What is the expected life of a Giclee print?
The most important fact to remember is that all color fades. As far as fine art prints produced by Giclee are concerned, some original watercolors & most lithographs will fade faster than a well-made Giclee. Unlike lithographs and serigraphs, Giclees have undergone extensive, third-party fade-testing.
While the predicted display life depends on many variables, under typical home or office lighting , and depending on the papers used, giclees made with wide-gamut pigmented inks are estimated to last 35-100 years without noticeable fade. These estimates are based on laboratory simulations of aging. All of our testing information comes from independent testing labs and the manufacturers of the materials we use. artsales.com shall not be responsible for any damage to our prints from improper handling or from exposure to extreme environmental conditions.
Do Giclee prints require special care?
We recommend that you treat your art prints produced by Giclee the same as other original limited edition prints. It should be protected from water and should not be placed in direct sunlight. Giclees printed on paper should be frame mounted behind glass or, if on Arches paper, may be mounted on a panel and varnished. Giclees printed on canvas are treated with an acrylic varnish to aid in their protection, however careful treatment is still desirable.