Giclee Prints : Printing For The Art World
Sunday, November 4th, 2007 by Subscribe To Our Feed
Giclee printing does not use a screen or any other mechanical device, so not visible dot screen pattern is present. Instead, the image reproduced has the same hues and tones as the original. Giclee comes from the French term for squirting or spraying, which is how ink jet printers deposit ink on the page. Giclee printing is excellent for reproducing still life oil paintings and landscape paintings.
Giclee printers are much larger than the standard desktop ink jet printers most of us are familiar with Giclee printers measure slightly more than a meter wide. Many people like to refer to them as “knitting machines”, because the two machines look similar.
Giclee prints are produced by using special light-fast inks and sealing the print with a UV protective coating which will ensure that the colors will be rich and durable. They are also scanned differently than other types of prints. To make a Giclee print, the original is scanned onto a specialized digital scanner that takes a high resolution scan of the original.
The Giclee printing process allows the use of almost any type of paper. Usually, there are different paper types from which to choose. In order for the Giclee prints to look as close to the original as possible, most paintings are produced on canvas, also recreating the texture of the original. Canvas prints are stronger and more durable than paper prints, and do not crease when rolled, as paper often does.
The Giclee printing method allows an unlimited number of copies to be produced and purchased from a single scan. The sizes can be ordered to fit commonly sized frames, making the Giclee printing technique a great value for the money, and also very popular.
The Giclee printing process was originally developed as a proofing system. Giclee printing skyrocketed in popularity throughout the art world as users noticed that, compared to traditional presses, the Giclee prints retained the vibrant colors and deep textures of the originals. Giclee prints are favored by art collectors, artists, and art galleries alike for their durability, quality, and fidelity over time. Giclee prints also do not require large printing runs of numerous copies in order to justify the initial production costs.
Landscape paintings and still life oil paintings are wonderfully produced using the Giclee method. Giclee means spray or squirt in French, which describes the way an ink jet printer works. But because mechanical devices are not used, the prints have no visible dot screen patterns. Giclee prints are made with special light-fast inks and sealed with a UV protective coating to ensure color richness and durability for years to come. Collectors love Giclee because they maintain their color and quality. Galleries and artists love Giclee because they can be produced in small quantities not requiring a large initial cash investment.
- Gray Hamilton
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