If you’ve ever admired the crystal-clear colours and tactile surfaces of works by Scarlett Raven, Paul Kenton or Jon Jones, you’ve witnessed the power of the giclée.
Derived from the French term gicler – meaning ‘to squirt or spray’, the term describes a printing process whereby microscopic dots of pigment-based ink are sprayed onto archival-quality paper to ensure the fidelity of a limited edition print to an original artwork.
The richness, accuracy and depth of colour is thanks to the method’s potential to achieve a huge colour gamut (the spectrum of colours distinguishable by the human eye). Unlike the four tones used in lithography, giclées often use five: light cyan, cyan, light magenta, yellow and black.
Fantastic for reproductions which require maximum detail, giclées are most commonly found on watercolour paper or canvas, but can also be created on glass. Different types of paper will produce different effects. Matte paper works well behind glass due its lack of reflectivity, whilst the shine of a glossy finish can give an artwork a brighter appearance.
It is believed that a giclée will significantly outlast a lithographic print, keeping its vivid colour for up to 200 years.
27/06/2023
If you’re unsure about the different types of artwork you can buy, here’s our quick guide to what we sell at Castle Fine Art - originals and limited editions. If you need any further information, our knowledgeable art consultants will be happy to share their expertise and help unite you with art you love.09/01/2023
A centuries-old process, silk-screening – or serigraphy as it’s also known – is a complex method of reproduction that is completed by exceptionally skilled specialists. Using a tightly stretched mesh or screen (hence the name), each colour is printed separately in a highly manual process that requires time and precision.25/08/2023
An original work of art is something totally unique. When you buy an original piece from Castle Fine Art, you're bringing home a special link with the artist to live in your home!Our dedicated team of art consultants is on hand to offer you tailored advice.
Join our mailing list for exclusive discounts, the latest art news, artist updates and more.
Enter a location to find your closest Castle Fine Art gallery.
Our dedicated team of art consultants is on hand to offer you tailored advice.
Speak to a consultantEnter a location to find your closest Castle Fine Art gallery.
Essential cookies enable core functionality such as page navigation. The website cannot function properly without these cookies; they can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Performance cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage (for example, which of our pages are most frequently visited).
We use third party cookies on our site to serve you with advertisements that we believe are relevant to you and your interests. You may see these advertisements on our site and on other sites that you visit.