Quick answer
Giclée is fine art inkjet printing with pigment inks on archival cotton or alpha-cellulose paper. Send a 300 ppi RGB file with an embedded profile, choose matte cotton rag for art or baryta for photography, and ask for a test strip.
What giclée actually means
“Giclée” (zhee-clay) was coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne, from the French gicler, to spray. Today it means a fine art inkjet print made with pigment inks on archival, acid-free paper or canvas using a professional wide-format printer — typically Epson SureColor or Canon imagePROGRAF models with 8–12 ink channels. The word isn’t a protected standard, so ask what printer, ink and paper a studio uses.
Papers, compared
Paper choice changes the colour, the blacks and the feel of the finished print more than any other decision.
Hahnemühle Photo Rag
- Spec
- 308 gsm · 100% cotton · matt
- Best for
- Paintings, illustration, B&W
- Feel
- Smooth, velvety; the industry benchmark
Hahnemühle German Etching
- Spec
- 310 gsm · mould-made · matt
- Best for
- Watercolours, etchings, textured art
- Feel
- Distinctive felt texture
Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta
- Spec
- 315 gsm · cotton · high gloss baryta
- Best for
- Photography with deep blacks
- Feel
- Darkroom look and feel
Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag
- Spec
- 310 gsm · cotton · satin
- Best for
- Fine art photography
- Feel
- Wide tonal range, barium coated
Canson Infinity Rag Photographique
- Spec
- 210 / 310 gsm · cotton · matt
- Best for
- Portraits, soft palettes
- Feel
- Very smooth, bright white
Awagami washi (Japan)
- Spec
- Various · kozo / bamboo fibres
- Best for
- Ink work, calligraphy, delicate photography
- Feel
- Translucent, organic fibre
Pigment vs dye inks
Pigment inks sit on the paper surface as tiny encapsulated particles and resist fading far longer than dye-based inks, which soak into the paper and are more light-sensitive. Independent testing (such as by Wilhelm Imaging Research) has rated many pigment ink and cotton-rag combinations for many decades — some beyond a century — when displayed under glass away from direct sun. That’s why every true fine art print uses pigment.
Preparing your file
- Resolution: aim for 300 pixels per inch at the final print size (240 ppi is acceptable for large prints viewed from a distance). A 50×70cm print wants roughly 5900×8250 pixels.
- Colour space: send in Adobe RGB (1998) or sRGB with the profile embedded. Don’t convert to CMYK — fine art printers work in RGB.
- Format: 16-bit TIFF is ideal; maximum-quality JPEG works for most photos.
- Bleed and borders: decide whether you want a white paper border (best for framing with a mount) or full bleed.
- Scanning artwork: flat originals should be scanned or photographed with a colour target and even lighting — a studio can do this for you.
Colour management and proofing
A good studio soft-proofs your file with the ICC profile for the exact paper and printer, then prints a small test strip of critical areas — skin tones, skies, deep shadows. Screens are brighter than paper, so expect prints to look slightly less luminous than your monitor; calibrating your screen to around 100–120 cd/m² gets you closer.
Limited editions and certificates
- Fix the edition size up front (e.g. 25) and never reprint that image at that size and paper afterwards.
- Number each print (7/25), sign in pencil in the margin, and keep a register of buyers.
- Artist’s proofs (AP) are usually capped at about 10% of the edition.
- Issue a certificate of authenticity stating title, edition number, size, paper, ink and print date.
Caring for fine art prints
Handle by the edges with cotton gloves, store flat in acid-free tissue, and frame with UV glazing and an acid-free mount. In Dubai, keep prints out of direct sun and away from AC vents — the same rules as in our framing guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long do giclée prints last?
Made with pigment inks on archival paper and displayed under UV glazing away from direct sun, giclée prints are rated to last many decades; some paper and ink combinations are rated beyond 100 years in independent tests.
What resolution do I need for a large print?
Around 300 ppi at final size is ideal; 180–240 ppi is usually fine for prints larger than 100cm viewed from a distance. Studios can upscale carefully if needed.
Is giclée the same as a canvas print?
Canvas prints can be giclée if they use pigment inks on archival canvas. Many cheap canvas prints use solvent or dye inks on polyester and fade faster.
Can I print my own artwork to sell?
Yes. Scan or photograph it properly, choose one paper for the edition, and print a test strip first. Number and sign limited editions and give buyers a certificate.