I understand that giclee prints are more lightfast than iris prints, and that either can be done on Arches or other watercolor paper. Is it true that giclee are more lightfast? Has anyone had experience with a good lab/printer in NYC? Margery

-- margery b. franklin (mbfranklin@earthlink.net), March 21, 1999

Answers

What's the difference between giclee and Iris print?

-- Marek Uliasz (uliasz@frii.com), March 21, 1999.

An Iris print is a name brand of a type of giclee print which is a fine ink jet print. Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc., who does testing of all kinds of fine art print media for longevity etc., has reported as of April 1998 about their results of the various giclee prints including Iris and Lyson on different kinds of papers which seems to make a difference. Briefly from that report an Iris with Equipoise Ink set on Arches Cold Press paper and Lyson ink giclee have a longevity of 32-36 years. Iris Industrial Design Ink Set on Arches Cold Press has a longevity of 2-3 years. ENCAD GO inks on canvas have >100 years and ENCAD GA inks on canvas have 1-2 years. You can email Wilhelm at hwilhelm@aol.com or call them at 515-236-4284 and they will send you a file with the complete information. This technology is constantly changing and improving. There also was an article recently in the Art Business News periodical and if I can find it will post the info here. Cynthia

-- Cynthia Davis (cynphoto@aol.com), March 22, 1999.

Here is more on Giclee Giclee (Zhee-CLAY) From the Print Council of America: "Giclee is a French term that means 'to spurt'. The term giclee was created by Iris Graphic of Bedford, Mass, and because they have the trademark, only prints coming from their presses can be called 'giclee'. All other such prints are called inkjet prints."

-- Cynthia Davis (cynphoto@aol.com), March 29, 1999.