The high quality standards set by IRIS Graphics remain the best standards today, and to that end, we are attempting to make a distinction for you between the IRIS Giclees and those of other manufacturers, which may include a broad spectrum of quality.

How does the IRIS Printer Work?
To summarize the process without getting to technical, the IRIS printer has a print head, which moves across a rigid stainless steel threaded rod.  As it moves, it sprays 4,000,000 droplets of ink per second (we don't know who did that count, but that's what it is) onto either paper or canvas, which has been wrapped around a drum.  As the drum spins, the print head moves across the sheet delivering ink from four separate jets in sequence: first cyan, then magenta, yellow, and finally black.

From data received at the print head, the ink droplets cluster within a pixel in variable quantities and combinations, just the right combination of droplets depending on what each pixel should look like.  It is this process that creates the continuous tone effect we described above, unique to the IRIS print.  No large pixels are visible to the naked eye!

This is a very simple explanation of a most sophisticated printer.  Further technical details may be had by calling IRIS Graphics.

Ink Technology & Longetivity
The new IRIS Equipoise inks have a wider gamut, and are longer lasting than any previous IRIS ink sets.  For instance, tests which were conducted by Wilhelm imaging Research in Iowa have projected a 32-36 year longetivity rating to prints on Arches Cold Press Paper using the IRIS Equipoise Inks..

IRIS Giclee Quality
Our IRIS prints have a smoother, more continuous tone effect without the rosettes that you will see in other prints, which makes them much more comparable to an original painting. Our intent is to produce the very best prints possible on genuine watercolor papers and cotton canvas.  We chose the IRIS Printer for its unique ability to print with incredible realism and repeatable color accuracy on such varied materials.