Canvas Numbered Giclee

Canvas Numbered Giclee

Canvas Photo Printing

Keeping Masterpieces Alive on Canvas prints using Giclee prints

Giclee (pronounced as “zhee-clay”) technology was first adopted by museums around the 1990s when it became difficult for them to use masterpieces for public exhibition due to their state and the insurance expense required for their coverage. Giclee, which literally means “spraying of ink”, has tremendously contributed to the reproduction of some fine pieces of art with the same details and nuances at an affordable price. This is because they have as much as 1800 dots per inch or dpi with respect to apparent resolution and unlike standard printing technologies that use five or four colors for canvas photo printing , the Giclee printers use over eight colors, thus making the print more rich and vibrant in appearance.

Typically, in giclee prints, scans are printed using pigmented inks on canvas or art paper using 8 colors or the 12 colors inkjet printers such as Epson or HP. Most digital inkjet printers use pigmented ink as they are water-resistant and thus ensure more durability and permanence when compared to dye-based inks. Dye based inks, on the other hand, may consist of colorants that are water-soluble and thus may prove dangerous, if the painting comes in contact with water.

The most commonly used ink by inkjet printers for producing giclee prints is the Epson UltraChrome™ Ink. This has a color range comparable to dye based inks. This is due to enhanced density of the pigment quantity to ensure sharper replicas of the fine pieces of art. Owing to its particle form, the UltraChrome™ Ink is also supposed to protect the underlying colors even if the canvas print is exposed to any light or gas, thus affecting only the surface particles. Another brand of ink that is widely used by inkjet printers for giclee prints is the Encad Quantum Ink™ manufactured by Kodak. This brand of ink also promises a wide range of colors and enhanced density.

Giclee prints are most favorable for those artists who wish to make replicas of their art pieces as and when required. Compared to traditional methods of printing such as silver halide, giclee prints are far more affordable and cost effective as once an image is archived in the digital form, it can be reproduced innumerable number of times. Also, one is not limited with respect to the size to which an art has to be reproduced. Overall, giclee prints are becoming a popular method for making canvas prints because of the inkjet printers' quality, speed, flexibility and longevity. Epson Stylus Pro, Epson 9900 and Epson 8800 are some of the popularly used brand of printers for reproducing canvas prints in the giclee form. canvas photo printing has never been so easy.

While most canvas print stores would claim excellent services, do check that they do high digital resolution scanning, have a sound calibration process and use the right brand of inks and printers.

About the Author

Author has over ten years of experience with quality canvas photo printing. Please visit photos on canvas for more information on canvas photo printing and also my other articles on this subject.

What is the value of my Picasso Estate Commisioned Giclee "The Dream"?

Hi, I have a Picasso Estate Commisioned Giclee of "The Dream". It is limited edition number 29/500. It is commissioned and certified from his own private collection, by his estate in the 1980’s. It has a ceritificate of authenticity, is numbered and inscribed "Collection Domain Picasso". Its size is 30 inches by 20 inches and is oil on canvas. What do you think its value would be? I have been told they were originally sold to galleries in the 1980's for around $5,000 but don't know if this is true. Thanks for any help.

I dont know how much it's worth but congrats on having such a beautiful and unique piece!