What is a Giclée?
I’m sure you’ve heard the term giclée, but you may not know exactly what a giclée is. The word giclée (pronounced zhee-clay) is a French word that means “that which is sprayed”. The giclée printing process began in the 1980’s when high-resolution digital scans were used in conjunction with archival quality inks. The giclée printing process was originally used to print digital reproductions of artworks (paintings or drawings) or photographs. Now, however, a giclée print can be created entirely in a digital workflow, like Photoshop or Illustrator.
For a print to truly be a giclée, there are three basic requirements that must be met. There must be a combination of a high-resolution image, the correct paper, and a high-resolution inkjet printer using pigment-based inks. Even though giclée printing is a type of inkjet printing, not all inkjet prints are giclée prints due to these requirements.
To be printed as a giclée, an image must be created at a high resolution of no less than 300dpi (dots per inch). For reproductions, the scanner or camera used must be able to capture the image or scan the artwork at 300dpi or above. This ensures that the final print has the sharpest detail.
The choice of paper for a giclée print is vital. The paper or substrate must be of archival quality. The professional series of papers chosen will indicate if they are archival quality and acid free. There are a variety of manufacturers of these types of paper and substrates, and they will give you the best color reproduction and longevity. Professional papers and substrates can be single sheets and/or rolls.
Giclée prints are printed on large-format, high-resolution inkjet printers. The difference between a regular inkjet printer and a giclée printer is that the giclée printer uses pigment-based inks rather than the dye-based inks found in your typical office inkjet printer. Pigment-based inks have a much longer life span. Canon, Epson, HP, and other manufacturers offer these professional inkjet printers, and they can range in size from 13” up to 44” wide. These printers have 8-12 color ink cartridges.
Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro-1000 Profressional Inkjet Printer with 12 pigment-based inks.
Giclée prints are expensive because the technology and materials that are used to create them are costly. Adding to the cost, the process of producing a giclée is slow as most are produced one or two at a time. However, if properly cared for, a giclée print can last at least 100 years without significant fading. Hang a giclée outside of direct sunlight and in a frame and it can last even longer.
Mermaid Cove Productions uses Canon archival papers to print our reproduction giclées and photographic giclée prints.
