About Giclee
The term giclee refers to the use of professional grade
inkjet printers, pigmented inks and fine art papers and canvas.
Giclee, pronounced "zhee-clay" is a French term derived from the verb
"gicler", which loosely means to "squirt. Why? Because inkjets do spray inks
from nozzles in order to lay pigments on paper.
What makes a giclee?
There has been and still is much debate on what constitutes a true giclee
opposite to a lowly inkjet print. If you had a chance to go to art
shows or galleries you probably met people who claim to produce giclee prints on
tabletop machines that can be bought for less than $200. These machines may
output good looking prints but they are far from true giclees.
While all giclee prints are inkjet prints, not all inkjet prints can be
called giclee.
The factors involved in determining what a true giclee is are both objective
and subjective. Three main factors need to be in place to define what a giclee
print can be called as such. Giclee prints can be reproduction of original art
or print of original pieces such as this website, where giclee prints are all from an original digital
work.
The hardware
The scanners, digital cameras, printers have to be of
professional quality. You get what you pay for. A $150 printer does not produce
true giclees. Scanners and digital cameras have defined resolution and range
requirements. An in depth discussion on giclee equipment will further elaborate on the
subject.
The materials
Cheap canvas, non archival papers such as resin coated
compounds, do not create true giclee prints. Coating compounds and pigmented
inks all play a role in the printmaking process. See what giclee materials stand the test.
inkjet printers, pigmented inks and fine art papers and canvas.
Giclee, pronounced "zhee-clay" is a French term derived from the verb
"gicler", which loosely means to "squirt. Why? Because inkjets do spray inks
from nozzles in order to lay pigments on paper.
What makes a giclee?
There has been and still is much debate on what constitutes a true giclee
opposite to a lowly inkjet print. If you had a chance to go to art
shows or galleries you probably met people who claim to produce giclee prints on
tabletop machines that can be bought for less than $200. These machines may
output good looking prints but they are far from true giclees.
While all giclee prints are inkjet prints, not all inkjet prints can be
called giclee.
The factors involved in determining what a true giclee is are both objective
and subjective. Three main factors need to be in place to define what a giclee
print can be called as such. Giclee prints can be reproduction of original art
or print of original pieces such as this website, where giclee prints are all from an original digital
work.
The hardware
The scanners, digital cameras, printers have to be of
professional quality. You get what you pay for. A $150 printer does not produce
true giclees. Scanners and digital cameras have defined resolution and range
requirements. An in depth discussion on giclee equipment will further elaborate on the
subject.
The materials
Cheap canvas, non archival papers such as resin coated
compounds, do not create true giclee prints. Coating compounds and pigmented
inks all play a role in the printmaking process. See what giclee materials stand the test.