Giclée Print Process

(from the French for (“spray”) is a process or method for making (art) prints with a special type of computer printer, or a print made using this method. The original artwork is scanned with a high resolution scanner.

Giclée is basically a scanned image(s) printed on a high resolution, ink-jet printer. Giclée prints are advantageous to artists who find it not feasible to mass produce their work, but want to reproduce their art as needed. The prints are printed using dye based or pigment based inks on archival papers, canvas, poster stock or a number of other media.

What are the advantages of the Giclée over a Lithograph?

• Museum quality prints.
• Long lasting pigment based archival inks.
• Acid free 100% cotton all rag paper, not wood pulp based paper that yellows.
• Heavier paper than a lithograph.
• Wider color range (done with 7 colors) and deeper colors than offset litho prints (done with 4 colors).
• More accurate to original art.
• Allows for enhancements by the artist.
• Can be printed on canvas, and sealed with a gloss or matte UV inhibitor varnish.
• Canvas is less expensive to frame and works well where there can be a lot of reflection from windows.
• Can be printed in custom sizes.
• More long term value because of archival printing methods.

Major Museums and Galleries showing Giclées include:

• Metropolitan Museum, New York
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• The Corcoran Gallery
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
• The British Museum