A Giclee (geeh-clay) print is made from a special type of inkjet printer of particularly high quality and much larger in size than a standard printer. Giclee printing is generally used to reproduce works of fine art as it has the ability to mimic the hue and tone of an original. Prints can be made on paper or canvas. Giclee printing can be done with a professional printing service or, in high volumes, at home.
Instructions
Giclee printing
1. Create something yourself of find an original work of art to reproduce. If you want to make prints of someone else's work, be sure they are aware and that you are in compliance with local copyright laws.
2. Choose a printing method. You'll need to decide whether you'll be printing your Giclee at home or sending it to a professional printer. A Giclee printing setup is quite a large investment and must be working on a daily basis or ink clots can occur. Purchasing a Giclee printer is only practical for someone who has a need for a high volume and frequency of printing.
3. Scan your image. This is a critical part of achieving high-quality archival prints. Use a scanner designed for fine art and Giclee because many conventional scanners will produce less than ideal images. Check the resources section for a review of Giclee quality scanners from FineArtGicleePrinters.com
4. Use a professional printer who suits your needs. Consult your phone book or use a reliable online company. Depending on the printer, you'll need to either bring in the original work of art or send a professionally scanned image. Generally the more prints you order, the cheaper the cost per print. The Color Group in Seattle or Picture Salon in Madison are two reliable online Giclee printers.
5. Print at home if you have the need. Invest in a Giclee printer, a high-quality scanner, archival ink, a digital camera, and paper or canvas to print on. This can run anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000.
