Giclée prints are full-color fine art prints created on high quality inkjet printers. Giclée prints allow the artist to print one copy of their work at a time and to make unlimited prints with a low labor investment. Archival quality inks are used, along with canvas, paper or another acid-free print media. With the right equipment, you can create your own giclée prints to make selling your artwork practical, convenient and affordable.
Scanning Images
The first step to making a giclée print is converting your image into a digital format. Use a high resolution scanner to scan artwork at 300 dpi. Be sure to use a good quality scanner capable of accurately reproducing images. Import your scan into a photo editing program, like Adobe Photoshop. If you work digitally, be sure that you save your digital artwork in the correct format for giclée prints. Save your files as a flattened PSD or a TIFF file with LZW compression for the best result. You can use your digital files for home giclée printing or have your art prints done by a giclée printing service.
Printing at Home
The key to DIY giclée is the printer; a giclée printer installs just as a home printer does, and printing is managed in the same way. However, the cost difference between a giclée printer and a regular inkjet is substantial; giclée printers are costly large format printers that rely upon either heat transfer or piezo heads. Giclée printing at home also necessitates frequent use as a part of large format printer maintenance: giclée printers must be used several times a week to prevent the nozzles from clogging.
Print on Demand Services
Many artists opt for print on demand services to create giclée prints without the cost investment of a printer and inks. Follow the scanning and file preparation steps, then upload your giclée print files to a service. Select the number of prints you need, the size, and the print media. Prints can be shipped to your home or office or directly to a buyer. Use these DIY giclée printing services to print photos, digital artwork or traditional drawings and paintings, and you will save on inventory storage and costs.
