The term “Giclée“ originates from the French term “gicleur“ and means “to spray“. It refers to a digital printing process that allows artwork, including paintings, drawings, and photographs, to come to life with great color depth and rich details. Tiny droplets of ink are sprayed onto fine art paper that is acid- and lignin-free.

A Giclée print captures every detail of a piece of art with great precision, color-depth and it gives it a three-dimensional feel. You may not be able to go a museum or exhibition every day, but with gallery-standard quality prints, you can turn your home into an art space. Lastly, you are in it for the long run. Giclée printing on acid- and lignin-free paper ensures durability and resistance to yellowing.

There are a number of factors that influence how well your print stands the test of time:

1)     Exposure to high heat: Although looking at art while cooking or sitting by the fireplace can be a deeply comforting experience, we recommend avoiding hanging your prints above your stove or too close to a fireplace.

2)     Exposure to bright light: While we may enjoy bathing in the sun and getting a nice tan, our print won’t feel quite the same. Protect the print from too much exposure to sunlight to preserve its vibrant colors in the long run.

3)     Exposure to moisture: Moist areas or areas characterized by high humidity do not provide a safe home for your print and may instead damage or wrinkle it. To give your prints a long and healthy life, we recommend framing them and avoiding hanging them close to the bathroom. Moreover, your skin exudes natural oils. While you want to feel the rich and vibrant colors of your print, please avoid touching it with your bare hands.

4)     Exposure to atmospheric pollutants: Not just love is in the air, but also particles of dust, soot or smoke that are hardly visible to the human eye. To protect your print from these atmospheric pollutants, you can frame it and put it behind glass. UV protective glass also ensures that your print is safe from bright light sources.

A framed Giclée print in daylight conditions has a life expectancy of around 80 years. A print purchased now can still give joy to your grandchildren. Stored in archival materials (for example acid-free conservation board), a Giclée print can last up to 200 years. Irrespective of if you want to store your print for a century or two or just until the next move, it is good to double check that your storage box is free from dust and moisture. Additionally, make sure that you store your prints away from places where there is a risk of temperature fluctuation and condensation, such as attics, basements, and storage spots near an outside wall.