Giclée printing on canvas is a modern alternative to traditional methods of fine-art reproduction such as lithography. In giclée printing, original paintings, drawings and other artworks are digitally scanned. Then, the computerized images are sent to sophisticated inkjet printers, which reproduce the images onto canvas. The resulting image is very high quality, with color close to the original's, and will last many years.
Name
The word "giclée" comes from the French verb "gicler," meaning "to squirt." The printer squirts or sprays the ink onto the surface where the print will appear.
Significance
Giclée printing has made it possible to create multiple prints, all of the same high quality, on different-sized canvases.
Process
While some artists have their own giclée printing equipment, many send the work out to studios for printing.
History
Giclée printing originated in the early 1990s.
Expert Insight
Experts believe that giclée prints will retain their quality for decades if they are not exposed to too much moisture or sunlight.
