What is a Giclée?

A giclée (zhee-CLAY) is a high-resolution reproduction done on a special large format printer.  Giclées are produced from digital scans of existing artwork. Giclées can be printed on any number of media, from canvas to watercolor paper to vinyl, to transparent acetates. Giclées are superior to traditional lithography in nearly every way. The colors are brighter, last longer, and are so high-resolution that they are virtually 'continuous tone', rather than tiny dots. The range, or "gamut" of color for giclées is far beyond that of lithography, and details are crisper. Lithography uses tiny dots of four colors--cyan, magenta, yellow and black--to fool the eye into seeing various hues and shades. Colors are "created" by printing different size dots of these four color. Giclées use inkjet technology, but far more sophisticated than your desktop printer. The process employs six colors--light cyan, cyan, light magenta, magenta, yellow and black--of lightfast (fade resistant,) pigmented inks and finer, more numerous, replaceable printheads resulting in a wider color gamut, and the ability to use various media to print on. The ink is sprayed onto the page, actually mixing the color on the page to create truer shades and hues.

Giclée prints are coveted by collectors for their fidelity and quality, and desired by galleries and artists alike because they so accurately reproduce the original art.

Do Giclée prints require special care?

We recommend that you treat your Giclée print the same as any original watercolor. It should be protected from water and should not be place in direct sunlight. Giclées printed on paper should be frame-mounted behind glass. Giclée printed on canvas are treated with an museum grade veneer to aid in their protection, however careful treatment is still desirable. Marta L. Suarez shall not be responsible for any damage to prints from improper handling or from environmental conditions such as moisture, heat & light.