What is a Giclée ?
Giclée (zhe-clay') is French for "squirt." The giclée printing process involves squirting microscopic dots of ink onto fine quality paper or canvas. On paper, the inks are actually absorbed slightly and blend to create fine art reproductions that are often indistinguishable from the originals. On canvas, the process yields prints of stunning vibrancy and realism.
Giclée prints begin by photographing the original artwork to make a 4x5 transparency. Special attention goes into lighting conditions and the type of film used, in order to capture the color and texture of the original artwork. The image is digitized (scanned) and color corrected to attain the closest possible match to the original work. This digital information is fine tuned to the type of paper or surface on which the image is to be printed, further ensuring fidelity to the original. All of this information is stored and used for each individual print, which retain previously unheard of quality from the very first print in an edition to the very last.
Today’s Giclée prints offer the artist more flexibility and creative freedom to market their work to a broader audience. Just imagine, you now have the ability to reproduce your work in different sizes and on different materials. You can have prints made 1 at a time on a “as you sell it” basis in open edition or limited edition runs. This allows you to test the market with a new idea, style or image without a large, upfront investment.
Thunderdome Studio’s Giclée prints are the perfect medium for both the established and emerging artist. You can have just one Giclée print matted and framed to use as a display piece and then have more printed as the orders come in.
Current Giclée printing technology gives you the highest level of detail and the most brilliant colors available in a reproduction. The resolution of Thunderdome Studio’s Giclée prints is actually higher than traditional lithographic prints. In addition to the higher level of detail and color, Giclée prints also have a higher life span. The ink and paper used by Thunderdome Studio are estimated to be lightfast for 100+ years*.
Are Giclée prints being accepted as a collectible and valuable piece of artwork? With their higher resolution and detail, more vibrant colors and longevity ~ galleries, museums, collectors and art enthusiasts are paying more and putting a higher value on Giclée's than lithographs, serigraphs and other types of reproductions. Here are some highlights from a long list of galleries and museums that proudly display Giclée prints;
The Louvre Museum in Paris
*(lightfast estimates are provided by the manufacturer - Thunderdome Studio accepts no responsibility for these claims.)