Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Giclée print?

The word Giclée (zhee-klay) comes from the French word gicler meaning “to squirt, spurt, or spray”. The term is now generally accepted to describe high quality art and photographic inkjet printing, on fine art and photo papers, using archival pigment inks. Giclée printing is perfect for fine art reproduction, photography, digital art and illustration.

What are the advantages of archival pigment prints (Giclée) over traditional RA-4 prints (C-Type and digital C-Type)?

The first advantage is the archival permanence of Giclée prints. According to Wilhelm Imaging Research, pigment prints offer significantly better colour fastness depending on inkset and paper type. Our EPSON Ultrachrome HDX and HDR inksets are amongst the most archival on the market today.

The second advantage is the huge selection of different papers and canvases available (see our Giclée range for all available surfaces).

The third advantage is dynamic range and colour gamut (range of colours). If your work features vibrant, saturated colours, our prints will allow you to reproduce colours that are usually out of gamut in traditional C-type and digital C-type prints.

How long do Giclée Fine Art Prints last?

We use EPSON Ultrachrome HDX and HDR archival inks and only acid free papers and canvasses for the finest and most long lasting prints. Even though the term “archival” is not quantifiable, no standards exist that describe how long an “archival” print would last, appropriately stored prints or prints framed under glass, depending on the paper, expected to last at least 80-100 years in good environmental conditions and always away from direct sunlight. Prints framed under glass with UV protection will last even longer.

Please visit Wilhelm Imaging Research and Aardenburg Imaging & Archives for more information and detailed analysis. Also, please read carefully “Do Giclée prints require special care and handling?” further down on this page.

Will my files be checked before printing?

Yes, free of charge but if you’re ordering by email or on the phone please ask for this service.

Do I have to use a calibrated monitor?

Proper monitor calibration will save you time and money. If your monitor has not been properly calibrated your prints are unlikely to match your screen.

Where can I download your ICC soft proofing paper profiles?

At Digitalarte we support a fully colour managed workflow. All our paper profiles are optimised for our system and are available on request. Please email us if you need to use any of our profiles.

Can you print sizes other than those listed?

Yes, in theory we can print any size. All prints are custom printed to your exact size. We do not charge a setup fee, we do not charge extra for non standard sizes and for sizes not listed we do not charge the same prize as the next size up. Sizes not listed are priced pro-rata by the total square cm required. Prices are calculated based on total paper size, including borders. Large format prints are output on a roll of paper and as such can be anything up to 44in wide by several metres in length if required.

How do I save my files ready for printing?

Please upload your files as 8bit, flattened TIFFs, PSDs or JPEGs in AdobeRGB or sRGB colour space. Resolution should be set to 300dpi at final print size.

If you’re unsure or need help, please call us on 0208 858 3076 or email us with your query.

What is the turnaround time for my order?

Turnaround time depends on the quantity, size and paper type and our workload but usually takes approximately 3-4 working days in the studio, from receipt of your order. Turnaround time for large orders may take longer and will be negotiated with client on an individual basis. We will always try to be flexible to meet your deadlines, however all guide times are subject to current workload.

How much do you charge for some expert help with colour management, working one-to-one with master printer (client directed printing work) or retouching?

Your first 30-60min would be free of charge (depending on your project), with additional hours charged at our current hourly rate. We will only charge you for the time spent using the system, in increments of 30min. Please call us on 0208 858 3076 or email us to enquire about booking an appointment.

What can you print from?

We can print from digital files, TIFF, PSD or JPEG but not from raw camera files.

You can supply us with original prints, paintings, negatives or transparencies. All material supplied must be copyright free, for example we cannot reproduce images from books without the written consent of the publisher. Original prints and paintings have to be photographed or scanned first and negatives and transparencies scanned.

If I need borders on my prints, should I add them to my images first?

Borders are part of the image size so the image must be scaled and placed on a larger canvas if borders are required. This is either something you can do or we can do for you free of charge. Best for prints to have 1-2cm border as this makes it easier for a professional mounter/framer to drymount the print or frame it using a window mount. Please ask for this service.

Can I print from PDF files?

PDF files have to be rasterised first, depending on size either at 300dpi or 600dpi and saved as 8bit, flattened TIFFs, PSDs or JPEGs in AdobeRGB or sRGB colour space.

If you’re unsure or need help, please call us on 0208 858 3076 or email us with your query.

Do Giclée prints require special care and handling?

We recommend that you treat your Giclée prints the same as any original piece of art so here are a few tips to ensure your prints last for many years to come:

Never allow liquids of any kind to come in contact with a print
Avoid touching the print surface
Only acid-free, archival materials should come in contact with the front/back of the print
Never allow prints to rub against one another in transit or storage. Always use archival plastic sleeves or acid-free tissue paper between prints
Framing under glass or acrylic provides the greatest protection against fading from UV light and ozone
Avoid direct or extremely bright indirect sunlight. Don’t display or store prints outdoors. Don’t display or store prints where they are exposed to chemicals, paints, varnishes or oils containing solvents. Keep your unprotected prints (before framing) away from sources of ozone, such as monitors and TVs, air purifiers or other sources of high voltage electricity
Avoid excessive temperature and humidity extremes
Avoid pinning/hanging/attaching unprotected (not framed) prints on the wall. Chemicals in wall paint, especially solvents, might damage the print (yellowing)

Can Giclée prints be mounted on a backing material?

Absolutely. There is a range of options suitable for mounting our Giclée prints like, aluminium, Dibond, MDF, Perspex face mounting and traditional card window mounts.

What are your opening hours?

Monday to Friday 10am – 6pm, and Saturday 2pm – 6pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Access to the studio is by appointment only. Please call us on 0208 858 3076 or email us for an appointment.

How do I pay?

By credit or debit card in person, bank transfer or PayPal. We accept VISA (debit and credit), MasterCard (debit and credit), Contactless and Apple Pay. Please contact us for more information.

Does the student discount apply to all your services?

Yes, we offer a 10% student discount on all our services.

Do you offer a delivery service and do you deliver to countries outside the UK?

Yes, we do. Here are the packaging and delivery costs within mainland UK:

Courier (next day/up to 5kg), £11.50+VAT per tube or flat package – Up to A3 flat and larger than A2 rolled in a tube.

Royal Mail (next day special delivery/up to 1kg), £11.50+VAT per tube or flat package – Up to A3 flat and A2 or A1 rolled in a tube.

Royal Mail (first class signed for post/small parcels/up to 1kg), £6.50+VAT per tube or flat package – A4 flat or A3/A2 rolled in a tube (only 1-2 A3 prints per tube or only 1 A2 print per tube).

Royal Mail (first class signed for post/medium parcels/up to 1kg), £8.50+VAT per flat package – Up to 8-9 A3 prints.

For all UK (next day courier) and International deliveries, we use UPS, TNT and Parcelforce. Also, Royal Mail “next day special delivery” and Royal Mail “first class signed for” post (1-2 days). Please note: we no longer use Royal Mail standard class post.

Please contact us for delivery prices to other countries.

Customs Charges: Products delivered to some destinations, especially outside the EU, may be subject to taxes, fees, levies or other charges, due to local legislation. Any additional charges incurred, including import duty, formal customs entry, taxes, levies and other charges will have to be paid by the recipient of the goods. If you are ordering products to be delivered somewhere else, please make sure that the recipient is aware and that they will be responsible for paying any extra. We are sorry but we have no control over these charges, so we’re unable to offer any assistance on these processes. Please check the import charges applicable in any country before ordering products to be delivered there.

About Digitalarte

Professional colour managed fine art & photographic Giclée printing

At Digitalarte we provide high quality professional digital services for artists, galleries and photographers at competitive prices.