents.

"What comes out of High-Tech Graphics is of international standard and is of the same quality that clients will get overseas but at more competitive prices," he told Business Nation, adding that his company's move will help save the country on foreign exchange.

Mr Arnephi is working with a French photographer, Mr Pierre Turlais, who is in the process of building up a high standard digital photo library for the company.

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