What is a Giclée Print?
Giclée Prints
It used to be that once an original art piece was sold, that was it. The buyer had the one and only version, and that’s all the world would get. With Gicleé printing, that is no longer the case. Giclées allow art collectors to enjoy their favorite piece of art without fighting over who gets to take it home. Artists can now see more reward from a piece that they put their heart and soul into, and they are able to reach even more art collectors who may have loved their work but couldn’t afford it at the time.
So What is a Giclée?
Giclée is a French word that’s pronounced ”zee-clay.” It is an art print made with an ink jet printer using the highest archival-quality inks and surfaces. The word comes from French, meaning to spray, which is exactly what an ink jet printer does. These large format inkjet printers use small spraying devices that can both match color and apply ink precisely, giving the artists a high-quality print of their original art. Also the scanner used must be able to capture the art with a high level of resolution, at least 300 DPI. The quality of a Giclée print is far superior to all other forms of reproduction printing. Any prints you see in a museum or art gallery are Giclée.
The printers-that is, the people who work with the artist to produce an edition- are highly skilled technicians, and are often artists in their own right.
Giclée Prints can be printed in limited edition, or what’s known as open edition, meaning that the number of prints is not defined. You have the choice of buying a gicleé on archival paper or on a canvas. For giclée printing, the paper must be archival quality to ensure the longevity of the artwork. Canvas is essentially a fabric that has been specially prepared to handle and retain high-quality pigmented inks. It is sturdy, has archival properties, is acid-free and will hold up to the standards set for a giclée.
Should I get my giclée printed on Paper or Canvas??
There are two main factors to consider when choosing between archival paper or canvas. They are the price and whether matting & framing is required.
If you want a limited-edition print and have a limited budget, archival paper prints may be the way to go. But these need to be matted and framed, so you will need to figure the cost in for this, for sure.
If you want a giclée that has more displaying options, looks more like original artwork, and you have a little more to invest initially, then you should consider buying a giclée printed on canvas.
Is there value in owning an Giclée?
The high quality and long lifespans of giclées ensure that the prints appreciate in value. As an artist becomes more popular and their work becomes more in demand, their limited-edition prints will increase in value. For example, Chistie’s auction in New York this month has multiple prints of Andy Warhol for prices going as high as $200,000.00 on a Marilyn Monroe print, as well as a print of Mao for $1,000,000.00.
I have a section on my SHOP just for prints. It is definitely an affordable option for you to consider. At this time, my available prints are from my pieces where the original piece has sold already. If you see a piece in the Past Work section you are interested in (that is not listed on my website), just email me at hello@karencwilliamsfineartstudio.com and I will check and see it a print is available.
Don’t forget there is a 10% off special right now on one print per customer!! Sign up is below⬇️⬇️.
