Giclee, Open editions, limited editions blah blah…wth are you talking about Tiffany?
So, lets get straight to it….
Giclee Prints.
First off, if you d like to know how to correctly pronounce it, you can go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw9a–k3Q-M
So what is it? Giclee is a French word that basically means, “to spray”. Giclee printing started in the 1980s when high res scans were used with archival ink. Basically, it s a high level quality of printing.
What makes a print a giclee?
- archival paper
- an image resolution of no less then 300 DPI ( dots per inch)
- a printer with pigment based dye.
They are high quality archival prints. The cost point is higher for the consumer–because the cost to the artist is higher.
Some of my giclees are priced higher than others due to the cost of the paper type. There are tons of different types of archival photo paper. Some of those papers are higher than others. So I can have the same image, in the same size, printed on 2 different papers at 2 different prices because my upfront costs of the papers itself can vary.
Please note the prior to obtaining my pigment dye printer ( Canon Prograf 1000), I used another the Canon Pixma 100, with dye based ink. I used ONLY Canon dye with Canon or other high quality papers–which Canon claims will ensure that the prints last 100 years. Giclee will last 200 years from what I understand.
Yes, you can see the difference between the 2 and even with the types of papers used. My favorite papers are Canon Pro Platinum and various ones from Red River and Hahnemuhle. Hanemuhles Fine Art Baryta Satin is my absolute favorite and wish I could afford to use it for every day printing!.
Open Edition Prints
An open edition print is a fine art photography print that hasn’t been given a specific edition size. This is the opposite of limited edition print. The photographer can sell many copies of open edition prints in many sizes and/or mediums. For example, can print one image in different sizes and have them printed as metals canvases. etc. Do not assume they are low quality prints. They are not, so please don’t think of them as cheap prints from drug stores. They come from professional labs or the photographer uses high quality paper and files, if they print at home.
Limited Edition Prints
Limited Edition prints are the most valued type of print. Their value increases as the supply becomes more scarce. The photographer only does a certain number of these prints or “run” and they are done in a specific size and/or paper. You cannot get a Limited Edition in a variety of sizes and mediums, like Open Editions. They are only are printed in the size designated by the artist for the “run” It is important to always have the photographers signature on the print. I sign all my pieces, whether LE or OE
Open edition prints aren’t always of less quality than a Limited Editions. LE s are popular with art collectors that like unique pieces that are not mass produced. LE s cost more.
It is the photographers choice as to whether to make a print an open edition or Limited Edition. Typically, they will make only special prints as LE s.
So, I hope this helped to clear some of this up for you guys! Please don ‘t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Peace & love
~Tiffany
