Fine Art Photography and Digital Art by Lena Johnson Studio

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Giclée Fine Art Prints of Contemporary Photography by Lena Johnson

What are Giclée prints?
The word "giclée" (pronounced gee-clay) is French, meaning "to spray." Several years ago, the word was coined as a marketing term, since "giclée" sounds fancier than "digital print" or "inkjet print." It also signifies a fine art reproduction, as opposed to a print made for a tradeshow, or other commercial uses. The name is here to stay, and has become a standard term within the digital printing industry.  What distinguishes a giclée print from other types of inkjet prints is the type of paper you use. Basically, any inkjet print made on art paper or canvas qualifies as a Giclée print.

Does the quality vary among Giclée prints?

Absolutely!   There is a proliferation of open-edition, cheap mass-produced giclee prints on the market that will never appreciate in value and that may fade and/or discolor within a few years.  The best insurance against paying too much for a product is EDUCATION.  Know what you are buying.  This is an issue in which the consumer needs to ask questions of the artist.  What type of printer was used to produce the giclee?  Is the paper archival?  Is it an open or limited edition?  What kind of longevity can I expect?  Lena Johnson's contemporary photography prints are ALWAYS printed with the highest quality archival inks on archival photo papers and/or canvas with a lifetime of 100 years or more. 

How long do giclée prints last?
Longevity is totally dependent upon the type and quality of ink, paper and or canvas used.  Only the highest quality Epson archival inks and archival papers are used to produce giclees by Lena Johnson.  Recent tests have shown these methods to yield results with a longevity of at least 100 years or more. 

What kind of printers are used to produce Lena Johnson's Giclee prints?
Depending on the image that is printed, one of three printers would be used: Epson 9800 with K3 Inks, Epson 9600 with Ultrachrome Inks, or the Epson 10000 with Epson Archival Inks.

What types of papers and canvas are used to produce giclee fine art prints?
There are a number of papers that can be used, depending upon the final effect desired.  All papers and canvas that Lena Johnson uses to produce her work are archival.  Each paper offers a different surface, and reacts with ink in unique ways.  Among the papers that are available are:

Inkjet Photo Papers with surfaces similar to light-sensitive photo papers. When viewed up-close, inkjet prints will look sharper than light sensitive papers, and many papers have extremely long life spans. Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper is the most popular choice, and it looks and feels very similar to Fuji Crystal Archive Matte.  Glossy inkjet prints are not as rich and vibrant as those made on light-sensitive photo papers.

Inkjet Canvas with special coatings are used for inkjet printing.  Since the texture of the canvas shows through, it gives the viewer a sense of a painting, and opens up new avenues of expression for photographers.

Inkjet Fine-Art Papers give color photographers exciting new options. Fine-art papers offer the same look and feel as the paper used for watercolor paintings.  Prints on fine-art papers typically have a softer and quieter feel that works well for many photographs. Blacks are generally muted slightly, but rich, saturated colors are still possible. Much of the muted effect comes from the non-reflective qualities of the paper itself. Fine-art papers look wonderful when displayed in homes with no direct lighting on the artwork. One of the most popular fine-art papers is Hahnemuhle Photo Rag.

Fine art photography by Lena Johnson is for sale in limited edition prints. 

For pricing and information:  Contact Lena