Fur In The Paint

Finally the long awaited giclee posts. (Or at least the first one.)

In this first post we will discuss what Giclee is and how it differs from the most widely used reproduction method, Offset Lithography.

In upcoming posts, additional reader questions will be answered as to what to look for when choosing a printing company, the proper handling and storage of artwork and a few miscellaneous technical questions.

What is a Lithograph?
An offset Lithograph is the most common form for reproduction of artwork, (though giclee’s are gaining on it every second.) These in large part are the type of prints you would find in print galleries and produced by major printing houses like Hadley House. (Though even Hadley House is offering some giclee’s now.)

It is a mechanized process where the image to be reproduced is printed photographically to a metal plate, that is mounted onto the roller of a printing press. Ink is applied to a plate, transferred to a rubber roller called a “blanket” and from the blanket onto paper. Offset Lithography is one of the most widely used methods of printing.

So then what’s a Giclee?
Giclee is pronounced zhee-clay (urm . . . think Zha-zha Gabor, only with an “e.” Instead of Zha say Zhee. It might help put you in the mood, if you attempt to fake her accent. Yes, that’s it my daarlings)

“Oh la la, I feel like I should be sitting at a Cafe, while wearing a beret and smoking a cigarette.”

Giclee is the type of printing we do at Wild Faces Gallery. The most simple explanation is, it is a digital process of high resolution scanning, color correction and storing of information. The prints are then created using a large format inkjet printer that produces high quality prints, using archival inks and acid free papers.

The term Giclee was coined in 1990’s and has it’s origins from the French word gicler. The literal translation is “to spurt or spray”

I have a story about the origins of the term but since I cannot find or remember from whence this story comes (I think perhaps Decor magazine though I also checked wikipedia to no avail.) you must consider it gossip. The reason they came up with the word giclee is that the guys who were going to introduce this printing method at an expo in the 90’s, wanted something more exotic to call the process other than what is it, an inkjet print. And so the Giclee printing process was born (or rather coined.)

I think they succeeded admirably. I mean when you say Giclee, it sounds so mysterious and exotic. Now say it with me, only slower this time. “ggiicclleeeee.” Oh la la, I feel like I should be sitting at a Cafe, while wearing a beret and smoking a cigarette.

In the early days, giclee prints didn’t have the best lightfast quality and the prints were delicate to handle (they would run if they got wet and they scratched easily) But the technology has improved dramatically. And now depending on which printer you have, as well as ink and paper combinations, most prints will outlive you if cared for properly. In upcoming posts, we will talk about longevity and archivability.