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Giclée Printing

Giclée printing for fine art, photography, and reproduction.

Archival pigment giclée prints on museum-grade paper or canvas. Custom-sized from 5x7 up through large format. Color-matched to your file. Rated for long-lasting fade resistance.

Archival pigment system
Museum-grade color accuracy
Archival fade rating
Lignin-free papers, pigment ink
Paper or canvas
Lustre, matte, gallery or museum wrap
Print + frame in one order
No handoff, no handling damage
Quick answer: what is giclée printing?

Giclée (zhee-clay) is a fine art printing method that uses an archival pigment inkjet system to produce archival prints on museum-grade paper or canvas. Unlike regular inkjet output, giclée uses pigment-based inks (not dye) on lignin-free archival paper, which gives the prints a long-lasting fade rating. It is the standard reproduction method used by galleries, museums, photographers, and artists producing limited editions.

Giclée Printing on Archival Paper and Canvas

Two things separate giclée from a regular inkjet print: the ink and the paper. Giclée uses pigment-based inks instead of dye-based, which gives the print a long-lasting fade rating. The paper is archival and lignin-free so it will not yellow or break down with age. Regular inkjet prints fade and yellow within a few years because the ink is dye-based and the paper has wood pulp in it. Giclée is what museums, galleries, and fine art photographers use when the print needs to last.

What paper and media do you offer for giclée?

Lustre paper has a subtle sheen that enhances color saturation and contrast. Most photographers and bold-color artists pick lustre. Matte paper has zero surface reflection for a soft, gallery presentation. Watercolor reproduction, line art, and architectural prints usually go on matte. Canvas giclée is also available on premium poly-cotton, stretched in either gallery wrap (image wraps the edges) or museum wrap (clean white edges for framing). All media are archival.

Can you reproduce my original painting, photograph, or artwork?

Yes. This is one of the most common reasons artists order giclée. Send a high-resolution scan or photograph of your original at 300 DPI or better at your target print size, and we produce archival giclée reproductions color-matched to your reference. Most artists produce limited editions of a popular original this way (typical edition runs are 25 to 250 numbered prints). Art consultants use the same workflow to scale a single original to fit a specific corporate or hospitality wall.

How big can a giclée print go?

Any custom size from 5x7 up through large format. Standard popular sizes are 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24, and 24x36. Oversized pieces (anything over 24x36) move into our large format giclée printing track and ship rolled or pre-stretched depending on canvas versus paper. For sizes over 40 inches we recommend canvas or rigid mounting because paper at that scale benefits from structural support.

Should I frame the giclée print or have it shipped flat?

If you know how you want to frame it, ordering print plus frame on one purchase order is the recommended path. We print the giclée, build the frame, mat and glaze the piece, and ship the completed work ready to hang. There is no handoff between two vendors and no handling damage. If you want to frame it yourself or take it to a local framer, we ship the print flat in archival packaging.

Who uses our giclée printing?

Artists producing editions

Limited numbered editions of original work. Consistent color across the full run. Reorders match the original batch.

Fine art photographers

Archival photography prints in custom sizes. Pigment ink and museum-grade paper keep tonal range and shadow detail intact.

Galleries & dealers

Edition fulfillment for represented artists. House specs on file for consistent presentation across releases.

Art consultants & curators

Giclée reproduction at corporate and hospitality scale. Single originals scaled to specific wall dimensions.

Etsy & Shopify artists

On-demand giclée printing and framing fulfillment with drop ship to your customer.

Interior designers

Custom-sized giclée reproductions sized to client walls. Print and frame on one order, shipped to install.

Print + Frame in one order

Upload your file, pick a frame and mat, receive a finished, ready-to-hang giclée print.

Go to print and frame

Large format giclée

Oversized photography, gallery-scale reproduction, and statement canvas pieces.

See large format printing

Photo restoration & reprinting

Restore a damaged, faded, or torn photo and reprint it on archival paper, ready to frame.

See photo restoration

For artists & editions

Wholesale giclée printing and framing fulfillment for Etsy and Shopify artists.

Artist fulfillment

Ready to order a giclée print?

Upload your file in the print and frame designer, or send your edition specs for a wholesale quote.

Giclée printing FAQ

What is giclée printing?
Giclée (pronounced zhee-clay) is a fine art printing method that uses a high-resolution pigment inkjet system to spray microscopic ink droplets onto archival paper or canvas. The result is a print with color depth, smooth gradients, and detail that matches or exceeds traditional reproduction methods. The term originated in the early 1990s to distinguish fine art digital prints from commercial inkjet output.
How is giclée printing different from a regular inkjet print?
Two things separate giclée from regular inkjet output: the ink and the paper. Giclée uses pigment-based inks (not dye-based) which resist fading on archival paper. The paper itself is archival, lignin-free, and acid-balanced so it will not yellow or break down. Regular inkjet prints fade and yellow within a few years. Giclée prints are what museums, galleries, and serious artists use for reproduction and edition work.
What paper do you offer for giclée prints?
Two archival paper finishes: lustre, which has a subtle sheen that enhances color saturation and contrast (popular for photography and bold artwork), and matte, which has zero surface reflection for a soft, gallery-style presentation (popular for watercolor reproduction, line art, and architectural work). Both papers are archival and lignin-free, rated for long-lasting fade resistance under normal indoor display.
Can you print giclée on canvas?
Yes. Canvas giclée prints are produced on premium poly-cotton canvas, then stretched on solid wood bars in either gallery wrap (image continues around the edges, no frame needed) or museum wrap (clean white edges, designed to sit inside a frame). Canvas giclée is the standard for fine art reproduction, oversized photography, and statement wall pieces.
How long do giclée prints last?
Pigment-based giclée prints on archival paper are rated for long-lasting fade resistance under normal indoor display conditions (out of direct sunlight, normal household humidity). Canvas giclée carries the same fade rating. When you frame the print behind framer's grade acrylic, you add another layer of protection from light damage. This is the same construction standard used by museums and conservators.
What sizes do you offer for giclée printing?
Any custom size from 5x7 up through large format. Standard popular sizes include 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24, and 24x36. Oversized pieces (over 24x36) are produced as large format giclée. Send your exact dimensions and we will produce to size; no need to fit into a preset catalog.
Can you reproduce my original painting, photograph, or artwork as a giclée print?
Yes. Send a high-resolution scan or photograph of your original (300 DPI minimum at the target print size). We color-match to your supplied reference and produce archival giclée reproductions in any size. This is how most artists produce limited editions of an original piece, and how art consultants scale a single original to fit a specific wall.
How much does giclée printing cost?
Pricing depends on print size and media (paper versus canvas). Most standard giclée prints land between $25 and $90 print-only, with larger sizes and canvas priced accordingly. Volume pricing for editions, artist fulfillment, and gallery or consultant relationships is available. Send your sizes and media preferences for an exact quote within one business day.
Can you frame my giclée print in the same order?
Yes. Our print and frame service produces the giclée print and the custom frame on a single purchase order, then ships the finished piece ready to hang. You select the frame moulding and mat configuration during upload. This is the recommended workflow because it eliminates handling damage between printing and framing.
Do you offer giclée printing for artists and galleries selling editions?
Yes. We run edition work for artists, photographers, and galleries with consistent color matching across the full edition. House specs (paper, size, frame profile) get logged so reprints months or years later match the original edition exactly. Wholesale pricing for ongoing editions and fulfillment relationships.

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