Giclée Printing FAQ
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What is Giclée printing?
Giclée printing is a high-quality process that uses inkjet technology to reproduce artwork or images with remarkable detail, colour accuracy, and tonal range. The term “giclée” (pronounced “zhee-clay”) is derived from the French word for “spray,” referring to the method in which ink is sprayed onto the paper during the printing process.This technique is commonly used for reproducing fine art, photographs, and other creative works, as it produces prints with vibrant, long-lasting colours. Our giclée prints are printed on archival, museum-quality paper and use pigment-based inks, which are more resistant to fading than dye-based inks. Artists, photographers, and galleries often use giclée printing to create limited edition prints that closely match the original work.
What are the benefits of Giclée printing?
Giclée printing offers several key benefits. First, it provides high-quality reproduction of artwork, capturing incredible detail, color accuracy, and tonal range that closely mimic the original piece. The use of pigment-based inks results in vibrant colors that remain vivid for long periods, making the prints highly durable.The prints are also archival-quality, meaning they resist fading and deterioration over time. This makes them ideal for long-term preservation.
Giclée printing is also an eco-friendly printing method, as it uses water-based inks and environmentally conscious materials. As this service is a print on demand, there
Unlike screen print gicleé doesn’t require the creation of screens so it is more cost-effective for smaller print runs, this means no/low minimum run numbers or set up fees. Set up is also quick and efficient meaning a quick turnaround time for your prints. Got an art fair coming up next week? No problem! Need a last minute gift for friends or family? Get in touch, send us your artwork and we will do the rest :)
Giclée printing is an eco-friendly printing method, as it uses water-based inks and environmentally conscious materials.
What is the status of my order?
You will receive a confirmation email to confirm your purchase. A second email will be sent once your order has been packed and ready to ship. Tracking will be provided if available.
I placed an order and no longer need it, can you help?
Please use our contact form to get in touch and we will cancel your order if it has not already been processed and shipped. If an order has already shipped it will need to be processed as a return within 30 days.
How quickly can I get my prints?
We ship every Thursday using Royal Mail’s tracked 48-hour service. We can usually print your order on the same day we receive it (if received before midday). If you require an express service, please get in touch, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs!
Preparing your artwork for print
Start by ensuring the image has a high resolution of at least 300 dpi and is saved in RGB mode at the desired print size. If your print is full bleed (all the way to the edges of the paper), please include a 3mm bleed area around each edge of the image. This ensures the artwork reaches the edge of the print once trimmed. If you’re unsure about artwork setup, we offer ready-made templates for you to download here. If a template for your size is unavailable, please contact us, and we’ll assist with any file setup queries you may have.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
No! Because Giclée is a print to order service and requires no setup fees we are able to facilitate small jobs. This is great if you need a run of posters but your order doesn’t meet the minimum of 30 units for our screen printing service. If you require a single print to frame as a gift, we can also help you with that!
What paper stock is right for my job?
Hahnemühle Photo Rag®(308gsm): The white cotton artist’s paper, with its characteristic, wonderfully soft feel, boasts a lightly defined felt structure, lending each artwork a three-dimensional appearance and impressive pictorial depth.
Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Ultra Smooth (305gsm): An especially smooth and silky soft paper for high-quality FineArt inkjet printing. The white cotton art paper has a discreet, very finely textured surface with a strikingly silky feel.
Hahnemühle Bamboo (308gsm): The world’s first FineArt inkjet paper made from 90% bamboo fibres, for a natural look and environmentally friendly paper production.
Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta (325gsm): The clearly visible, exquisite felt structure lends the paper its lovely soft feel and tactile surface texture to produce prints with a stunning three-dimensional quality and depth.
Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl (285gsm): A cellulose-based, bright white paper has a delicately textured surface and a smooth, silky feel, with a subtle, pearl-gloss effect.
Hahnemühle German Etching (310gsm): A traditional mould-made copperplate printing paper, complete with an inkjet coating designed especially for FineArt applications.
Hahnemühle Museum Etching (350gsm): The finely textured surface with fine felt structure lends FineArt prints added depth and a three-dimensional effect.
