The Most Common Materials Used in Giclee Printing

Giclees are valuable in allowing artists and galleries to reproduce fine art and photography at a lower cost. What separates giclee printing from other types of printing techniques is the use of high-quality materials that work together to create compelling pieces.

Continue reading below to learn more about the most common materials used in giclee printing!

Inkjet Printer

As a standard in giclee printing, professional inkjet printers are a must-have tool for the process. While some may claim to make do with the traditional desktop option, this equipment won’t produce the superior quality that giclee printing requires.

With the capability of holding up to 12 different ink cartridges, professional-grade inkjet printers can create images by spraying thousands of minuscule ink droplets onto paper. This step is similar to the image rendering process on television and computer screens.

With the precision of an inkjet printer, you can guarantee unmatched, accurate, and durable detail on your print.

Archival Paper

You can expect to see the use of high-quality material like archival or museum-grade category inkjet paper with giclee. Known for their long-lasting durability that can withstand the elements and deterioration, these paper materials are typically acid- or lignin-free.

Giclee printing paper typically comes in matte, cotton-rag, and canvas categories. These quality elements have some optical brightening agents (OBA) to produce breathtaking imagery with unparalleled longevity.

Archival Ink

Archival ink is a specifically designed medium that helps bring giclee prints to life. The ink is pigment-based and contains minuscule colored particles held in suspension. Archival ink has a superior color tone and a longer lifespan than standard dye inks, often lasting 100 to 200 years.

When used with archival paper, the final giclee print can withstand fading, smudging, and weathering.

Digital Images

It helps to have a sharp, high-resolution image ready for use. The clearer the digital image, the more depth and nuance of color will shine through to create a lasting print.

Digital images of the artwork in print should have a resolution of 300 dpi, meaning the inkjet printer will utilize more dots per inch in production.

While giclee printing uses common materials during its process, each tool has vital importance and contributes to each distinctive print.

This technique is a fantastic way to present artwork at its best, thus proving the benefit of using art printing services like The Stackhouse. We strive to produce the highest quality prints possible to ensure no fine detail in your work goes amiss.