The term “giclée” (pronounced zhee-CLAY) appears on virtually every fine art photography print listing — but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter?
What Is a Giclée Print?
A giclée print is a high-resolution inkjet print made with archival pigment inks on museum-quality paper or canvas. The term was coined in the early 1990s to describe a new generation of fine art printing that far exceeded the quality, color accuracy, and longevity of previous photo printing methods.
How Is a Giclée Print Made?
The process begins with a high-resolution digital file — typically from a professional camera capture or a carefully digitized original. This file is processed and color-corrected by a master printer, then output using a large-format inkjet printer loaded with archival pigment inks on acid-free cotton rag paper.
Why Is Giclée the Gold Standard for Fine Art Photography?
- 100-year longevity — Archival pigment inks on cotton rag paper are rated to last 100+ years without fading
- Color accuracy — Wide color gamut captures subtle tonal gradations that photographic paper cannot
- Museum adoption — MoMA, the Louvre, and major institutions use giclée for archival reproductions
- Paper quality — Cotton rag paper is acid-free, meaning it will not yellow or degrade over time
Fine Art Giclée Prints vs. Regular Photo Prints
A standard photo print uses dye-based inks on plastic-coated paper. It will fade within 25–30 years. A giclée print uses pigment-based inks on cotton paper and lasts 100+ years. The quality difference is visible immediately — deeper blacks, more vibrant highlights, and a surface that feels like fine paper rather than plastic.
Giclée Photography Prints by Edin Chavez
Every fine art giclée print at edinfineart.com is produced by WHCC — one of North America’s finest professional labs — using archival pigment inks on Hahnemühle cotton rag paper. Available in Fine Art Smooth Matte, Photo Rag Baryta, Aquarelle Rag, and Torchon finishes.
About the Photographer: Edin Chavez is a Miami-based fine art photographer published by National Geographic. He is a Nikon professional photographer and a member of the Masters of Photography, with over 20 years of experience across 50+ countries. His fine art prints are available worldwide through edinfineart.com.