Reed Art & Imaging

What Reed Art & Imaging does

Reed Art & Imaging is a family-owned fine art printing studio headquartered in Denver, Colorado, operating from a 20,000+ square foot facility in Lakewood's 40 West Arts District. Founded in 1976 by Bob and Betty Reed, the company serves professional artists, fine art photographers, galleries, museums, corporations, and government agencies with museum-grade reproduction and presentation services. Its product portfolio spans Giclee pigment printing on archival papers and canvas (up to 60x120 inches at 1800 dpi), metal prints via dye sublimation, chromogenic photographic prints, and the proprietary Diasec acrylic face-mounting system for which Reed holds the exclusive North American license. Complementary services include art photography, film and art scanning, mounting and lamination, drop shipping/fulfillment, and the Ghostwriter robotic signature service for limited editions.

The business model combines one-time product sales (prints, mounts, metal prints), professional services (scanning, photography of paintings, crating), and recurring transaction-fee revenue (Ghostwriter at $20 per signing, government contract work). Reed sells primarily through direct channels: an e-commerce storefront at reedphoto.com, walk-in consultations at the Lakewood gallery, phone orders, and a government contract vendor program. Distribution is domestic U.S. with drop shipping extending reach to galleries and collectors nationwide. Customer acquisition relies on community-led engagement including Month of Photography Denver sponsorships, gallery partnerships, an active referral program (one customer since 1982), and a monthly 'Seeing Things' email newsletter. Pricing is largely quote-based on size and substrate, with the Ghostwriter service offering the only published price list.

Reed's core technology stack is mechanical and color-science-based rather than digital: LightJet laser chromogenic printing (now limited), Giclee pigment inkjet using Epson and Lexjet papers, Diasec gel-bonded acrylic face mounting, TruLife anti-reflective acrylic substrates, and a robotic autopen for signature replication. The company holds SBA certifications as Veteran Owned, Small Business, and HubZone, enabling set-aside federal contracting. Reed operates with 30+ employees and remains independent, with no disclosed outside investment, under family ownership with Gary Reed serving as General Manager since 1991.

Name

Reed Art & Imaging

Legal name

RCR Art and Imaging

Website

https://reedphoto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Reed Art & Imaging is a family-owned Denver fine art printing studio offering Diasec acrylic face mounts, Giclee pigment printing, and chromogenic prints to professional artists, galleries, museums, corporations, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Art Printing Services

NAICS

Photographic Services (54192), Photofinishing Laboratories (except One-Hour) (812921)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Art Packing & Crating (HSAKADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fine Art Handling & Transport (HSAKAEAB)

Keywords

• Fine art printing
• Giclee reproductions
• Acrylic face mounting
• Archival photo printing
• Canvas gallery wraps

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fine Art Print Products: Sales of giclee pigment prints, chromogenic prints, canvas prints, metal prints, and acrylic prints. Products are sold as individual items or in editions, with per-unit pricing based on size and substrate.
2. Mounting and Finishing Services: Diasec acrylic face mounting, gallery mounts, photo plaques, mounting services, and lamination. Professional finishing services that add value to printed artwork.
3. Photography and Scanning Services: Photography of paintings for reproduction, art scanning, film scanning, and copy work services. Digital capture and color evaluation services.
4. Fulfillment and Drop Shipping: Drop shipping and fulfillment services for artists allowing one piece, complete show, or entire edition to be shipped directly to buyers, galleries, or resellers.
5. Government Contracts: Preferred vendor for government contracting officers and prime contractors, providing archival printing, commercial photographic printing, fine art reproduction, framing, mounting, and installation services.
6. Ghostwriter Signature Service: Per-signature signing service using robotic autopen. $150 startup fee per signature, $20 per print signing. Revenue generated per print signed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Reed Art & Imaging is a Denver fine art print studio that produces museum-grade archival prints and custom presentation work for professional artists, photographers, galleries, museums, corporations, and government agencies. Its core offering centers on Diasec acrylic face mounting (under exclusive North American license), Giclee pigment printing, canvas/gallery wraps, metal prints, photo plaques, and AlumaFloat brushed aluminum substrates, complemented by digital capture, scanning, mounting/lamination, drop shipping, and robotic signature services.

Product overview

Reed Art & Imaging is a full-service fine art print studio offering a comprehensive portfolio of printing and presentation products. The core offering centers on three primary printing technologies: Giclee pigment printing (on archival papers and canvas), chromogenic photographic printing (now limited to smaller formats), and large format printing. These are complemented by an extensive range of finishing and presentation services including the flagship Diasec acrylic face-mounting system (the company's primary differentiator as North America's only licensed Diasec provider), metal prints via dye sublimation, gallery wraps/canvas prints, photo plaques/mounts, and specialty services such as the Ghostwriter robotic signature service, drop shipping fulfillment, artwork photography, and scanning. The TrueArt Process methodology underpins the service delivery approach. All products share a focus on archival quality, museum-grade presentation, and professional artist support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Diasec: Museum-accepted acrylic face mounting technology for fine art preservation and display
• TruLife Acrylic
• Ghostwriter Signature Service
• TrueArt Process
• The Gallery Contemporary

Products and services

• Diasec Acrylic Face Mount Prints Museum-grade acrylic face mounting using Diasec gel technology that creates a permanent, non-delaminating bond between print and acrylic, providing 99%+ UV filtering and long-term preservation; favored by museums, galleries, professional artists, and collectors.
• Giclee Pigment Fine Art Printing High-resolution archival inkjet printing using pigment-based inks on Epson and Lexjet fine art papers, offering up to 200+ years estimated print life with exceptional color fidelity; produced at up to 1800 dpi and 60x120 inch output sizes.
• Canvas Prints / Gallery Wrap Art prints on real artist canvas, hand-stretched in-house with choices of borders and stretchers, creating a gallery-wrapped presentation for artists, photographers, and galleries.
• Metal Prints Images printed on aluminum using dye sublimation or photographic processes, available in white matte, white gloss, clear matte, and clear gloss finishes with sizes up to 48x96 inches.
• Photographic / Chromogenic Prints Large format latent image chromogenic photo C-printing on Fuji Crystal Archive Glossy and Luster Paper, now limited to prints up to 12x18 after discontinuation of the LightJet service in 2021.
• Photo Plaques / Gallery Mounts Fine art prints mounted on earth-friendly substrates presented as ready-to-hang plaques (floats, flats, and boxes), offering variety in presentation at more affordable pricing than custom framing.
• AlumaFloat - Fine Art Print on Brushed ACM Fine art prints presented on brushed aluminum composite material (ACM), combining a brushed metal face with the printed image as a ready-to-hang presentation.
• Large Format Printing Ultra-high resolution large format printing using Giclee or Lightjet processes for galleries or museums, capable of producing prints up to 60x120 inches.
• Fine Art Reproductions Professional fine art reproduction services combining art and science to create gallery wraps, canvas prints, and photos on canvas at up to 1800 dpi resolution for artists, galleries, and museums.
• Ghostwriter Signature Service Robotic autopen signature service that uses real pens or markers to write artist signatures on limited edition prints, with signatures digitally mastered onto secure encrypted flash drives; priced at $150 setup per signature and $20 per print signed.
• Photography of Paintings / Digital Captures Professional photographic capture services for artists, collectors, and museums to digitize paintings and artwork for reproduction, with color evaluation.
• Art Scanning and Film Scans High-quality scanning services utilizing industry-leading technology to transform artwork, photos, and film into digital files with exceptional detail and color fidelity.
• Drop Shipping and Fulfillment Services Order fulfillment services allowing single prints, complete shows, or entire editions to be drop-shipped directly to buyers, galleries, or re-sellers; complete photo art manufacturing fulfillment solutions for artists.
• Mounting and Lamination Services Professional mounting and lamination services that protect artwork from UV light, moisture, airborne particulates, and environmental factors, adding years to artwork life; various substrates and presentation options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1800 dpi resolution for fine art reproductions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Diasec-Sovilla S.A.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed North American producer of genuine Diasec facemount technology. Diasec is a trademark registered in Switzerland and Reed is the only company in North America authorized to produce this museum-accepted mounting solution. The technology uses catalyst-activated silicon gel for permanent bonding that never delaminates.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ChromaLuxe: Global manufacturer of dye-sublimation metal photo panels used by fine art and photo printing labs worldwide. Industry incumbent in print substrates, indirectly comparable as a key supplier and brand in metal printing.
• DNP Photo Imaging America: U.S. subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing supplying photo printing equipment, media, and services to retail and professional labs. Industry incumbent providing underlying technology for chromogenic photo printing.

Direct peers

• Duggal Visual Solutions: New York-based large-format printing and visual solutions provider serving museums, galleries, retail, and corporate clients. Direct peer in large-format and museum-grade printing.
• White House Custom Colour: Minnesota-based professional photo lab offering giclee, metal, canvas, and acrylic prints to professional photographers. Direct peer in pro photo printing services and online ordering.
• ProDPI: Professional digital printing lab offering giclee, metal, canvas, and acrylic face mounting for professional photographers. Direct peer in the premium pro-print market.
• Aspen Creek Photo: Colorado-based fine art and photography printing lab serving professional artists and photographers with giclee, canvas, and acrylic mounting. Direct regional peer with similar craft-focused positioning.
• Mpix / Miller's Professional Imaging: Professional photo printing service for working photographers, offering canvas, metal, and fine art prints. Direct peer in serving professional artists and photographers with high-quality reproduction.
• Bay Photo Lab: California-based professional photo and fine art printing lab serving photographers and artists with metal prints, giclee, acrylic face mounts, and fulfillment services. Closest direct peer in product mix and customer base.
• Digital Pro Lab / Darkroom Tech: Professional photo and fine art printing lab offering giclee, metal, and acrylic prints to photographers and artists. Direct peer in pro photo print fulfillment.
• Nations Photo Lab: Maryland-based professional photo lab offering giclee, canvas, metal, and acrylic prints to photographers and artists. Direct peer in professional photo printing at scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Reedphoto
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReedPhotoImaging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/255860

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reed Art & Imaging