Print Info

More information on our printing techniques.

Fine Art Printing of Digital Images Giclee (pronounced "zhee-clay") is a French word meaning "to spray on" or "to sputter". Giclee reproductions were originally developed in 1989 as a plateless method for fine art printing using large format ink jet printers and watercolor with art quality papers, including canvas. 

Far more sensitive than traditional lithographic printing, output from the giclee process can reproduce more than five million colors. It features vibrant color and fine detail, combined with the texture of the paper that’s used.

Why giclee? 
In the world of fine art digital printing, images are digitized (commonly scanned), perhaps manipulated, and then stored in a computer before being sent to a high resolution, ink jet printer. Unlike other photo reproduction methods, each image is individually sent to the printer, which creates the kind of slight color variations from piece to piece that fine art buyers and gallery patrons look for in limited edition artwork. 

In case you’re worried, giclees are accepted by museums around the world, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta’s High Museum. Some original watercolor paintings will fade faster than a well-made giclee. From: Shutterbug Pro Techniques magazine, September 1999.

While some giclees are scanned, photographer John Agria usually uses a high resolution digital camera...giving his work a sense of spontaneity and immediacy.