‘What is a Giclee (jhee-clay)?’ seems to be the question I am asked the most. This is not a simply answered question when being asked by a person who knows little about printing. The most common response being ‘It’s a type of print’ falls short of a lie because a Giclee is not really a print at all. With this misconception in mind I will attempt to keep the complicated simple and the long short. A Giclee should be the closest possible reproduction of an original piece of art available. ο Different types of prints are produced with screens or plates that deteriorate with every image diminishing the quality in succession. - Giclee’s are higher resolution, produced with more accuracy directly from a digital file with more consistent quality, eliminating degenerative steps in the process.
ο Prints are produced on a 4 color press limiting the range of color and accuracy - Giclee’s are produced with 6-8 color spray heads produ<cing the widest color range available and most accurate reproductions.
ο Prints are produced with tiny dots of various sizes to fool the eye into seeing different shades, hues and colors. - Giclee’s are produced in a similar fashion as airbrushing. Millions of droplets of ink per second are sprayed in a fine stream and actually mixed like paint onto the media producing more continuous tones and truer shades, hues and colors.
ο Prints are produced with non archival, self deteriorating materials that not only tend to blue or yellow over a period of time but show a noticeable fade when compared to a new print in less than 6 weeks. - Giclee’s are printed with all archival materials that are tested and proven to last up to 100 years with out any noticeable change. Giclee’s last longer than many forms of original art including some watercolors.
ο Paints are made with pigments and so are the inks that are used in giclee’s. Pigmented inks tend to react to light in the same way paints do, therefore giving giclees more of the feel of an original piece of artwork. - Giclee’s are usually printed on canvas or cotton rag media once again giving them more of the look and feel of an original piece of artwork.
ο Prints are mass produced. - Giclee’s are made one at a time.
- Giclee’s are usually produced in hand signed limited editions.
- Giclee’s are many times hand embellished by the artist giving it more of a personal touch and original feel.
- Giclee’s have become extremely collectable in recent years. Due to their archival qualities accompanied by the fact that they are the closest possible reproduction of an original piece of artwork available, as an artists work increases in value so does the giclee’s. Generally Up and coming artists sell the most giclee’s. Collectors see the purchase as a smart investment. Sought after Giclee’s in sold out editions may be sold for up to 10 times the original purchase price in a short period of time.
|
