Welcome to our article on Giclée Prints!
In this quick article you’ll learn:
What a Giclée Print is.
How Giclée Prints are Made
The Difference Between Limited Edition Giclée and Open Edition Giclée
So if you are considering buying art work or you just want to learn more about giclée you’ll love this article!
Let’s dive in!
WHAT IS A GICLEE PRINT?
Simply put, a giclée is a fine art print created by using a specialized high resolution inkjet printer. Yes, a giclée is in fact an “art print” but giclée prints stand apart with their extremely high level of quality, longevity and value compared to a standard print.
The word giclée is derived from a combination of French words “gicleur” (meaning “nozzle”), and “gicler” (meaning “to spray”). The resultant “giclée”, referencing the spray of some liquid, was then adopted to refer to inkjet printing technology.
Nowadays the better term for these prints is archival digital pigment prints. However, (like us at AndieArt Studio Gallery and its collaborator L, a, boutique fine art printing lab) many collectors and gallerists still use the French term (the art world does love French words, after all). It is easy to call any print made from any digital technology a giclée, but delivering a quality, tested fine art print, made from the best archival materials, and takes slightly more work.
WHY DO ARTISTS PRODUCE FINE ART GICLEE PRINTS?
Sometimes an original painting is uniquely beautiful, sought after, and also, very expensive!
Fine art Giclée prints help solve these problems. Reproductions of the original art can also be offered by the artist, allowing a number of art enthusiasts to invite the piece into their homes at a lower price point. After all, art is meant to be enjoyed, right? Why wouldn’t the artist want to spread the love?
Giclée were first introduced in the late 1980's – when artist Jack Duganne found a way to produce more than one of each of his pieces with giclée printing. Still categorized as fine art, his giclée prints paved the way to a fine art medium that is widely produced and sold today.
By choosing to produce giclée prints, an artist is allowing more people to enjoy and purchase their art, without sacrificing on quality.
HOW ARE THE GICLEE PRINTS MADE?
When there's fine art on the table, only the best will do! Fine art giclée are produced using the highest quality printers available on the market.
THE PRINTER ITSELF
Printing technology has advanced a lot in the last decade, and since printer companies are also in the business of selling ink, the cost of a professional printer has become much more accessible. Quality machines are available in small sizes, not just a 64” behemoth.
A giclée printer must be able to use inks that are made from pigments, not dyes. Those inks must be highly resistant to fading and have a wide gamut of colors. Current printers have 10 to 12 inks adding special colors. These include: vivid light magenta, orange, green, and many others. The print resolution must of course be high. Printers make an image using tiny droplets of ink, so the more dots, the better. More dots per inch enable the printer to reproduce finer detail and create smooth transitions (or gradients in tone), to best represent an image.
The original artist is involved at every level during giclée productions. From choosing the ink, canvas and sometimes even retouching the finished piece by hand. The artist is there every step of the way to ensure it meets the same standard as the original.
INK
When it comes to ink, printers look for two main features:
gamut (range of color)
permanence
As giclée prints are sought after for their accuracy in reproducing color, the inks must perform well. Inks must guarantee a wide range of color, what printers call a “gamut”, as with more color possibilities, the better a printer can accurately reproduce saturated and difficult colors in a print.
The science of inks is complicated, and skilled printers study new inks that come out and routinely test new stock. As companies can change their ink formulations at any time for any reason, having the expertise and diligence of a skilled printer can save you time, money, and heartache.
While high quality color is undeniably important, inks must also be archival. Quality giclées are made to be archival, meaning that they can last hundreds of years in good condition, so archival pigment inks must be durable and long lasting. In contrast, dye inks are inexpensive and can create spectacular color, but they fade. A giclée printer should use ink with great color and permanence — the ideal combination.
PAPER
In order to ensure that only the highest quality fine art prints come off the press. Choice of the paper is essential. There are specific types of paper offered to create giclée prints with, all of archival quality.
For giclée prints, the paper must be archival. That means it must:
be acid free
have no artificial whiteners
have minimal to no optical brighteners (OBAs)
have excellent quality control and consistency
be light resistant for at least 100 years
hold high ink density (to create deep blacks, for example)
be lignin-free (to prevent yellowing and degradation)
A common misconception is that the paper must be cotton. While cotton rag is a tried-and-true classic material used for all forms of printmaking, not just digital, there are many alternative excellent options. Alpha(α)-cellulose fibers, organic fibers such as bamboo, hemp, and mulberry (kozo), and tightly-woven fabrics such as linens or canvas, are just some options.
Archival papers should meet local and international standards. ISO 11108 sets guidelines internationally, while the US uses ANSI standards. These standards help paper manufacturers, print studios, and customers stay on the same page. If the paper does not meet these standards, the print can degrade over time or interact with ink in unpredictable ways. And while it’s not a technical feature, a good paper for a giclée print should also feel great. A tactile surface helps a print become a beautiful object itself, not a mere reproduction.
OPEN EDITION AND LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS
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 giclée prints will never be produced again.
Open edition giclée prints will likely be produced again in the future
Limited edition giclée prints are more desirable by most and they are highly collectable!
WHY LIMITED EDITIONS GICLEE PRINTS ARE SPECIAL?
Limited edition giclée prints are exceptionally special because the artist only produces a small amount. This amount can vary between 5-150 editions, numbered and signed by the artist, and 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.
WHERE CAN YOU AN BUY LIMITED EDITION GICLEE PRINTS?
Are you considering purchasing a giclée for your home? Check out our collection of limited edition giclée prints. When you buy a giclée print, know that you’re getting the highest quality fine art reproduction and photography.
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