What Is A Giclée Print?
Giclée Printing refers to a printmaking method that involves using a digitised image outputted from a computer to a large format inkjet printer. Pronounced “zhee-clay,” the term "giclée" is derived from the French for "spray" and was first coined by Jack Duganne, a printmaker, to represent an inkjet-based digital print used as fine art.
Simply put, a giclée is a fine art print created by using a specialized high resolution inkjet printer to exactly resemble an original piece.
It is in fact an “art print” but giclee prints stand apart with their extremely high level of quality, longevity and value compared to a standard print.
What makes Giclée different from other prints?
Traditionally, artists have used offset lithography and screen-printing to reproduce runs of prints, both these photomechanical methods of reproduction use plates or screens.
By using pigment based archival inks, the archival properties of a giclée print are significantly higher than traditional silkscreen or lithography prints.
To qualify for the title of a "fine art giclée print" it should be made on archival quality coated paper, and printed with pigment based archival inks, which are UV stable. The Fine Art Trade Guild has set minimum standards for a giclée print - it must score 6 or more on the Blue Wool Scale for light fastness, with an acidity level of between pH7 and pH9, to minimise discolouring.
Fine art giclées are produced using the highest quality printers available on the market. They are typically larger models that are able to hold up to 12 ink cartridges which produce a wider range of colours to enable a close to perfect resemblance to the original.
Choice of Paper
The quality of the paper or canvas used in a giclée print is essential. There are specific types of paper offered to create giclée prints with, all archival quality. Archival paper is essentially a permanent, acid-free type of paper that is made to last the test of time. Offered in standard gloss, matte on cotton canvas to suit each artist’s work. Fine art paper mills such as Hahnemuhle, who have been producing mould made artist papers for over 435 years, have an extensive range of fine art papers used in giclée printing.
Choice of Ink
Choice of ink is very important and reputable giclée printers will only use high quality pigment based archival inks.
These will achieve a very high standard of colour reproduction with neutral greys, a typical giclee printer will use a twelve-colour pigment-based ink set, comprising of red, blue, green, grey, photo grey, cyan, photo cyan, magenta, photo magenta, yellow, regular black, and matte black.
A giclée print made using pigment inks can be lightfast for up to 100+ years, but this depends on factors such as paper type and storage conditions. By using pigment based archival inks, the archival properties of a giclée print are significantly higher than traditional silkscreen or litho prints.
Why do Artists Produce Fine Art Giclée Prints?
Sometimes an original painting is uniquely beautiful, sought after, and often too expensive for many!
Fine art Giclée prints help solve these problems. By choosing to produce giclée prints, an artist is allowing more people to enjoy and purchase their art at a lower price point, without sacrificing on quality.
Art is a wonderful way of expressing a unique style and personality to one’s interior!
Open Editions or Limited Editions?
When artists choose to make giclée prints, they’ll decide between producing open edition prints and limited edition prints.
Open edition giclée’ are pieces of which the artist reserves the right to produce more of, if desired.
However, buying limited edition giclée prints means that you’re one of few collectors that have the piece. Limited edition prints are more valuable, and the quantity produced of the piece is made public. When you buy a limited edition giclée, you’ll know exactly how many versions of the piece exist and in what sizes.
Open edition giclée prints are very common and are sold in many places or by the artist themselves. These prints are still specialty prints in terms of quality, content, and price–but do not compare to limited edition giclée prints.
Limited Edition Giclées will never be produced again
Open Edition Giclées will likely be produced again in the future
Limited edition giclée prints are exceptionally special because the artist only produces a small amount. This amount can vary between 10-150 editions, numbered, and signed by the artist, and often with a certificate of authenticity included.
Embellished limited edition giclée art prints are amazing gifts and usually increase in value with age. Investing in a limited edition giclée print is not only a beautiful decision, but a decision that can pay off in the long run as well.
Limited Edition Giclées are more desirable by most and they are highly collectable!