How to care for your giclee print
General tips for handling your brick and water giclée print
Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learnt (sometimes through disasters!) to care for giclee prints so that they can last for years to come:
Always care for giclée prints as you would an original piece of art. This means that dirt, dust, moisture, oils, adhesives, solvents, heat, and anything that could scratch, dent or crease the paper should all be avoided when you are handling your print
Try to only handle the print with clean, dry hands or get a pair of white cotton gloves (these can be found at your local art store)
The last thing you want is smudges on your print, so always use two hands to support your print at the edges; that way, you will avoid any bends, dents or creases
Keep your giclée print covered with the acid-free tissue paper until it is framed or let me handle framing for you to avoid damage
Brick and Water giclée prints are printed on German Etching 310GSM paper which is very textured - Don’t use your hands to wipe off any dust as this can also damage the surface. Instead, use a dry, clean, white lint-free cloth or a photographer’s lens-brush
Flattening your rolled-up giclée print
If you have bought a streetscape or a larger print (A2 or A1) this may come rolled in a tube and will need to be flattened to ensure successful framing:
Find a surface that is flat, smooth and hard. Clean it of any dirt and particles that might damage your print
Unpack the kraft paper tube - your print will be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper
Carefully remove the print from the postal tube by grabbing the protective acid-free tissue paper
Lay the printout, image side up, on a flat surface
With the tissue paper still covering the print’s image, on the ends and around the middle of the print, place a few clean and dry objects that are smooth, flat and heavy...books work well!
Let your giclée print relax overnight - if it still isn’t flat when you remove the books, replace them for a few more hours
Never be tempted to use an iron, or steam to flatten it - as this will damage it!
Alternatively, let me take the hassle out and frame it for you!
Cleaning your print
Never try to clean a giclée print with a damp cloth, water or solvents. Just use a clean, dry, soft, lint-free cloth or a photographer’s lens brush to gently wipe off dust
Use a white non-coloured cloth will allow you to see when the dust has been collected
To avoid staining the giclée, do not clean it with a dirty or dark-coloured cloth
