What is a Giclee Print?
So you’re in the market to buy some art. Will you go with an original painting or a reproduction?
If you decide on a print, most buyers don’t know the difference between high quality prints and the ones you could make with your at home printer.
The key is to look for a Giclee (a French term pronounced zhee-KLAY)
Giclee prints are exhibition quality artwork reproductions made using a professional printer.
Giclee printing is a type of ink jet printing, but not all ink jet prints are Giclee prints. Your typical office printer will not compare, nor will your local print and copy center.
Fine art printers use pigment instead of dye based inks. That, in conjunction with archival quality paper, create long lasting fine art prints that very closely resemble the original piece of art.
But what does this mean for you?
You can expect incredibly accurate color and prints that are made to last 200+ years, whereas others can quickly fade.
Note: Even high quality prints should be kept out of direct sunlight or protected behind glass to keep the paper from turning yellow.