Nothing can match the impact and power of original artwork, but a high-quality artbook can come close.
A stunning museum exhibition catalog evokes the gallery experience, allowing people to revisit the experience time and time again. A fine art photography book enables people to see unique angles and perspectives through a photographer’s eyes. Gorgeous graphic novels can make a story come to life — and overcome resistance in hesitant readers.
But to create a magnificent viewing or reading experience, you need to choose the optimal printing partner. Here are four things to look for:
#1 A Reputation for Excellence
You’ve worked hard to build your reputation. When you choose a fine art book printing partner, make sure the company is worthy of your brand.
Exhibition Catalog Printing
You only want to exhibit the best in your gallery or museum. So it makes sense that you want the best take-home experience for your patrons — a catalog that reminds them how the show made them feel, left them breathless, or changed their thinking. Such an art book would reinforce why they visit your gallery or are a member of your museum.
When searching for an art book printer, look for one trusted by top galleries and museums. Point B Solutions is a go-to partner for fine art exhibition catalog for the Carnegie Museum of Art, Gagosian Gallery, Midway Contemporary Art, Des Moines Art Center, Sleeper Studios, ICA Penn, Hammer Museum, Mnuchin Gallery, and Hollis Taggert, among others.
MyLinh Trieu Nguyen’s book Mirror with a Memory was shortlisted for Aperture’s 2021 Photobook Awards in Paris. The book features stickers, poster inserts, and a cover with metallic ink. Point B was the U.S. partner on the project.
Fine Art and Photography Book Printing
Our art books are also preferred by discerning book designers, independent artists, photographers, and graphic novelists. It’s no wonder why. We understand the artist’s drive for perfection and ensure choices align with your overall vision.
Additionally, if you’re looking for help with fine art book distribution, we can also help with getting you set up with an e-commerce website and shipping out orders.
#2 The Highest Level of Color Accuracy
The designer signs off on the color proof for an artbook for the University of California, Irvine.
It can take hours for an artist to mix up the right red when painting a subject’s lips. A photographer can sit all day waiting for the beautiful shadows that appear at dusk.
While it’s not quite the same, Point B has spent countless hours modifying our print processes to ensure the best color output. We even have G7 Master Printer Certification that underscores our commitment to color accuracy and consistency across all print jobs. In other words, we might just be as obsessed with color as artists and photographers.
#3 Limitless Design and Printing Options
Color accuracy is a start, but other details matter too, including paper choice, coatings, inks, and the book’s overall design. However you want your book to look, we’ve got you covered. Here are just a few options:
Virtually Any Size
Your exhibition catalog or artbook’s size shapes the viewer’s experience. A tiny book can make people stop and concentrate, and two-hand books can help people appreciate art that’s larger than life. We can ensure your book is perfectly sized for your vision — whether it’s in inches or feet.
Widest Range of Cover and Binding Options
There can be a lot of sameness in the appearance of contemporary books. But if you head to an antique book store, you’re sure to appreciate the variety in book covers and binding. Point B can help you recapture traditional book styles or create something distinctly new. For example:
- Classic hardcover case binding for a gorgeous and durable photo book
- Softcover book with perfect binding for a lightweight and cost-effective binding for a graphic novel
- Book cover wrapped in fabric, leather or virtually any other material to create a look that’s all your own
Classic hardcover case binding wrapped in a neutral-colored linen fabric perfectly complements the tone of “My Way: Reflections on Training with Masaaki Hatsumi,” a book in which Craig Olson reflects on his Bujinkan training using artwork from that time. Point B was the U.S. print partner.
Innovative Use of Coatings and Inks
Sometimes artists use varnish as a design element, applying it only to certain parts of the finished piece. Spot coatings can be a powerful design choice in art book printing to focus on specific visuals or enhance the reader’s experience. For example, a spot gloss can make the artwork shine, while a matte finish on the text can encourage readability. We can provide suggestions about using coatings — spot or flood, aqueous or UV finish, dull, glossy or tinted — to create a one-of-a-kind fine art book.
Inks can also be a design element. While we’ll obsessively match the color of your original artwork, we can also use specialty inks like metallics to create a powerful experience for the reader. Depending on your preferences, we can also use archival ink for vibrant images that never fade. Plus, we can print anywhere on the book — including on the inside cover.
The Perfect Paper for Your Book
The truth is that some artwork needs a glossy stock while others will only shine when reproduced on matte stock. We’ll help you find the one that ensures the artwork — and your book — look its very best.
There are 100s of paper stocks you could choose for your fine art book. We, of course, have numerous options for cream and white glossy and matte stocks. But we also have access to sustainable apple, stone or grass papers if that’s more in line with your vision for your book.
Gorgeous color illustrations accompany essays and poems in this softbound catalog designed to accompany the exhibition, “Hollis Heichemer: Entanglement.” The title of the collection is debossed using green ink on the cover. The catalog is packaged in a custom PMS yellow dust jacket for contrast and protection. Point B was the U.S. print partner.
Next-Level Design Features
Of course, there are plenty of other ways to set your artbook apart. Here are some other options we’d love to discuss with you:
- Fold-out inserts in color or black and white
- Foil stamp in a myriad of colors
- Embossed or debossed tile or design a book cover or dust jacket
- Colored end sheets in a black and white book
- Printed cases for your hardcover
- French flaps
- Full and partial dust jackets in glossy or matte stock or vellum
- Vellum overlays
#4 Obsession With the Little Things
Okay is not good enough when you’re an artist or a gallery owner. We feel the same about the support we provide to our clients. You can expect personalized service and a custom solution when you work with us. Here are some highlights:
Dedicated account person. This person will guide you through the process and ensure the whole process runs as smoothly as possible.
No surprises. We have outstanding prepress services, and we’ll check your fonts, margins, image quality, bleeds, and more. Plus, you’ll receive proofs on the final stock, so you’ll know exactly how the final product will look.
Quality control. We check and double-check things along the way, ensuring that your artbook is as perfect as the original art.
A Point B prepress expert obsesses about color calibration while setting up the files for a fine art book.
Book Yourself an Amazing Experience
You want your fine art book or exhibition catalog to be impressive and distinctive. Our team can help you create a book worthy of the original art or experience — while also making the process a delight.
We have extensive history working with artists and galleries and understand your priorities and needs. Our team is also passionate about color and obsessed with the small details that help create artbooks that aren’t just fine but amazing.
