What is a Giclée?

In its basic definition, giclée is a French term for “to spray”.  It is a high resolution inkjet printing process that is used to reproduce fine art or photography to create individual copies of the original art.  It is important to note that not all inkjet prints are giclée prints.  With giclée printing,  you can expect a much higher quality product that lasts longer than your run-of-the-mill desktop inkjet prints, and there are certain technical criteria that must be met for a print to be a giclée. 

Let’s get a little technical here.  To uphold the quality of a true giclée, the resolution of digital image must be at least 300 dots per inch (DPI) at the printed output size.  One way to look at this is when you zoom in on a digital photograph. When you zoom in, the more pixilated the image becomes loosing resolution, sharpness and quality.  So to maintain the integrity of the artwork, for high resolution printing, you must have a digital file with a high resolution, DPI, because the more dots there are, the more detail is retained in the final printed product.

Next let’s consider what type of printer is used to print your giclée. The type of printer used to produce a giclée print will impact the quality of the resulting print. Technical skills and stable equipment can make or break the giclée. Additionally, let’s check the ink used in the printer. The ink used for a giclée printer should be pigment-based, not a lower grade dye-based ink.

The advantages of using pigment-based inks are superiority of color tone, longer lifespan, lasting up to 100-200 years, and reduced possibility of smearing, staining or bleed. 

The paper used to print on must be archival quality stock to ensure the longevity of the artwork. Paper that is sturdy and has archival properties, like acid-free cotton smooth art stock, will uphold the standards set for a giclée.

All Photographs in the store on this site…

…are printed on a Fine Art Bright White 100% cotton rag Acid-free archival paper with a 230 gsm weight. The paper has an extremely bright white coating with a luxurious matte surface that will produce images with bright colors and rich blacks. This smooth all-cotton paper is ideal for photography. All giclee prints are made using archival, pigmented inks.

All prints come with a 2 inch border all around, with an extra inch at the bottom for a signature, stamp and image dating.