WHAT IS A GICLÉE?

Definition: Giclée (pronounced “zhee-clay”) reproductions were originally developed in 1989 as a plate-less method of fine art printing. The French word "giclée" is a feminine noun that means a spray or a spurt of liquid. The word may have been derived from the French verb "gicler" meaning "to squirt". Giclée prints are the choice of many of the world's top artists for reproducing their work because of their uncompromising fidelity, fineness of detail and graduation, better color accuracy and higher resolution than other means of reproduction.

Process: The term "giclee print" signifies an elevation in printmaking technology. Images are generated from high resolution digital scans and printed by high resolution printers using archival quality inks onto various substrates including canvas, fine art and photo-based paper. The printer uses a continuous stream of minute ink droplets about the size of red blood cells to deposit the ink. Giclée prints are typically created using professional 8-Color to 12-Color ink-jet printers.

Quality: The quality of the giclée print rivals traditional silver-halide and gelatin printing processes and is commonly found in museums, art galleries, and photographic galleries including MOMA, the Guggenheim and New York’s Metropolitan Museum. The Louvre uses giclées to substitute original works of art too fragile to exhibit.

Longevity: While the predicted display life depends on many variables, a giclée print will last as long as 100 years before noticeable fading begins. Unlike lithographs and serigraphs, giclées have undergone extensive, third-party fade–testing, and when printed on archival paper, will outlast many original paintings.  The unfortunate fact is that all colour fades, but with proper framing, appropriate installation and care, your artwork will be vibrant and true for many generations.