Giclée Fine Art Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a giclée print?

A giclée print is a fine art inkjet print made with archival pigment inks on fine art or photo paper. Painters and galleries say giclée; photographers usually call the same print a pigment print or archival pigment print. Either way it is the same object: UltraChrome pigment inks on archival paper, printed from your file.

Is a giclée the same as an archival pigment print?

Yes. Giclée, archival pigment print, and pigment print are different names for the same print. Gallery and auction catalogs usually list them as archival pigment prints, so if a consignment sheet or exhibition checklist asks for an archival pigment print, a giclée from us is exactly that.

What papers can I choose from?

A curated set of premium photo and fine art papers: Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta and Canson Platine Fibre Rag for gloss baryta surfaces; Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308, Moab Entrada Cotton Rag, and Canson Arches 88 for matte cotton rag; plus Epson Premium Luster and Epson Enhanced Matte for everyday photo work.

How long do giclée prints last?

UltraChrome pigment inks on archival papers are rated to last 100 to 200 years without fading — the stability galleries and collectors expect.

What is the difference between a giclée and a C-Print?

A giclée is a pigment inkjet print on fine art paper. A C-Print is a chromogenic print: laser exposure onto light sensitive Fuji Crystal Archive color paper, developed in photographic chemistry. Giclée gives you a choice of matte and baryta fine art surfaces; a C-Print is a continuous tone photographic print on photographic paper. If you are deciding between them, order a small test print of each.

Should I print black and white as a pigment print or a silver gelatin print?

Both are archival; they are different objects. A black and white pigment print is a giclée on your choice of matte rag or baryta paper. A silver gelatin print is a true darkroom print: laser exposed onto Harman Digital Galerie black and white paper — fiber with a gloss surface, or RC with a pearl surface — and wet processed in real photographic chemistry. If the work will be listed as a gelatin silver print, or you want the classic darkroom object, choose silver gelatin. If you want a matte surface or a specific fine art paper, choose a pigment print.

Can I order a test print before a large piece?

Yes, and we recommend it. Order a small print of the same file on the same paper to see exactly how it prints before committing to an exhibition ready piece. Custom sizes run up to 60 inches wide, with next day turnaround.