[Chris Saper]

If my memory serves me, I think I paid about $150-175 for the set up (basically involves a high quality scanning of a 4x5 transparency --which you need to already have, can run $40 and up---and tweaking the image on Adobe Photoshop) and the actual printing which here runs between 19-23 cents per square inch....

So without prorating, the first 16 x 20 print might run about $285 and every subsequent print, about $67. Of course the big advantage is that you can order them one at a time, without any quantity penalty.

I haven't done this enough to get exorcised about profitablilty, but I have heard "industry quotes" as marking up the cost 3 times. One thing I consider important though in considering whether to do giclee (and here I am speaking more of inventory...figurative, still life landscape, etc) that the artist's originals need in sufficient demand and at a price level to support the giclee as a good value. I have often seen a five- or tenfold difference between giclees and originals (someone like Steve Hanks for example). But if your originals are selling for $600 and your giclees for $300, well I don't think that is enough. Beyond these considerations, moving from the creation and sale of originals to the reproduction market is as different as night and day...presentation being no small obstacle, ie framing and inventory to start with...

Personally I would rather have a miniature original than a big giclee. Fortunately for the print industry, I'm in the minority.

Chris