Everything You Need to Know about Giclée Prints
What is a Giclée Print?
The term Giclée (pronounced "Zhee-clay") Print refers to fine art reprodutions made with museum quality materials using a professional large-format ink-jet printer. During the printing process, a series of tiny spray nozzles emits millions of droplets per second. Because of the way the drops are sprayed and mixed using a 9 color pigmented ink system, you get a wider range of color than almost any other type of print available on the market.
What is the process in making a print?
First the original painting is scanned or digitally photographed to produce a very high resolution file. Then a proof is made and matched against the original. After I approve the proof, the final image is printed on canvas and stretched around extra-wide stretchers so that no frame is required.
Prints on paper are made the same way, except that they need to be framed behind glass or plexiglass (acrylic) , as does any original art on paper.
Are all Giclée prints the same?
No, the quality depends on the digital file used to print from, and the accuracy of color and details compared with the original. Other important elements are the quality of the canvas or paper and inks.
What does "museum quality" mean?
Museum quality means the materials used are archival--that is, fade resistant, acid-free, and long-lasting. The inks used are pigment-based as opposed to dye-based, which makes them archival. It's important that the inks and paper or canvas used to make the print adhere to these standards. Mine do.
What is the value of a "limited edition?"
There is no limit to the number of Giclée prints that could potentially be made from an original piece of art. By limiting an edition to a specific number (mine are limited to 200 of each original), the value of these prints increases because once the limit is reached, no more will be made.
Should I purchase a print or an original?
An original is a better investment for the future, and should be your first choice if you can afford it. A museum-quality print is a more affordable alternative, and seen from a distance, it is hard to tell that my prints are not original paintings.
Will the colors match what I see on my monitor?
Monitors vary. If an exact color match is important, you may order a small (8" x 8") print proof for $25 including shipping, which would apply toward an eventual purchase of a print or an original. Call 607-273-1364 or email Lynne@artbylt.com.
What is the difference between a Giclée print and other reproductions?
Mass market reproductions, such as posters, made with off-set printing are not museum quality, and are not archival or long-lasting. They are made in print runs of hundreds to thousands, with low-cost materials, and that's why they are so inexpensive to purchase.
Are there other kinds of fine art prints besides Giclee?
Yes, there are many forms of traditional printmaking methods such as woodcut or woodblock, wood engraving, linocut, engraving, etching, mezzotint, aquatint, lithography, monotyping, and screen-printing. We have a print shop in Ithaca that specializes in these more traditional methods. For more information, check out The Ink Shop.
Your guarantee:
Because my prints are made with museum quality materials, and personally supervised by me to be accurate reproductions of my originals, I offer the same 60-day money-back guarantee on my prints as my originals.
