What is a Giclée?
Giclée (pronounced “zhee-clay”) is a term used to describe fine art reproductions that
are made using professional ink-jet printing equipment. The word “giclée” is a French
term that literally means “a spray or spurt of liquid.” It is used to distinguish the tech-
nique from traditional offset or lithographic printing. Giclée prints are superior to
lithography for many reasons. The high quality photographic resolution produced by
ink-jet technology is seamless compared to the tiny dots that can be seen in litho-
graphic prints. Giclées also enjoy a wider range of colors and because they are pro-
duced individually, they afford the artist greater control over the quality of each print.
The Giclée Process
The artwork is photographed or scanned and converted into digital format. It is then
color corrected in PhotoShop and printed on archival paper using seven different colors
of lightfast, pigmented Epson K3 UltraChrome inks, which is the current industry
standard. The printer’s nozzles spray millions of microscopic droplets of ink onto the
paper or canvas, actually mixing the color as it is being applied. The result is an in-
credibly detailed, vibrant reproduction of the original work.
Editions
The word “edition” refers to the number of prints of a particular artwork that will be
printed and released. If the total number of prints produced is limited to a certain
amount, it is considered a limited or closed edition. If the artist plans to produce an
unlimited number of prints, the edition is designated as open. In offset or lithographic
reproduction, the prints are usually produced all at once and then the “plate” is de-
stroyed. With giclée technology, the artist can produce the prints on an “as needed”
basis. This is more economical for the artist and allows a greater flexibility in regard
to the size of the print and the substrate (type of paper or canvas) that is used.
Limited Editions
Artists limit the number of prints in an edition in order to retain the work’s uniqueness
and to ensure its authenticity. The smaller the edition, the more each print is likely
to increase in value over time. Most limited edition prints come with a Certificate of
Authenticity signed by the artist that guarantees that the image will not have more
than a certain number of prints made. Some artists create limited editions in different
sizes (other than the size of the original work,) such as 300 in 18”x 24” and 300 in
24”x 30”, etc. If you are concerned about the uniqueness and authenticity of a print,
check with the artist about these details. A signed and number limited edition (s/n)
usually has the artist’s signature at the bottom left (on the white paper, not on the
image) and the print numbers at the bottom right side. There are two print numbers.
The first (top) is the number of the print and the second (bottom) is the number of
the total amount of prints in the edition. (Example: 56/300)
Artist Proofs
Often, the artist will reserve an extra set of prints for private use. These are called
artist proofs and are generally more valued by collectors since they are usually
harder to obtain. Occasionally, artist proofs are some of the first prints made and
may have some anomaly or defect that disqualified them from inclusion in the regular
edition. As with coin and stamp collecting, this can sometimes give greater value
to the print, not less. Artist proofs are signed and numbered separately from the
main edition and can be identified by the initials A/P on the print. (Example: A/P 7/30)
Low Inventory
When an item is marked "low inventory," it indicates a limited edition that is almost
“sold out” (less than 5% of the edition remaining.)
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