Fine art inkjet printing

Fine art digital printing evolved from digital proofing technology in the printing industry. As the printing industry became digital, traditional film-based proofing became cumbersome and cost prohibitive. Kodak, 3M, and other major manufacturers developed large format inkjet printers using dye based inks or archival, lightfast pigment based inks. Initially, these printers were limited to glossy papers, but the IRIS Graphics printer allowed the use of a variety of papers that included traditional and non-traditional media. Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, was one of the early pioneers of experimental digital printmaking, and he began using the new proofing technology from IRIS Graphics to print his own photographs and digitally manipulated images. Nash and his associate Mac Holbert opened Nash Editions in 1991 and adapted an IRIS printer to meet the needs of artists.
Challenges in fine art printmaking include the need for exceptionally accurate high-resolution scanning and/or photographing of original artwork, managing large file sizes, viewing and interpreting image files onscreen, and artist-printmaker communication. Key software and computer providers have been Adobe Photoshop and Apple Computer, along with Silicon Graphics, who were on the forefront of color image management for both graphic arts and fine art printmaking. Longevity is always an important consideration in fine art, whether in reproductions (such as serigraphs or lithographs) or in an original work. It is a well-accepted fact that paintings, especially watercolors, must be protected from the elements, therefore the lightfastness of digital inks was a critical issue. The original proofing inks were not archival, but printmakers experimented with coatings and substrates to achieve greater longevity. A collaborative effort by artists, including the group known as Unique Editions, worked with printmakers to produce archival quality on a variety of substrates. The IRIS printer was the standard for fine art digital printmaking for many years, and is still in use today, but as the field grew, printmakers, and printer manufacturers began to offer alternative equipment for printmaking. More powerful computers, improved software, and viewing technologies have expanded possibilities for artists and printmakers.
Substrates in giclée printmaking include traditional fine art papers such as Rives BFK, Arches watercolor paper, treated and untreated canvas, experimental substrates (such as metal and plastic), and fabric. This has allowed for the creation of limited and unlimited reproductions of artworks.^[4] Depending on the printing inks and substrate, longevity of the digital print may be limited. Although the color range of the digital process cannot always match an original pigment, artists and fine art digital printmakers can work together for exceptional quality with repeatability. Digital printing also allows for the output of digital art of all types as finished pieces or as an element in a further art piece. Experimental artists often add texture or other media to the surface of the final prints, or use them as part of a mixed-media work. Many terms for the process have been used over the years, including digigraph, but fine art digital printmaking is generally known as giclée, and, although there are still a few exceptions, giclées are widely accepted as a fine art medium by museums and galleries. Thousands of digital printmakers now offer services to painters, photographers, and digital artists around the world.

Digital laser exposure onto traditional photographic paper

Digital images are exposed onto true, light sensitive photographic paper with lasers and processed in photographic developers and fixers. These prints are true photographs and have continuous tone in the image detail. The archival quality of the print is as high as the manufacturer's rating for any given photo paper used. In large format prints, the greatest advantage is that, since no lens is used, there is no vignetting or detail distortion in the corners of the image.
Digital printing technology has grown significantly over the past few years with substantial developments in quality and sheet sizes.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_printing#Digital_printing_methods_of_note