Giclee Paper Choices and Applications

In our last post, we spoke about how the Giclee print imparts a distinctive look and feel to the photographic image, because of the fine art papers that are used in the printmaking process. As a result, many portrait and wedding photographers have developed their "high-end" wall portrait lines around Giclee printmaking and have crafted their marketing with the idea that they are creating timeless art for the client. In this post, we will review the papers we have settled on, after years of testing, that we feel best suit the needs of the high end portrait photographer.

Textured Watercolor Paper
Most commonly requested by our customers, this is the same paper as that used by watercolor artists. It's heavy weight and rich texture adds elegance and character unlike any other paper surface. The matte finish adds a softness to the image, and is appropriate for images where the photographic "story" is one of tenderness. We always use it when an artistic rendering has been applied such as a pencil sketch, watercolor filter, etc. or when we are working with "alternative photography" effects such as Polaroid Transfer, Cyanotype, Glass Plate, Hand Coated Emulsion, Vandyke Brown, Bromoil, etc. (more on these in future posts)

The surface is somewhat prone to scuffing, especially in areas of heavy inking (blacks mostly), and should be matted, glassed and framed for final display. A variation of the standard over-matting is to hand-tear the edges of the print and use a "float mount" technique; we use this mounting style for some competition prints, when it is appropriate to the "story" and/or image effect.

DuraFiber Textured Paper
This is our own propietary paper with the same weight and texture as watercolor paper, but with a semi-gloss, waterproof surface. We developed this paper especially for large wall prints where glass protection is not suitable and a simple frame with no overmatting can be used, much the same as prints on canvas. Besides providing a waterproof surface, DuraFiber prints display deeper blacks and more brilliant color.

For frame-only display, we recommend mounting on 3/16" or 1/2" GatorFoam, with a paper-white margin and either a thin, black ruling line or some other border appropriate to the image.

Gallery Paper
This premium weight paper looks and feels just like a classic BW fiber exhibition paper,with a smooth semi-gloss surface, designed to match the look of air-dried glossy darkroom paper, such as Ilford Galerie F. We love this paper for BW because of its deep blacks and long tonal range; with adjustments to color balance we can reproduce cool, neutral, warm, selenium or sepia tonal rendition. Color images are vivid and brilliant, and we often use this paper for PPA and WPPI competition prints, when the look is suitable to the "story".

We recommend classic, museum style finish and display, with a simple frame, bevel-cut white mat and protective glass.

Canvas
Canvas for Giclee printmaking has a slightly tighter weave and smoother surface than artists canvas or that used by traditional photo labs using a strip-and-mount method. Giclee canvas is easily scuffed and needs a protective coating for display, especially since most canvas prints are hung with frame-only and no protective glass. We use several coats of a semi-matte acrylic lacquer for protection. Canvas may be stretch mounted or mounted on 1/2" GatorFoam.

Painterly images with brush stroke effects are commonly printed on canvas. To further enhance the painterly effect, a thick acrylic texturizing gel can be applied in the same direction as the brush strokes.

Alternative Media
We have experimented with other media, including silk fabric and Japanese rice paper, mostly for personal work, studio samples, or competition prints. Both print with muted colors and because of their translucent nature, could work as image banners viewed by front light or back light. We have also tried printing on specially treated aluminum sheets, hand made papers, linen and just about anything that will run through the printer.

Print samples are available for our Watercolor, Durafiber, Gallery and Canvas; email me for further info.

You may find the previous post helpful: Giclee Printmaking FAQ's

Other posts of interest:
Creative Vision and the Printmaker Part 1
Photoshop and Your Creative Vision Part 1
Photoshop and Your Creative Vision Part 2
Photoshop and Your Creative Vision Part 3
Photoshop and Your Creative Vision Part 4
Photoshop and Your Creative Vision Part 5
Plus more examples in the video, "The Printmaker's Vision"