What Makes A Print Archival/Giclée?

I thought it might be helpful to explain what makes a print/reproduction archival-quality or giclée, and how does it differ from a poster-quality prints. The term archival and giclée, in this case, are basically interchangeable, and speak to the quality and lifespan you can expect from a print. They are museum-quality reproductions. The longevity and quality of a giclée print will always surpass a standard print.

There are three factors that differentiate an archival/giclée - the printing process, the ink, and the surface it is printed on. Let’s take a look at each.

THE PRINTING PROCESS

Giclée prints are printed on inkjet printers. Inkjet printers spray archival-quality inks on an archival-quality surface. This process offers a superior quality reproduction, which is essential to pick up all the depth, textures and details, from the original art work. Prior to printing, all my artwork goes through a careful, high resolution scanning process, so all that beautiful detail can be seen, in the reproduction. The detail and dimension of these prints is amazing! I am so grateful to have found a lab that can achieve this level of quality.

ARCHIVAL INKS

Both the ink and the surface must be archival for a print to be called a giclée. Inkjet printers use pigment-based inks, while standards printers use dye. “Fugitive” is a term that refers to a pigment that is less permanent, when exposed to certain elemental conditions. Giclée inks are far less fugitive, and are much longer lasting. Inkjet printers also have far more ink cartridges, allowing them to be far better at capturing color accuracy.

ARCHIVAL SURFACES

I offer my reproductions on on paper and canvas. The paper prints are on 100% cotton watercolor paper. I did a lot of test prints and this was my favorite paper and it most accurately replicated the surfaces of my original paintings. Some of my artwork is printed on archival-quality canvas, so it more closely resembles the original artwork. Both surfaces have a luxurious feel with impeccable details, and they are acid-free, making them the perfect surfaces for longevity.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ARCHIVAL REPRODUCTION

• Hang your artwork away from areas that get prolonged exposure to direct sunlight

• Frame paper prints with a mat, to avoid having the glass sitting directly on the surface of the print.

• Avoid exposure to high levels for pollutants (smoke, etc) and paper prints should avoid areas of high humidity.

• Prints on rag paper do best framed behind UV protective glass.