The newest ink-jet printing technology allows high quality giclee prints to be made on archival quality paper or canvas with long-lasting inks. The best of these giclee prints adhere closely to the original art, with rich tones and fine detail. If done by an expert printmaker with the artist's supervision (to make certain the print is an accurate reflection of the original), a fine art reproduction is the result. Theoretically, an unlimited number of giclee reproductions could be made of a single original, but most artists choose to limit the edition in order to increase the value of each one.
Thus, the purchase of a limited edition quality giclee print can be considered a purchase of fine art. The problem is that there are also mass-market prints being sold which are made in unlimited editions and of lesser quality. These cheap reproductions give the name "giclee print" a bad reputation.
In addition to the cost of materials and time required to make a reproduction of any kind, one has to consider the value of the original. In general, the more valuable the original, the more valuable a quality reproduction of it will be.
If buyers have a choice, should they purchase an original or a quality reproduction of it? The answer depends on their art budget and the purpose for buying the art. Collectors, who expect to keep the art they purchase and hand it down to their heirs, will always want to buy originals if they can afford it. If they cannot afford it, then a high-quality limited edition giclee print is a good alternative.
Does the availability of reproductions make the original less valuable? No, because there is still only one original. All the cheap Van Gogh prints we see in frame shops do not devalue the worth of his original paintings.
I've been thinking about these issues lately because I now offer limited edition giclee prints of my abstract paintings (see www.artbylt.com), and I worry that some clients may be confused by this choice. I've had very few of them disappointed in their purchase of the giclee prints, especially when they are able to order the print in the size they prefer rather than being limited to that of the original. But I thought the whole issue was worth some discussion.
It would be great to hear from other artists on this topic.
