About Giclée Printing

Giclée printing represents the highest standard of fine art printing available at this time and the O.G.P.C is at the cutting edge of this printing technology. Galleries around the world are displaying giclée prints alongside originals and the Magnum photo agency produce digital prints from their vast body of work for exhibitions.

Giclée printing was invented as a fine art reproduction system in 1989/90 and has steadily increased in popularity as the technology has reached a point where the digital prints will outlive the original works in terms of lightfastness and image stability. The Oxford Giclée & Photographic Centre utilise high quality 100% cotton or cotton/pulp mix acid-free substrates (paper or canvas), pigment ink sets and specialist UV coatings/techniques to produce archival quality prints that exhibit the highest possible quality in terms of colour reproduction, high image definition and also a wide tonal range. Our printer utilises multiple inks to produce the widest range of colours available and many of our prints have been displayed in galleries across Europe and as far away as Trinidad & Tobago.

Giclée prints have exceptional archival and aesthetic qualities, in addition to the economic benefits to the artist, with print runs starting at a single print. Using acid-free fine art and photographic papers, pigment inks sets and special UV coatings these prints have a display life that can exceed 100 years in ideal conditions. Traditional photographic prints have a lifespan of 20 years.

As artists and photographers ourselves we understand that the highest quality paper or canvas is needed to produce archival quality fine art and photographic prints so here at Oxford Giclée we have selected the best materials available. Our papers and our 100% cotton canvas are 100% acid free, contain no optical brighteners and surpass the guidlines for archival prints as outlined by the Fine Art Trade Guild.

Our fine art range of papers is supplied by Folex Imaging who along with passing archival tests and lightfastness tests, also pass Switzerland's strict environmental guidlines. Our range of media also includes the Hahnemühle Digital Fine Art range. By selecting archival media, Oxford Giclée ensures that digital reproductions, limited editions, fine art photographs or treasured images will last for over 100 years whilst providing the best colour and tonal reproduction possible.

Below are examples of different printing technologies used in fine art reproduction. We believe that these samples clearly show how superior giclée printing is compared to other available printing technologies.

Each sample was captured at the same magnification, 20 x, and shows a smooth non patterned medium grey patch of the same image reproduced using each printing technique. The samples clearly show that Giclée printing gives the smoothest tonal reproduction and the smallest ink droplet size. The patterns clearly visible on Lithographic and Laser printing will hinder the creation of razor sharp prints with smooth tonal gradation and neutral colour reproduction.

Giclée printing is the best output method for artists reproductions and limited editions. We offer a digital/analogue capture service for artists wanting prints or editions of original artworks. At the Oxford Giclée & Photographic Centre the higest levels of detail and colour rendition are achieved with a careful combination of factors. From our bespoke lighting setup to the latest digital 4"x5" scan back, capable of capturing files with unmatched colour accuracy, tonal smoothness unrivalled image definition.

We can also offer a traditional capture service using 5x4 inch transparency and scan for those artists who prefer analogue techniques. Our negative/transparency scanning facilities can also scan for print or archive your old negatives to produce a print ready file.

After the original artwork has been digitally captured/scanned/photographed, a proof is made from the high-resolution file for your approval. All proofs should be viewed underneath our dedicated lighting set-up which conforms to ISO standards for colour accurate proofing. Please view the Proofing page for more details about our dedicated lighting set-up.

One of the major advantages of our digital fine art capture service is that the resulting digital file can be archived for future use without any changes to the output. The files are of such high quality that they will not be made obsolete by new technology as is the case with the ever changing line up of DSLRs or Medium Format digital backs. In addition the file can printed onto different papers at any time. Giclée printing is effectively a print on demand process and does not limit you to having to commit to large print runs with the associated costs.

Please view the Scan/Capture page for more details about our digital fine art reproduction.

Please view the Giclée Printing page for print prices.

If you would like to view samples of our printing or digital capture services please view the Testimonials page for details.