How to take care of your Giclée Fine Art Prints

Holding ‘Falling through time’ Giclée print.

Taking care of your quality investment

You might notice that Fine Art prints cost more than standard prints and posters. Essentially the price covers the cost of archival papers and pigments. Whilst a lower quality print or poster may be printed on thinner paper (usually made from wood pulp) and the four inks CMYK found in most home office computers, fine art prints are printed on a thicker and higher quality paper (such as cotton) and use up to twelve individual inks which allow better colour accuracy and resemblance to the original artwork. The inks are also archival and chosen as they are more stable over time. Whilst a lower quality print or poster can start deteriorating and have its colours fade within a decade, Giclée fine art prints are designed to last a lifetime or more with proper care. They are archival museum quality.

HANDLING

Try to avoid touching your print as much as possible. Our hands have natural acids and oils on them and fingerprints made today can show up on your prints in years to come. Potential damage can be easily avoided or minimised by:

• Wearing cotton gloves (the ones I am wearing in the image above were purchased from Archival Survival )

• If cotton gloves aren’t available, wash your hands thoroughly before handling

• Handle the print by holding the two opposite corners, or if that is not possible the sides of the print (avoid touching the print in the middle or anywhere else unnecessarily)

STORAGE

• Store flat and separate from other prints with glassine paper. If you enjoy looking at your prints from time to time, but do not have space yet to frame and display them you might consider Dupont Melinex Mylar Polyester Sleeves as they are transparent and slightly rigid providing additional protection.

• Store out of direct sunlight.

• Ideal humidity is between 40-60% and ideal temperature is similar to what is comfortable for humans. High humidity can cause mould, and extreme fluctuations of temperature and humidity put pressure on artworks as they expand and contract.

• Avoid storing in timber and store in metal cabinets where possible.

• Store in an area protected from rodents and insects that might damage the work by eating / destroying it directly or by damaging it with their droppings.

FRAMING

Archival framing from a Professional Framer is recommended. Whilst store bought ready-made frames can be nice and less expensive, they aren’t required to be archival and the acidity in the materials can damage your art over time.

A good framer will also take measures to frame / mount your print to account for some fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Whilst it is still recommended to display your print away from direct sunlight, UV filter glass can be selected for extra peace of mind. With more personal options for frame finishes and features such as Anti-glare glass, there is also the strong argument that a custom frame looks more polished.

CLEANING

Never clean your print with a damp cloth or water. It can be gently dusted with a soft lint free cloth or a soft brush e.g. soft mop brush. For more rigorous cleaning seek the guidance of an Art Conservation professional.