Originating from French words meaning “nozzle” and “to spray out,” giclée, pronounced gee-klay, was coined by printmaker Jack Duganne in 1991. Today, it represents fine art printing using pigment-based, archival quality inks, crafted on advanced inkjet printers.
What sets giclée apart from other print technologies is its use of up to 12 individual colours, offering smoother gradient transitions and a broader colour gamut. This results in vibrant, lifelike reproductions, almost indistinguishable from the original artwork, especially in watercolor prints.
Giclée truly shines in the production of wall art, where discerning art lovers seek top-quality, long-lasting prints. Its archival inks ensure colours retain their brilliance for a lifetime, making it ideal for various artwork types, from computer-generated designs to oil or watercolor works.
One of the standout advantages of giclée is its speed. With quicker turnaround times compared to traditional methods like lithography, it is perfect for printing on demand, with different sizes, papers and framing options to choose from.
But what about paper stocks? Giclée printers can handle multiple substrates, including canvas, fine art papers, and vinyl. Enhanced Matte Art paper, renowned for its premium quality and smooth finish, is a popular choice for museum-quality wall art. Hahnemühle German Etching is a heavier, premium stock in an off-white finish, but is slightly more costly than EMA paper. Choosing a heavier paper or canvas is recommended for larger prints, as thinner paper is more prone to creasing and buckling when handling. Alternatively, you can order prints which are professionally framed, ready to hang.
Opting for giclée prints for on-demand production streamlines the process for small business owners like Miriam (the artist behind Ellerbea), freeing up valuable time for creating art instead of handling packaging and shipping. Plus, with the flexibility to select the ideal print size for any space, it’s a win-win situation!
While giclée boasts numerous benefits, it’s essential to acknowledge its limitations. For instance, it’s not suitable for printing on fabric or outdoor applications due to its aqueous inks. Additionally, giclée is often more expensive per print than larger litho print runs. Compared to risography, (which offers low-fi, eco friendly printing using fluorescent and metallic inks) the colours cannot be quite as bright, but the vivid range, accuracy and depth of possible colours in giclée is suitable for most artwork.
When you shop with small businesses like Ellerbea, you’re not just getting high-quality art at affordable prices; you’re also backing individual artists and their craft. Thank you! ♥︎
