Giclée printing

A word with no legal definition

The word comes from a French verb meaning to spray, and it was adopted in the 1990s to set fine art inkjet prints apart from ordinary output. No official standard controls its use, so it pays to ask what is behind the label. Look for pigment inks, acid-free papers such as cotton rag, and proper colour management. Lifespan claims depend on paper, ink and display conditions, not on the name. Our fine art printing page sets out what to ask about materials.

Getting a painting into a file

The print can only be as good as its capture. Phone photos rarely work, because of lens distortion, uneven light and glare on varnish. A flat, evenly lit photograph taken with a good camera can do the job, and for smaller flat originals or transparencies, specialist scanning may record more detail; ask us about drum scanning if you work from film. Keep the original beside the proof when you compare them. Expect some adjustment, as subtle greens, metallic paints and thick impasto are all hard to reproduce faithfully.

Planning an edition buyers will trust

Decide your edition size before the first print, and stick to it. Collectors value a clear statement of how many exist, what size they are and whether artist's proofs sit outside that number. Number and sign in pencil, and keep a simple record of each sale. A certificate of authenticity is a nice touch, though it should say only what you can stand behind. Choose one paper for the whole edition, because switching halfway produces a visibly different print. Ask us to run a proof before you approve the set.

Related topics

• Framed print options
• Printing for art galleries