A giclee (pronounced zhee-clay) is an individually produced, high-resolution print made using a special large format printer. The term "giclee" comes from the french word "gicleur" meaning "to squirt ink". This term reflects the computerized ink jet technology involved in creating such fine art prints vs. the more traditional offset printing or lithographical processes. Specifically, a fine art giclee print is created using numerous sophisticated, state of the art digital tools to create unique fine art images, of archival quality, on canvas, genuine artist watercolor or fine art papers that transcend traditional methods.
A Paul Foley giclee is produced from digital files which are either created by scanning his original transparencies and negatives or by using hi-end professional digital cameras.
His "darkroom" is populated by Macintosh computers, colour managed monitors, a Flextight drum scanner and an archival Canon iPF8100 printer. While trained to print both colour and black and white photographs using traditional techniques the time required meant he needed to commission skilled craftspeople to produce his work. No matter how skilled the printer, consistency was always a problem and the high standards he insisted on for his prints required the commissioning of the best (and most expensive printers). Giclees solve that problem because he is able to make a master image in the computer - using all his traditional knowledge and experience and then make multiple originals of his images. He is in control of the complete creative process.
He prints his Giclees on 100% cotton fine art paper, canvas as well as papers with the traditional photographic look. He matches them with archival pigment inks to render fine detail and color of great luminosity and depth.
A Foley is made to last at least 80 years on canvas and over 100 years on cotton rag papers when framed to archival standards and displayed under normal household conditions away from direct sunlight and extremes of temperature or humidity.
Please visit the fine art search page to browse his limited edition photography.
