We believe that a large part of the value of any print you buy from Deirdre's Studio derives from the reproduction process used to create it. Giclee printing is a process not just an inkjet print. This explanation comes from Jeff Salava, owner of Archival Arts.
The giclee process is meant to be a reproduction from a piece of 2D art. A giclee print is a reproduction of 2D art, not a photograph. There are many steps involved and if any step is skipped, it is not a giclee print.
Step 1: Capture. This is the most important part of the process. The most accepted captures for giclee are from a PhaseOne Digital back, Betterlight scanning back, Cruse Scanner or some other medium or large format digital system that has high quality optics and outputs a large digital file. Our printer uses an 80 megapixel PhaseOne system. Once captured, it is used together with a color management system that balances grays, blacks and whites and has a color profile to optimize the colors captured. Lighting is also very important.
Step 2: Proofing. The captured file is proofed on the media the final print will be printed on to ensure the color is as close to the original as possible. Proofing requires a great deal of skill in digital color correction to match the original as close as possible. The artist, Deirdre, is involved in approving the color as she knows her art best.
Step 3: Printing. On archival media with archival ink. Once the color is approved, your prints are printed on either 100% cotton rag art paper or archival canvas. We believe that any other medias to be giclee, including photographic papers with a coating or cellulose papers that are not acid free. The media has an inkjet coating that allows the ink to sit on the paper without bleeding a great deal and to dry in a short period of time. Inks used for giclee are archival pigment inks that are tested to last a very long time.
Step 4: Finishing. Fine art papers do not require finishing, however they should be framed under UV glass and matted with an acid free, rag mat to avoid yellowing and pre-mature fading. Canvas prints should be varnished with a high quality varnish with UV protection. Giclee prints should also be displayed in an area that is free of direct sunlight.
Step 5: Authentication. We are firm believers that if a print is called a giclee, it needs to have a certificate with it that explains the capture system, inks and media used to create the print. If that information is not present how will you know the giclee process was used?
