The perception of giclée printing as simply a sophisticated form of inkjet printing has led some to question its legitimacy as a true fine art medium. To address this, it’s essential to examine the history of fine art printmaking and assess whether giclée printing meets established criteria.
Traditionally, fine art printmaking involved creating a master plate, known as the matrix, from an original artwork. This matrix was then used to produce a limited number of ‘editions.’ The artist would often destroy the matrix to ensure the exclusivity of the edition. Traditional techniques like etching, lithography, and linocut evolved into art forms requiring extensive skill to accurately reproduce the original work to the artist’s exact specifications.
Today, high-quality scanning technology eliminates the need for a physical matrix. Giclée printing offers exceptional fidelity and vibrant colors compared to traditional methods. Because it doesn’t rely on screens or mechanical devices, there’s no visible dot pattern. The expertise lies in carefully managing the color system using profiling techniques and understanding the printer’s color space.
The print-on-demand nature of giclée allows artists and photographers to maintain complete artistic control. Combined with the archival permanence of giclée prints (when using specific inks and media), this ensures the artwork’s longevity. While a physical matrix isn’t destroyed, the original digital file must be deleted or removed from circulation once the agreed-upon edition limit is reached, upholding the understanding of exclusivity between artist and collector.
Giclée printing is undeniably a fine art technique, offering artists and photographers unprecedented freedom to share their work with a broad audience while achieving a quality level previously unattainable without significant expense.