Equipment & Methods

Giclée

We offer Archival Inkjet Pigment Prints, AKA Giclée (ZHEE-clay) printing (from the French word for squirt). The printer uses an array of precise nozzles to spray specially formulated ink onto properly prepared paper with great precision. The ink is composed of particles of color (the pigments) floating in a suspension which evaporates, incorporating the color into the paper. This makes the image archival, that is to say, resistant to fading over time or from exposure to light. Similar care is taken to use only the highest quality archival papers which will also stand the test of time without breaking down or discoloring. As a result, prints prepared this way can last up to 200 years if properly stored and cared for. By contrast, the cheaper dye based processes used in more common processes have archival.

Why does that matter?

Because it's rarely possible to keep prints in ideal conditions. Sunlight, changes in humidity and so on can and will shorten the life of a print (just think of the shoeboxes of yellowed photos from before you read this and knew better). By starting with the most durable materials possible you can.

Equipment

All work is done in a color calibrated workflow utilizing highly accurate Eizo self calibrating display technology. Prints are produced by an Epson SureColor P9000.  The P900 has a 44" wide print path and uses 10 archival pigment inks to create rich, colors lasting up to 200 years.