Do you have a preference on whether a print is Screenprinted or a Giclee?

I get into debates all the time with people and for some reason both my wife and I prefer buying pritns that were Screenprinted versus Giclée. Obviously there is very complex artwork that you just couldn't reproduce on screens, and if it weren't for Giclee's you wouldn't be able to afford a certain piece. To me it's almost inline with screenprinted tshirts versus one you might get from cafepress. The quality just 'feels' better, or maybe it just feels more limited because the screens were probably destroyed after producing them.

Maybe my wife and I are alone on this but I was just curious. I think out of our 40+ prints only 3-4 are Giclees.

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7 Replies

I adimently believe Giclee's are not art prints, instead they are more like really high quality pictures in books.

Screenprinted works involve interaction with the artist to create and therefore qualify as art and I will buy them.

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Personally screenprints are my preference too, i feel there's more craft to them (in the same sense I tend to veer more towards resin toys over Vinyl these days)

about 12 years ago · Comment ·

Keegan-trampt-1698f

keegan a I also find I'm moving away from smaller toys in general ... unless they are a cool resin piece. about 12 years ago

Necktie-trampt-652f

Necktie v i was just going to post that this reminds me of the resin/vinyl conversation. you beat me to it! almost 12 years ago

Rudy-trampt-586f

Rudy v I would want something a person physically worked on almost 12 years ago

I completely agree, screenprint all the way! Compared to toys, to me its almost like the difference between a factory painted series like dunnys, and a large but still hand painted series,  like Conheads or some work that Dok A. has done. They're both large series, sure, but to me anything remotely hands on is implicitly better. With quality screenprinting, even though similar detail isn't always possible, you definitlely get a superior more substantial product.

over 11 years ago · Comment ·

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused Im against giclee because it is ink jet printing, and there is no quality standard and no variation/interaction in the process. over 11 years ago

Grimmshepard-trampt-1029f

GrimmShepard v exactly, it does just feel like fancy ink jet. over 11 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused That is exactly what it is. the word giclee was made up from the french word for nozzle because the american who made it up wanted to fool the art community into accepting it as legitimate instead of a computer print out. over 11 years ago

No-user-micro-image

kvnjjwong Ahh glad to have learned something new over 11 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused LOL! It's funny how well it worked. A lot of paintings now incorporate it into canvas work. You have to be a real slueth to be a giclee hater. over 11 years ago

No-user-micro-image

jorgeortiz v I agree with both of you. I think giclees are perfect if you consider that artist's signature is more important than the art ofthe print... over 11 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused I'm okay with giclees not as art, but as a collectible poster. Unfortunately, most giclees are horribly overpriced. And they must v\be signed. over 11 years ago

I also prefer the screenprinted prints. The screenprinting process produces slight differences in each print, what makes each one absolutely unique.

over 11 years ago · Comment ·

Maybe I'm not too terribly informed about each--I've only somehwat recently started collecting artwork for my walls and it seems everyone has something different to say about what makes something a giclee (it's just a high quality print with archival inks & paper, right?).  I'm also not sure if there's such a thing as a non-handmade screenprint.  When I think screenprint, I think of something that's handmade with the mesh screen and inks.  So wouldn't screenprints then be a handmade work of art (that just so happens to be reasonably duplicated) whereas giclees are digital reproductions?  

I know that doesn't answer your question, Keegan.  I was just kind of hoping for some clarification on the different mediums even if it's something as simple as a link to some info from someone.

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused There are mechanical processes used mostly commercially to produce screen prints, and artists have been known to exploit them. So, if you have the time ask the artist or gallery the process used to produce it. If you really like the image just buy it, chances are the artist actually produced the screenprint, and there is a chance for variation. almost 12 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused I would recommend getting a copy of The Grove Encyclopedia of Materials and Techniques in Art. It's a great resource that I find I consult often. almost 12 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused Yes Giclee's are Digital prints, but it is the highest quality ink jet printing process that I am aware of. You get better picture quality than what is printed in books. Be aware that most prints listed on gallery sites that are just called Prints are digital prints that are not the same quality as a Giclee. There are also variations in paper quality and inks used and coatings for preservation. almost 12 years ago

Crazylikeafox11-trampt-1660f

crazylikeafox11 m Thanks for the clarification! You basically confirmed what I thought about giclees (and honestly I like them simply as a way to get a reproduction of a painting that I could never afford but sometimes even the price on the giclee is ridiculous). And I thought screenprints went both ways, but most often were hand done. almost 12 years ago

Crazylikeafox11-trampt-1660f

crazylikeafox11 m Honestly though, I don't have a preference. If it fits my budget and it's an image I like, I'll probably pick it up. I can't afford original paintings and it's nice to have some alternative for something that you really like. almost 12 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused The more successful the artist, the more you have to worry about mechanical processes and hired labor completeing the Screen print and them just signing their name. Giclees are great if your not over paying. Depending on size it should be well under $100. If it is average size and above $50 to $60, you need to inquire about the process and materials used to learn why the price is so high. almost 12 years ago

Put simply if both were available I'd pick up the screenprint but if was only avaiable in Giclee and I really liked it then I'd still probably pick it up.

Gloomy-trampt-2196f

gloomy

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almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused I can agree with this. For me to purchase a Giclee there has to be no alternative (or atleast none I can afford), it has to be signed, and its price can't be manipulated by manufactured rarity. I treat Giclees the same way I treat Posters that reproduce images. Great decoration, but not worth a premium above the higher cost of materials. When they are limited I choose to avoid them. almost 12 years ago

Crazylikeafox11-trampt-1660f

crazylikeafox11 m If I could upvote your comment Easily_Amused, I would. almost 12 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused Thank you! Giclee's just sadden me. The whole point of buying art is to have that connection from the artists hand/mind to yours. If it's just a reproduction (Giclee) don't try to make it something its not (Art). It's just a quality image of art that has the potential to be reproduced to infinity without ever being altered. almost 12 years ago

Screenprinted for sure, or other techniques that involve more skills like etching for example. And to me the print shouldn't be perfect, so if the screenprint or a wood cut has a slightly different texture with each print … perfect! so I'll choose the one that's most interesting (if possible)

;)

about 12 years ago · Comment ·

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