What is a Giclee Print?

Giclee printing (pronounced zhee-clay) is a method of printing to create high quality prints. Originating from the French term, “la giclée,” it means, “that which is sprayed or squirted.” Giclee printing began in the 1980s, when high-resolution digital scans were used in conjunction with archival quality inks. In 1991, printmaker Jack Duganne coined the term for fine digital prints that are made on inkjet printers. Giclee printing is a type of inkjet printing, but not all inkjet prints are giclee prints. The intention of giclee printing is to produce a product at a higher quality and with a longer lifespan than a standard desktop inkjet printer.  

Originally, the word, “giclee” was used to describe digital reproductions of conventional artworks (painting or drawing) or photographs. For a work to be truly giclee, there are three basic requirements that must be met: the combination of high resolution, paper choice, pigment-based inks and inkjet printer.

#1 Document Resolution

For an image to be printed as a giclee, it must be created at a resolution of no less than 300 dots per inch (DPI). Regarding a photo or a conventional artwork reproduction, the camera or scanner used to capture the image or scan the artwork must be able to do so at 300 DPI. This will ensure that the final print has the sharpest detail and lacks any of the fragmentation that can occur with images of lower resolution.

#2 Choice of Paper

For a giclee print, the choice of paper is crucial: the paper or substrate used to print the final piece must be of archival quality. A professional series of paper will typically say if it is archival quality on the box. It will say if it is acid free and whether it consists of a 100% cotton or rag base. 

#3 Ink & Printer

The biggest difference between a standard inkjet print and a giclee print is that giclees are printed using pigment-based inks rather than dye-based inks that are found in lower-cost inkjets. Pigment-based inks have a longer lifespan: they can last anywhere from 100 - 200 years without significant fading. The type of printer used for giclee printing is usually a larger format model that specifically uses pigment-based inks and can hold 8 - 12 color ink cartridges. Generally, the more inks that are used, the more sophisticated the color range will be on final output. 

All of my prints are giclee quality. The inks and paper are both selected carefully to last hundreds of years after printing. Of course, hanging a print in direct sunlight will cause the UV light to fade the colors over time. I always recommend swapping out the glass for a conservation glass or hanging the print in a spot that is of the direct rays of the sun.

Happy collecting!