What is a Giclée print and what is the Giclée process?
Giclée is pronounced "zhee-clay" and is a French word meaning "the spraying of paint" a termed used today to refer to a unique printing process used by museums to display copies of priceless pieces of artwork of which the original is normally kept under strict climate control and light rationing to prolong its life. Giclée copies are made which are the closest duplication of the original that is possible by today's technology.
The process involves transferring the original to digital format using a high resolution scanner. The resulting digital file format is manipulated to achieve the desired levels of color brighness and hue that best matches the original. In this way it is superior to the conventional lithography reproduction techniques. The image is then printed on a high quality ink spraying printer, using archival pigment based inks on archival canvas stock.
Giclées produced at a reputable output firm use archival quality inks and are given a Ultra-Violet resistant cover to prevent fading for estimates of 70 to 100 years.
A limited number of prints are made from the original. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist who gives individual attention to the piece.
A collector may prefer a quality Giclée over a lithographic copy due to its faithful reproduction of the colors of the original and superior life. The resolution and digital reproduction techniques allow it to match the original like no other process.
As with any colored surface, to ensure the longest life of the vivid colors, you should never have prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.