Giclée printers use up to twelve pigment-based inks. That matters because historic prints often rely on fine tonal differences and subtle shading that standard four- or six-color systems can’t reproduce accurately.

What this delivers:

• precise color matching
• smoother tonal transitions
• faithful reproduction of aged inks and paper tones
• long-term fade resistance

Pigment inks used in giclée printing are rated to last over 100 years under proper conditions, far outpacing dye-based inks.

Old prints have

• engraving lines
• lithographic shading
• paper grain
• plate impressions
• hand-applied washes

Giclée printers can output at resolutions exceeding 1200 dpi, meaning the level of detail captured isn’t lost in the printing step.

You get clarity without sharpening artifacts, smooth gradients without banding, and texture reproduction that actually reflects the original technique.

The substrate matters as much as the ink. Giclée printing uses:

• acid-free cotton rag papers
• archival watercolor papers
• archival canvas

These materials resist yellowing and deterioration, which is essential if you’re creating prints intended to last decades rather than a few years. They also mimic the tactile qualities of historical paper far more accurately than consumer-grade materials.

This is the step that separates true giclée production from standard digital printing.

Each restored print goes through:

• calibrated color profiling
• controlled-lighting proof checks
• corrections to match the restored source precisely

Collectors who buy historical prints expect accuracy. Without this step, most reproductions drift in hue or contrast, especially with older palettes.

Using giclée for restored historical prints ensures:

• color accuracy that matches the original
• print longevity backed by archival materials
• clarity and detail true to the original technique
• consistency across multiple prints
• documentation of both restoration and production methods

Restored historical prints deserve a printing method that can maintain the integrity of the restoration and hold up over time. Giclée is the process that does that. It combines high-resolution capture, pigment-based archival inks, controlled color management, and museum-grade substrates to create a reproduction that’s accurate, stable, and worth owning.

This is why museums rely on giclée when displaying reproductions of fragile originals. For me, it’s the only method that allows these historic works to be enjoyed today without compromising the restoration or the integrity of the art.