WHAT IS A GICLEE?

GICLẾE PRINTS

What Are They?

A Giclẻe Print is a digitally produced reproduction of a piece of fine art. Unlike lithograph or other printing processes which require large print runs to justify the set-up cost, Giclẻe Prints are produced one at a time.

The process involves a computer scan of the original fine art or of a photographic enlarged positive image, a test print to verify color accuracy and clarity, and then the actual production of the finished work on a giant ink-jet printer, using high quality paper stock. Size can very from post card size to as large as 28” x 40” (or even larger). The end result in the hands of a skilled operator can scarcely be distinguished from the original art!

Although the cost per unit of a lithographic reproduction can be fairly modest because of the size of the run, the artist is usually left with hundreds of excess copies he may have no market for. The advantage of the Giclẻe process is that the artist can order a single print. Obviously the production cost for that print is relatively substantial; however, the buyer has an exquisite piece of art for a very modest price.

Milton Meyer, PSA, KA