WHAT IS GICLÉE?
Giclée is quite simply the French for ‘to squirt or spray’. It is a neologism that was coined in 1991 by a printer, Jack Duganne, to refer to his method of printing by inkjet. These days giclée is taken loosely to refer to a high-quality ‘fine art print’.
I’d summise as follows: A fine art print produced on a professional grade inkjet printer using the highest quality pigment inks on archival quality, fine-art papers or canvas. That is the standard we work to. Standards can of course vary and the word itself is no official mark or guarantee.
A number of leading paper manufacturers and industry associations provide accreditation to those printers and labs that meet certain standards or criteria.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?
Ideally with a soupcon of ‘Gallic Flair’!
The closest correct pronounciation is ‘zhee-klay’. You can just about get away with ‘gee-clay’. Or you can just refer to it as a ‘Fine Art Reproduction’.
‘Gickle-ee’ print is best avoided.
