Giclée is a neologism, ultimately derived from the French word gicleur, coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made using inkjet printers. It is a type of fine art print created by using a specialized high-resolution inkjet printer. The name was originally applied to fine art prints created on a modified Iris printer in a process invented in the late 1980s. Giclée printing is often used by artists, galleries, and print shops for their high-quality printing, but is also used generically for art printing of any quality.
Here are some key points about giclée printing:
- Giclée is a French term for “to spray” or “to squirt” .
- It references the process that an inkjet printer uses to reproduce fine art or photography to create individual copies of the original piece.
- Not all inkjet prints are giclée prints.
- Giclée prints stand apart with their extremely high level of quality, longevity, and value compared to a standard print.
- Giclée prints help solve the problem of expensive original paintings by reproducing art through a printer to exactly resemble an original piece.
- Giclée prints are usually produced using high-quality archival inks and papers, which ensures that the prints will last for many years without fading.
In summary, giclée printing is a high-quality printing process that allows for the reproduction of fine art or photography using specialized high-resolution inkjet printers. It is often used by artists, galleries, and print shops for its high-quality and longevity.
