The word Giclée (pronounced “gheeclay”) means “little spray”. A Giclée print is a digital image made by miniscule sprays of ink. The process begins by scanning the original artwork or a 4 x 5 (or an 8 x 10) transparency of the work into a computer. Once in the computer, all aspects of the image can be manipulated to achieve the truest result. The computer then uses a four-color, digitized process in which 4 million droplets of ink are sprayed per second, to varying thicknesses called stochastic screening. These miniscule random dots create higher image detail and allow greater ink densities to improve tonal range and contrast.
When Giclées were first introduced years ago, the quality was poor. Today the fineness of the sprays and the high quality and permanence of the inks produce Giclée prints of a quality superior to lithographs. Giclée printing technology produces a near continuous tone image, smoother gradation between tones, and more differentiated colors. Giclée reproduction provides a luminosity and brilliance that represents the artist’s original work better than any reproduction technique available today.
Giclées are created one at a time, making it possible for an artist to publish smaller editions.
Giclée prints have a museum quality permanence. The Metropolitan Museum of Art now uses Iris Giclée printing for its posters and reproductions.
Email: beth@horseartimages.com | Tel: 609-466-2573 | Beth Parcell Evans 12 Ridge Rd. Hopewell, NJ 08525
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