Frequently Asked Questions

A giclée (pronounced zhee-CLAY) is a high-quality inkjet print made using archival pigment inks on acid-free fine art paper. The process reproduces colour with exceptional accuracy and fine detail, and produces prints that last far longer than standard photo prints — decades rather than years. Giclée is the standard production method for fine art reproductions and museum-quality prints worldwide.

Every print starts with the original painting and goes through a careful, multi-step process before it leaves the studio. Here's how it works.

1. Scanning the original

   The original painting is scanned on an Epson GT-X980, a professional-grade CCD flatbed scanner used by fine art studios and archivists. Unlike the CIS sensors found in consumer scanners, its CCD sensor captures a wide dynamic range with exceptional colour accuracy — essential for watercolour, where the subtlety of a wash or the texture of the paper can be lost in a lesser scan. We scan at a minimum of 600 DPI and 48-bit colour depth, recording far more tonal information than the eye can see and well beyond what any standard photograph would capture. For larger works that don't fit the scanner bed in one pass, we take four overlapping corner scans and stitch them together in Photoshop using Photomerge, producing a single seamless high-resolution file.

2. Colour calibration

   Accurate colour starts with an IT8 calibration target — a physical reference card printed to precisely known colour values. We scan this target using X-Rite i1Scanner software, which compares our scan against the reference data and generates a custom ICC input profile tailored to our specific scanner. This profile is then assigned to the raw scan file in Photoshop, so the colours in the digital file are grounded in what the scanner actually captured rather than its uncorrected output.

3. Converting to Adobe RGB 1998

   With the calibrated scanner profile in place, the file is converted to Adobe RGB 1998 — a wide-gamut colour space that preserves the full range of the watercolour and is the professional standard for print production. This conversion is done carefully to avoid any clipping of colour values at the edges of the gamut.

4. Tonal matching

   Working on a hardware-calibrated display, we adjust the white point, midtones, and shadows so the file matches the appearance of the original painting under controlled lighting. The white point is set from the paper of the original; shadows are brought in just enough to hold texture without going flat; and midtone gamma is adjusted until the digital file and the painting read the same to the eye. The goal is a faithful reproduction — not a corrected or improved version, but the painting as it actually is.

5. Saving the master file

   The finished, colour-accurate file is saved as a high-resolution master and archived. All future print runs for that work — in any size — are produced from this master, ensuring every print is consistent.

6. Print layout and proofing

   Each print is laid out in professional print software using a specific media profile for Hahnemühle Photo Rag Smooth — the paper we print on. A soft proof is reviewed on the calibrated display, then a physical test print is made and compared against the original before the final run. Borders are sized carefully to suit each format.

7. Printing

   The final print is produced on a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-310 — a professional large-format printer — using archival pigment inks rated for 70–100 years under normal display conditions, on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Smooth 308 gsm cotton rag paper.

8. Inspection and packaging

   After printing, each sheet is left to dry and cure fully before it is handled. It is then inspected under good light for colour accuracy, sharpness, and any surface imperfections. Prints that pass are packaged flat in a rigid cardboard mailer with acid-free tissue, along with care instructions. Only then does it leave the studio.

Written by David Bartalos, who manages the print production and technical side of the studio.

Giclée prints produced with archival pigment inks and acid-free paper are rated to retain their colour for 70–100 years or more under normal indoor conditions. The main factors affecting longevity are UV light exposure and humidity — both of which can be managed with careful display and framing choices.

Avoid direct sunlight — UV exposure is the primary cause of fading over time. Framing behind UV-protective glass significantly extends the life of the print. Keep away from moisture and humidity, do not roll or fold the paper (it creases permanently), and store flat in the original protective packaging if left unframed.

An original is a unique, hand-painted watercolour — one of a kind. No two originals are alike, and each carries the marks and texture of the painting process. A giclée print is a high-fidelity reproduction of an original, produced to order. Prints are available in multiple sizes and can be shipped to many international destinations; originals are available for UK delivery only.

Yes. Every original painting is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity recording the title, medium, dimensions, and year of the work.

Original paintings are currently available for UK delivery only. If you are based outside the UK and are interested in purchasing an original, please get in touch via the contact form and we can discuss options.

You can pay by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), or with a digital wallet — Apple Pay and Google Pay. The available options appear automatically at checkout based on your device and browser.

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Available sizes vary by painting and are listed on each individual painting page in the shop. Where multiple sizes are offered, all are produced at the same archival quality.

Giclée prints and original paintings bought online can be returned within 14 days of receipt under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Items must be returned in their original condition. Return shipping costs are the buyer's responsibility. See the returns policy for full details.

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Giclée prints are available for delivery to many international destinations. Original paintings are available for UK delivery only. Use the region selector in the navigation to switch to your region and see prices in your currency.

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UK orders are dispatched within 1–3 working days. Standard Royal Mail delivery is 2–3 working days; 1st Class Tracked is typically next working day. International print orders are delivered in 5–10 working days (standard) or 3–5 working days (express).

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