Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-05-27 Origin: Site
Have you ever bought an art print and wondered if it was worth the price? Not all prints are the same. Some fade fast. Others last over 100 years. The difference? It often comes down to giclée vs standard art prints. In this post, you’ll learn what sets a giclée print apart. We’ll explain how each type is made, their value, and what’s best for you.
An art print is simply a copy of an original artwork. It can be a painting, drawing, or even a photograph. These prints let people enjoy beautiful art—without owning the original.
Art prints show up in many forms, such as:
● Paper
● Canvas
● Posters
● Cardstock
● Wood or metal (less common)
They can be framed or unframed, matte or glossy.
It all depends on how it was made—and what it's meant for.
There are three main ways art prints are made today:
Method | How It Works | Common Uses |
Inkjet | Sprays ink from tiny nozzles | Home prints, art shops |
Laser | Uses toner and heat to print images | Posters, flyers |
Offset | Transfers ink from plate to paper | Magazines, high-volume art prints |
Inkjet is the most common for art reproductions.
But not every inkjet print is high quality. Some fade quickly or look dull.
Now here's where things get tricky.Some people call any print a fine art print. But real fine art prints are different.There are two types:
● Original fine art prints: made by the artist using hand-printing methods
● Reproductions: digital copies of an existing piece
Originals are pulled from carved blocks, etched plates, or litho stones. Each one is handmade. That means every print is unique—even in a series.
Common fine art printmaking methods include:
● Relief: woodcut, linocut
● Intaglio: etching, engraving, drypoint
● Stencil: screen print (serigraphy)
● Other: lithography, monotype, collagraph
These take skill, time, and often years of training.
Some artists misuse the term fine art print to sell inkjet copies. That can confuse buyers. Always ask what method was used before you buy.
Say it like this: "zhee-clay."
It comes from the French word "gicler," meaning to spray or squirt.
This word might sound fancy, but it's really just about how ink is applied.
The term giclée was first used in 1991.
A printmaker named Jack Duganne wanted a better name for digital prints used in fine art.
He worked in a print studio.
There, he used high-end inkjet printers to make museum-quality copies for artists.
Calling them “inkjet prints” didn’t sound right. So, giclée was born.
Not every inkjet print is a giclée.
There are four things it must have:
Requirement | Details |
High Resolution Image | 300 DPI or higher for sharp, detailed reproduction |
Pigment-Based Inks | These last longer and don’t fade easily |
Archival Paper or Canvas | 100% cotton, acid-free, made to last over 100 years |
Wide-Format Inkjet Printer | Printers from Epson or Canon that use 8 to 12 color inks |
Some artists even print on textured watercolor paper to match the original look.
Pigment-based inks spray millions of tiny dots onto the surface.
This means better color depth and smoother transitions.
Giclée prints are known for:
● Rich colors
● Soft gradients
● Tiny detail reproduction
That’s why they’re used in galleries, studios, and by serious collectors.
At first glance, giclée and art prints look similar.
But when you look closer, the differences really show.
Giclée prints use high-end inkjet printers.
These printers spray millions of tiny pigment droplets with extreme precision.
Most regular art prints use:
● Basic inkjet printers
● Laser printers
● Offset presses for large batches
Giclée printers have more ink colors.
That means smoother gradients and better shadows.
Materials change everything. Here's how they compare:
Feature | Giclée Print | Standard Art Print |
Paper/Canvas | Archival, acid-free, 100% cotton | Lower-cost commercial materials |
Ink Type | Pigment-based, long-lasting | Usually dye-based, fades quicker |
Printer Type | Wide-format inkjet (Epson, Canon) | Standard office or commercial printer |
Giclée printing captures tiny brush strokes and subtle color shifts.
Colors match the original much more closely.
Standard prints often look flat or off-color.
This happens because of limited ink colors and lower resolution.
Giclée prints are built to last.
They resist fading for up to 100–200 years if cared for properly.
Most art prints fade fast—especially in sunlight.
The ink and paper just aren't made for the long haul.
Yes, giclée prints cost more. But here's why:
● Better inks
● Expensive paper
● Professional printing gear
● Time spent color-correcting
Standard prints are quicker and cheaper to make.
They're fine for posters or casual decor.
Many giclée prints are:
● Personally signed by the artist
● Numbered in a limited series
● Sold with a certificate of authenticity
Standard art prints usually aren't signed.
They may be mass-produced and unsigned or open edition.
Giclée prints often come in limited editions.
That means only a certain number will ever exist.
Each one might be:
● Signed
● Numbered
● Tracked by collectors
Art prints can be open editions.
That means new copies can be made anytime, in unlimited quantities.
All giclée prints are inkjet prints.
But not all inkjet prints are giclée. That’s where the confusion begins.
You can print artwork using many tools.
Home printers, laser printers, or large offset machines.
Each has different goals—and different results.
A digital print is any print made from a digital file.
It could be printed on a $100 office printer or a $10,000 art printer.
If the print doesn't meet strict giclée standards, it's just a digital or inkjet print.
Those standards include:
● Pigment-based inks
● Archival paper or canvas
● High-resolution files
● Professional printers with wide color ranges
Without those, even beautiful prints may fade fast.
Feature | Giclée Print | Digital Inkjet (Non-Archival) | Offset / Laser Print |
Ink Type | Pigment-based, archival | Dye-based, fades quickly | Toner or commercial inks |
Paper / Surface | Acid-free, cotton, museum-grade | Glossy photo paper, basic stock | Coated paper, newsprint |
Resolution | 300+ DPI, high detail | Varies (often lower) | Moderate, not art-focused |
Color Range | Wide (8–12 inks) | Limited (3–6 inks) | CMYK or 1–2 spot colors |
Durability | 100–200 years | Months to a few years | Fades, cracks, or yellows over time |
Best Use | Fine art, limited editions | Quick prints, photo gifts | Bulk posters, ads, flyers |
Artist Use | Professional exhibitions and sales | Entry-level or test printing | Mass-market commercial printing |
You might see a great-looking print labeled “giclée,”
but unless it uses all the right materials—it’s not the real deal.
Giclée prints and traditional prints can both be beautiful.
But they’re made in totally different ways.
Giclée prints are high-quality digital reproductions.
They copy an original work using inkjet technology.
Traditional prints are made by hand.
The artist creates an image on a block, plate, or screen.That surface is inked, then pressed onto paper.No computers. No copying.Each method leaves marks, textures, and slight changes from one print to the next.
Method | Description | Example Tools |
Relief | Artist carves away raised areas on a block | Woodcut, linocut |
Intaglio | Ink goes into grooves scratched into a surface | Etching, engraving |
Stencil | Ink pushed through a screen or cut-out shape | Screen printing (serigraphy) |
These are time-consuming and require physical labor.
But every print is an original work of art—not a reproduction.
With traditional methods, each print is slightly different.Even in the same edition, you’ll see variations in ink or pressure.Giclée prints, by contrast, are identical copies.If you print 100, they’ll all look exactly the same.Collectors value uniqueness.Hand-pulled prints often feel more personal and authentic.
Feature | Traditional Printmaking | Giclée Reproduction |
Process | Handmade, labor-intensive | Digital, machine-printed |
Variation Between Prints | Yes | No |
Artist Involvement | Full—from start to finish | Usually limited to final approval |
Collector Value | Higher (often considered original) | Depends on edition and quality |
Common Format | Limited editions | Limited or op |
Giclée prints sound fancy, but there's a lot of confusion around them.
Let’s clear up a few common myths.
Some people think "giclée" is just a way to raise prices.
But real giclée printing follows strict quality standards:
● Pigment-based inks
● Archival paper or canvas
● High-resolution digital files
● Wide-format professional printers
If a print meets those points, it's not just a buzzword. It's a premium product.Still, some sellers misuse the term. They may call any inkjet print a giclée.That’s when the word loses meaning—and trust.
No. All giclée prints are inkjet, but not all inkjet prints are giclée.
Here's a quick breakdown:
Type | Ink | Paper | Archival? | True Giclée? |
Home Inkjet Print | Dye-based | Photo paper | No | No |
Art Shop Print | Pigment-based | Cotton paper | Yes | Maybe |
Verified Giclée | Pigment-based | Archival-grade | Yes | Yes |
So don’t assume a print is giclée just because it came from an inkjet.
The term "fine art print" sounds official.But it's often used too loosely in the art world.Some prints are called fine art because they look nice.But true museum-quality prints meet archival standards.
These usually include:
● Pigment inks
● 100% cotton paper or canvas
● Acid-free, long-lasting materials
Without these, it's just a decorative print, even if it looks great on the wall.
If you're buying a fine art print, ask:
● What ink was used?
● Is the paper archival?
● Was it made by the artist or outsourced?
A good artist or seller won’t mind explaining.
Choose a giclée if you want lasting color and high detail. It’s great for collectors and fine art lovers.Standard art prints work well for everyday décor. They're budget-friendly and easy to find.Think about your budget and why you're buying art. Do you want it to last? Or just fill a space?Knowing the difference helps you make the right choice.
A: Giclée prints can last 100–200 years if made with archival inks and paper, and stored away from sunlight.
A: Not usually. True giclée printing needs wide-format printers, pigment inks, and archival media—most home setups don’t qualify.
A: Many are. Artists often sign and number giclée prints, especially if they are limited editions.
A: 100% cotton, acid-free archival paper like Hahnemühle or Somerset Velvet is ideal for giclée printing.
