Looking at Giclée Prints
 

Unfortunately, as with many new products, not all prints sold as giclées are the quality one might    expect. The savvy art buyer will ask questions   before making a  purchase. Although giclées are less costly than originals they are not inexpensive. A buyer should be sure of what he or she is     getting.

· Was the image capture done by a  professional photographer who specializes in photographing art or by a giclée printer who does image scans? This is an important part of the process, and close examination of the print will show if this was done or not.

· Does the print have the detail and texture of the original? Does it have the subtle gradations of color? Are brush strokes visible?

· Do the colors match the original as closely as  possible? Due to variations in media there might be slight color differences but they should be   minimal.

· What digital printer and ink sets were used to   create the giclée? If the reply is a desktop printer, it is unlikely that the print will meet the longevity  standards for a true giclée. Unless archival inks like ultrachromes are used the print could possibly fade in a short period of time.

· Does the seller of the print have the legal right to sell the art? If one buys art from someone other than the original artist, copyright issues should not be overlooked. Be sure the seller is an agent for the original artist unless the   artwork is old enough to be in the public domain.