What Is Giclée Printing?
Why It Matters for Your Wall Art
What Is Giclée Printing? — Why It Matters for Your Wall Art
If you've been shopping for art prints, you've probably seen the term giclée. It's the standard used for professional fine art reproduction — the process that separates an art print designed to last 100+ years from a standard print that starts showing its age within a decade. This guide explains what giclée printing actually is, why it matters, and how to tell the difference when buying.
At Olive et Oriel, every art print we produce uses the giclée process — archival pigment inks, museum-quality substrates, precision colour management. It's not marketing language; it's the technical standard we hold every print to at facilities.
What Makes Giclée Different
Giclée printing uses professional large-format inkjet printers that deposit microscopic droplets of pigment ink onto archival substrates. The practical result is exceptional colour accuracy, subtle tonal gradations, and prints that resist fading for 100+ years.
The key differences from standard printing: First, pigment inks (used in giclée) are dramatically more lightfast than dye-based inks (used in standard printing). Second, the substrates — fine art cotton-rag paper or artist-grade canvas — are pH-neutral and acid-free, preventing the yellowing that degrades standard prints over time. Third, professional colour calibration ensures the print matches the original digital file precisely.
Giclée vs Standard Print: The Real Difference
A standard print-on-demand service uses commercial inkjet or laser printers with standard paper — the same technology used for office printing, optimised for speed and cost rather than quality or longevity. These prints look fine initially but begin to show yellowing and fading within years of display, especially in sunlight.
A giclée print uses the same professional equipment and process used by galleries and museums. The prints are produced slowly and precisely, with calibrated colour management at every step. The inks are archival pigment — the same chemistry used to preserve images in institutional collections. The difference in longevity is not marginal — it's measured in decades.
When you buy a print from Olive et Oriel, you're buying a giclée print made on professional equipment at facilities. This isn't a premium add-on; it's the baseline standard we apply to every single print we produce.
Giclée on Canvas vs Giclée on Paper
The giclée process applies equally to both paper and canvas substrates, but the results look and feel different. Giclée on fine art paper produces prints with crisp detail and a choice of surface finishes — typically matte, semi-gloss or lustre. The paper surface allows for extremely fine tonal gradation and sharp reproduction of photographic detail.
Giclée on canvas produces a slightly textured surface with a painterly quality. Our canvas prints are printed using archival inks on professional artist-grade canvas stretched over solid timber frames. The result is art that looks like it was made for your wall.
Framed art prints combine giclée-on-paper with finished frames in black, white and oak finish — the complete package, ready to hang, that arrives looking exactly as a gallery piece would.
Every piece is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wall art since 2015. We deliver to over 40 countries worldwide, with custom sizing available on all prints. Over a decade of experience, every order ships within 24 hours with our satisfaction guarantee.
Ships Next Business Day
Art prints dispatched next business day, Australia-wide.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
If it arrives damaged or doesn't perform as described, we'll replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does giclée mean?
Giclée (pronounced zhee-CLAY) is a French term meaning 'to spray.' It refers to fine art printing using professional inkjet printers that spray microscopic droplets of archival ink onto high-quality substrates — typically fine art paper or canvas. The term originated in the 1990s to distinguish fine art digital printing from standard commercial printing.
Is giclée printing better than regular printing?
Significantly better in several key ways. Giclée printing uses archival pigment inks rated to 100+ years without visible fading. It uses a much wider colour gamut, capturing subtle tonal gradations standard printers can't reproduce. The substrates have archival pH-neutral chemistry that prevents yellowing. Resolution is typically 300–1200 DPI versus 72–150 DPI for standard print-on-demand.
How long does giclée printing last?
When displayed under normal conditions — out of direct sunlight, at stable room temperature and humidity — archival giclée prints using pigment inks are rated to 100+ years before visible fading. Behind UV-protective glass, this extends further.
Are all art prints giclée?
No — 'art print' is a broad term that includes everything from standard laser prints to fine art giclée. The distinction matters for longevity and quality. Look for the terms 'archival inks,' 'pigment inks,' 'fine art paper,' or 'giclée print' — these indicate the higher quality process.
What paper is used for giclée prints?
Professional giclée printing uses pH-neutral, acid-free fine art papers — typically cotton rag papers (made from cotton fibre rather than wood pulp, which prevents yellowing) or high-quality alpha-cellulose papers. These are substantially heavier and thicker than standard printing paper.
Experience the Difference of Archival Quality
Every Olive et Oriel print is giclée-quality — archival inks, museum substrates, produced in-house at facilities.
