A giclée print is a fine art reproduction made on a professional inkjet printer using pigment based inks on archival paper or canvas. The word is used to separate gallery grade printing from ordinary office or photo lab printing, and it has become the standard way serious photographers and artists release their work.
What is a giclée print?
A giclée print is an inkjet print made to fine art standards: pigment inks, wide colour range, and archival media built to last for decades. Three things separate a true giclée from a normal print: the inks are pigment based rather than dye based, the printer lays down a far wider range of colours than a standard machine, and the paper or canvas is chosen for longevity rather than cost.
Where does the word giclée come from?
The term was coined in 1991 by the American printmaker Jack Duganne. He took it from the French verb gicler, meaning to squirt or spray, which describes how an inkjet head applies ink to the surface. Early giclée prints were made on Iris printers, and the name stuck as the technology matured into the pigment printers used today.
How is giclée printing different from a normal print?
A high street photo print or a mass produced poster is usually made quickly, on thin stock, with dye based inks that begin to shift and fade within a few years. A giclée print is the opposite approach. Stephen Milner's prints are made with 12 colour giclée printing and water based pigment inks, which hold their tone far longer and reproduce the deep blacks and clean whites that black and white photography depends on. You can read the full method on The Process.
- Inks: pigment, not dye, so colour and contrast last.
- Colour range: many ink channels rather than the usual four, which matters most in the subtle grey tones of a monochrome image.
- Media: archival canvas or acrylic chosen for permanence.
- Care: each piece is printed to order, never held in a warehouse.
That last point matters more than it sounds. Because a giclée is made one at a time to order, the printer can be calibrated for each piece rather than run at speed for volume. It is the difference between a print that is manufactured and a print that is made.
Why does giclée matter for black and white photography?
Colour images can hide a lot. A monochrome landscape cannot, because every value from the deepest black to the brightest white is on show, and any banding or muddiness in the mid greys is obvious. This is exactly where a wide gamut giclée printer earns its place: the extra ink channels lay down smooth, continuous tone across the whole grey scale, so a misty forest or a still lake holds its subtlety instead of flattening out. For black and white work, the quality of the printing is not a detail, it is the whole picture.
Why do giclée prints last so long?
Longevity comes down to the inks and the surface. Pigment particles are more stable than dyes and resist the fading caused by light over time. Stephen's canvas prints carry a 100 year plus colour guarantee, and the acrylic finish is UV protective, so a piece hung out of direct sunlight will look the same for a lifetime. That permanence is part of why giclée became the format of choice for limited edition photography.
Giclée on canvas, paper or acrylic: what changes?
The printing standard is the same, but the surface changes the look. Canvas has a soft matte texture that suits classic, timeless images and is finished here in a floating timber frame. Acrylic is smooth and glass clear, so it lifts contrast and gives a bright, contemporary feel. Both arrive ready to hang. You can compare the two across the canvas collection and the acrylic collection.
How can you tell a quality giclée print?
Look for pigment inks, an archival surface, and honest information about how the piece is made and how long it will last. A quality giclée should also come with clear edition terms. Every limited edition piece from Stephen Milner is released in a fixed edition and comes with a certificate of authenticity, explained in full on The Editions. Browse the full catalogue of black and white wall art to see giclée printing across the range.
- Pigment based inks, stated plainly, not just "high quality".
- An archival surface, such as fine art canvas or UV protective acrylic.
- A clear statement of colour longevity.
- Edition terms and, for limited editions, a certificate of authenticity.
- Made to order rather than pulled from warehouse stock.
Is a giclée print worth it?
For work you intend to live with for years, a giclée is worth the difference. You are paying for permanence and fidelity: inks and media that keep the image looking as it should for decades rather than fading quietly on the wall. With a limited edition you are also buying scarcity and provenance, because once an edition sells through it closes and the piece is retired. That is a different proposition to a poster you replace in a few years, and it is why galleries and collectors treat giclée as the standard for fine art photography.
Frequently asked questions
Is a giclée print better than a normal photo print?
For fine art, yes. A giclée uses pigment inks and archival media, so it holds its tone and contrast for decades, where a standard photo print can fade within a few years. It is made to be collected and lived with, not replaced.
Do giclée prints fade?
They resist fading far better than ordinary prints. Pigment inks are stable, and canvas prints here carry a 100 year plus colour guarantee. Keep any print out of direct sunlight and it will hold its look for a lifetime.
Are Stephen Milner's prints giclée?
Yes. Every piece is made with 12 colour giclée printing and water based pigment inks, on metallic canvas in a floating timber frame or on frameless acrylic glass, and printed to order.
What does giclée mean?
It comes from the French verb gicler, to spray, and refers to fine art inkjet printing with pigment inks on archival media. The term was coined in 1991 to distinguish gallery grade prints from ordinary ones.