The "Fine Art Offset" Dilemma

[username]

Ok, it's been about 4+ years since I started to look for a specialty offset art printer in New York. After looking towards countless print shops (Astoria graphics, Duggal, and others), I have yet to find a printer that does offset printing on fine paper stock as opposed to the giclee printing method that has been gaining popularity in the past few years.

The reason for my quest of archival-quality art offset printers is because of the quality/price ratio. I'm looking to make 500 posters on a single run with 28 x 40 inch paper stock and giclee printing would be too expensive.

Paper stock is another issue; usually, most printers offer a limited variety of paper stock for offset printing. I'm wondering if there's any vendors out there who actually specialize in archival quality offset prints.

I know there has to be a few fine art offset printers out there since I've seen tons of offset lithographs for sale at the "International Poster Gallery":
Vintage Posters | International Poster Gallery
but so far I haven't had much luck... neither with google nor with contacts I have.

What I would ultimately love to end up with is a print with the quality similar to that of a design book (where the white parts of the paper are somewhat dull, yet the dark black areas are rich and shiny as if only the darker parts were covered with gloss).

Thanks for the 32.5 seconds you took to read this post.

[mikeage]

Does it have to be offset? Squeegeethree (his name here) does some incredible fine art screenprinting and is in Brooklyn.

[crosshair]

Zach Hobbs might have some insights on this...

[steve w]

if this were an email contacting me about printing, I'd likely not even answer it.
In 4+ years of researching, I'd think you'd pick up a few facts about printing.
You say paper is an issue, but you don't say what that issue is.
What you should say is "I'd like it on either X paper or something similar"
Tell them exactly what you want. They're not going to go shopping for you.
How many colors are you printing?
Do you know anything about pre-press? I'm guessing not from your post.
How about a pic of what you want printed?
"Gloss or semi-gloss ink, or gloss overcoat" sounds like you know something.
"you know in design books...etc" sounds like you don't and will be a pain to deal with
and not worth the trouble.
For an offset printer that can do 28 x 40, 500 pieces ain't much.
Also, if you're starting the conversation with "I want it to be cheap" you won't get anywhere.

I'm seriously just trying to help. Not trying to be mean.

[steve w]

Thanks for the 32.5 seconds you took to read this post.

and this just sounds snarky.
you're welcome

[boatdreams]

For an offset printer that can do 28 x 40, 500 pieces ain't much.

Truth!

[seriplop]

we did some old school spot color offsets awhile back , minimum order was 100 press sheets.

oops i mean 1000 press sheets!

[username]

if this were an email contacting me about printing, I'd likely not even answer it.
In 4+ years of researching, I'd think you'd pick up a few facts about printing.
You say paper is an issue, but you don't say what that issue is.
What you should say is "I'd like it on either X paper or something similar"
Tell them exactly what you want. They're not going to go shopping for you.
How many colors are you printing?
Do you know anything about pre-press? I'm guessing not from your post.
How about a pic of what you want printed?
"Gloss or semi-gloss ink, or gloss overcoat" sounds like you know something.
"you know in design books...etc" sounds like you don't and will be a pain to deal with
and not worth the trouble.
For an offset printer that can do 28 x 40, 500 pieces ain't much.
Also, if you're starting the conversation with "I want it to be cheap" you won't get anywhere.

I'm seriously just trying to help. Not trying to be mean.

well i wasn't going to post details cause i wasn't trying to sound like i wanted a quote... but if you want me to post it, i'll do it.

i was looking to print on a paper similar to hahnemuhle photo rag (but i heard photo rag papers aren't very good for offset... someone prove me wrong with this one please). the paper stock would have to be semi-opaque using glossy inks.

colorwise I was looking to print using hexachrome process (6 color output, similar to that of giclee) or 4 color if hexachrome is something that isn't feasible.

500 prints would be made as they would be a limited edition... of course i would incur the costs of the minimum, that doesn't matter... and i have a budget of about 1500-2000 dollars.

there
and no offense taken. i know you're trying to help.

[steve w]

that's better

[username]

Does it have to be offset? Squeegeethree (his name here) does some incredible fine art screenprinting and is in Brooklyn.

due to quantity, i believe 500 prints will be too costly for screenprinting... especially given the number of colors