Art Prints: Understanding the Giclée Printing Process

We create art prints to enhance your decor, to celebrate meaningful places and finally, to add a touch of elegance to your living space. With so much detail and expertise going in to creating our art we are particular about how each illustration is printed. In 2019 we integrated our design studio with an expert print house who professionally print our artwork. Our high-quality art prints are created using a process called giclée printing, and we produce limited edition collections of screen prints too.

Giclée printing originated in France during the late 1980s, it's the most beautiful and highest quality full colour print process available. Here we explain giclee printing and share why we favour this ahead of standard ink jet printing. 

An introduction to giclee Printing

The term "Giclée" comes from the French words meaning "to spray" and was used to describe a new printing process that allowed French printmakers to add impulse and spontaneity back into their work after the mechanical processes of screen-printing.

In 1991, printmaker Jack Duganne coined the phrase "Giclée," and it remained a European art technique until it was introduced into mainstream America soon after digital printing and imaging systems were launched. Nowadays, artists, galleries, and print shops use Giclée printing for high-quality printing. When recreating artwork such as a watercolour print, the end result is almost indistinguishable from the original, making Giclée printing the natural choice at Natalie Ryan Design.

Giclée art prints offer several advantages over inkjet prints.

Firstly, Giclée printing uses archival-quality pigment-based inks, which are fade-resistant and can last up to 200 years without fading. On the other hand, inkjet prints typically use dye-based inks that are not as stable and can fade much quicker over time, especially when exposed to light.

Secondly, Giclée printing allows for a higher level of colour accuracy and detail reproduction, resulting in prints that are almost identical to the original artwork. This is due to the use of specialised printers and software that are designed to replicate the texture and colour of the original artwork.

Thirdly, Giclée printing can be done on a variety of media, which enables us to produce our work on a variety of materials, including fine art papers, canvas, and even metal or wood.

Lastly, Giclée prints are higher quality than inkjet prints, this is extremely important for us, and for our clients who prefer to purchase and own high-quality artwork.

Overall, while inkjet printing can be a more affordable option, we prefer Giclée art printing for it's superior quality, longevity, and value. Natalie Ryan Design have opted for a professional and long-lasting printing option.

About the paper we print on.

We use a premium quality heavyweight fine art print material with a smooth, clean finish. This museum-quality paper is extremely consistent and works perfectly with our illustrations. The matte finish emphasises different highlights and tones in the source artworks; helping to create stunning works of art. Our paper is sourced from sustainable forests and contains no plastic.

About the ink we use.

100% non-hazardous and toxin-free. We have minimised the use of solvent inks and ensure either neo pigment or eco solvent inks are used.