Giclee

n the late 1980s Jack Duganne coined the name Giclée.  Giclée is based on the French word gicleur, the technical term for a jet or a nozzle and the verb coming from it gicler (to squirt out). Inks used in Giclée printing are are pigment based inks and are termed archival inks because of their long life.  Pigment-based inks are more water and UV resistant than traditional inks. Many museums use Giclée prints because of their archival quality.  Giclée prints are said to have a lifetime of one hundred years plus. The paper has to be at least 250gsm in weight and have as little acid as possible in its fibres.  When prints are handled white cotton gloves are used to stop the acid on the fingers touching the paper. Additionally acid free mount board and adhesive should also be used when framing the print.

Printing Process

Firstly, the original is digitally scanned or photographed professionally.  Then the image is tweaked on the computer to colour match the original as close as possible. Then print tests are done (an artist proof- sometimes sold as AP I,II,III,IV).  The process of going back to the digital image and tweaking slightly after each proof until it is as close as possible can take hours.  I always work closely with the printers on this process.

I use a fine art printer recognised by the Fine Art Trade Guild for my Giclée prints and use paper that is as close to my original paper in weight, texture and colour as possible. My preference is to use Hahnemühle fine art paper.

Obviously, a print is never exactly the same as an original due to the fact that pigment inks used for Giclée have a restricted colour gamut . This means that the sub-tones of the original may not be as well defined in the print.

I am meticulous with my prints. In some cases when the digital scan or proofs can not pick up fine detail of my work I will hand-embellish (add to each print individually).