Giclée, Fine Art Prints & Posters: A Complete Guide to Buying Art Prints

Photo Curtesy of David Wightman

Buying art online can be confusing. What is the difference between a giclée print and a poster? What makes a print “fine art”? And why can two prints that look similar online have very different prices?

There is a lot of terminology around art printing, but it doesn't need to be complicated. Understanding a few key differences will help you compare prints and, more importantly, understand exactly what you are buying.

What Is a Giclée Print?

Giclée describes a printing process, not a type of artwork.

Giclée printing is a high-quality form of inkjet printing that provides a far superior colour accuracy in hues to regular printing. It uses extremely fine droplets of ink to accurately reproduce detailed imagery, subtle tones and a wide range of colours.

For giclée printing pigments are used, while in less quality printing processes dyes are used. A pigment is a coloured material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble. 

As a result these prints have extremely long-lasting colour that is true to the original. They can last for more than 100 years without showing signs of noticeable fading. They are considered to be the highest quality prints available and are sold through galleries and museums throughout the world.

Giclée printing is the perfect method for reproducing archival fine art, photography and digital art. Giclée prints can be printed on a variety of substrates including 100% cotton rag, such as those made by Canson. This combination can produce excellent detail, colour depth and longevity.

It is worth noting, however, that simply describing a print as “giclée” doesn't automatically mean it is a high-quality fine-art print. The paper, inks, printer and production standards all make a difference.

Photo Curtesy of David Wightman

What Is a Digital Print?

A digital print is an artwork that has been created digitally, using tools such as an iPad, computer or digital drawing software, and then printed onto paper or another surface.

Digital artworks can be created entirely by the artist, using their own drawings, painting techniques, photography or illustrations. It does not mean the artwork has been created using AI.

The quality of the finished print depends on the artwork itself, as well as the paper, inks and printing process used.

At Chalet Art Store, we work with artists who create their own artwork. We do not sell AI-generated artwork. 

Contemporary artists Steph Fonteyn and Danny Touw create their prints digitally and you can see their collections by clicking on their names. 

Image Curtesy of Chalet Art Store by artist Danny Touw

What Is a Screen Print?

Screen printing is a traditional printing technique in which ink is pushed through a fine mesh screen onto paper or another surface. A separate screen is generally used for each colour, allowing the artist or printer to build up the image layer by layer.

Unlike giclée printing, which uses tiny droplets of ink to reproduce an image digitally, screen printing is a more hands-on process. It can produce strong, solid areas of colour, crisp shapes and a distinctive tactile quality.

Screen prints are often particularly appealing for graphic, contemporary or vintage inspired artworks. Here you can see a collection of our Retro Ski Wall Art where each print was created using this technique. 

Because each colour is applied separately, screen printing can also involve more variation between individual prints. This handmade quality is part of the appeal and is one reason screen prints are often produced as limited editions.

Check out Eliza Southwood's stunning vintage inspired screen prints. 

The different types of art prints

When buying art prints, you will generally come across these main categories.

1. Fine art reproduction

A fine-art reproduction is a print made from an artwork that already exists. 

For example, an artist might create an original painting which is then reproduced as a print. You can see examples of mountain reproduction fine art prints by Sam Gare here. 

The purpose is to make the original artwork available to a wider audience while retaining as much of its quality, detail and character as possible. Its often hard to tell the difference between the prints and the original paintings.

The quality of the reproduction will depend on the original artwork, the scanning or photography process, the printing method, the paper and the inks used. 

2. Original fine art print – limited edition

An original limited-edition print is an artwork created specifically to exist as a print, rather than being a reproduction of an existing painting or other physical artwork. This can be created with traditional materials by hand, digitally created or with a mix of both. 

The artist decides how many prints will be produced in that edition. For example, an edition of 50 means that only 50 prints will ever be produced as part of that edition. Our Limited-edition prints are all signed and individually numbered by the artist, either manually or digitally, depending on how the print was created.

Because the number is fixed, a limited edition offers an element of scarcity and can have greater collectible value than an open edition. The artist's reputation, the quality of the work and the size of the edition will all influence its value. These are a great choice if you don't want to purchase originals but you also don't want to buy mass produced prints. 

Contemporary artist David Wightman starts his prints with a hand drawing and then develops them into surreal mountain landscapes. Youcan see a collection of his work here. Check out or other artists Nadia Attura and Philippa Langrish who create their prints using a mix of photography, collage, hand drawing and digital tehniques. 

Artworks curtesy of Chalet Art Store by Nadia Attura and Philippa Langrish

3. Open-edition print

An open-edition print has no predetermined limit on the number that can be produced.

This makes it a more accessible way to buy an artist's work without the scarcity associated with a limited edition.

Open edition does not mean poor quality. It simply means there is no fixed number of prints in the edition.

At Chalet Art Store, we sell a small number of open-edition prints that are sold exclusively with us. Our Ski & Travel Posters are also open edition and are made with Giclée ink on Canson 100% cotton rag paper.

Open Edition print Curtesy of Chalet Art Store by artist Miranda Rijks

Fine-art print vs poster: what's the difference?

This is one of the most common questions when buying art online.

A poster is generally produced as accessible wall art, often using more economical commercial printing and materials.

A fine-art print, on the other hand, is produced with greater emphasis on the quality of the artwork, reproduction and materials.

This can mean differences in:

• Paper quality and weight
• Paper texture and surface
• Ink quality
• Colour reproduction
• Level of detail
• Longevity
• How the finished artwork is intended to be presented

The difference isn't simply about price. It is about the materials, production standards and purpose of the finished piece.

At Chalet Art Store, even our posters are carefully selected pieces of art. We use Giclée ink and 100% cotton rag paper. They are not intended to be disposable wall decorations like some ski posters. Some of our poster collection are exclusive to Chalet Art Store so you can rest assured that they will not be mass produced. 

Image Curtesy of Chalet Art Store by artist Danny Touw

What does “museum quality” mean?

“Museum quality” isn't a separate type of print.

The term is generally used to describe a high standard of materials and production, particularly when longevity and presentation are important.

It can refer to things such as archival pigment inks and high-quality fine-art papers that are designed to remain stable over time.

However, the words themselves don't tell you everything. If a print is described as “museum quality”, it's worth looking at what paper, inks and printing process are actually being used.

What does “archival” mean?

Archival refers to materials selected for their stability and longevity.

In fine-art printing, this can include acid-free and lignin-free papers, along with pigment inks designed to resist fading over time.

This is particularly important when you are buying artwork that you want to enjoy for many years.

Good-quality archival materials can help a print maintain its appearance over a much longer period when it is properly displayed and cared for.

Why does the paper matter?

Paper can make a surprising difference to how an artwork looks and feels.

Art paper is Art paper is a high-quality, paper coated with a mineral substance like china clay, designed to produce sharp, vibrant, and full colour prints or detailed fine art.

A smooth paper can give a print a clean, contemporary appearance, while a textured or cotton-based fine-art paper can add depth and a more tactile quality.

The weight, texture, surface and colour of the paper can all influence the finished artwork.

For a fine-art print, the paper isn't simply something the image is printed onto. It is part of the artwork itself.

Image Curtesy of Chalet Art Store by artist Philippa Langrish

Why do some art prints cost more than others?

Two prints can look very similar on a website and still have significantly different prices.

The price of an art print can reflect much more than its size.

It can include:

• The artist and their reputation
• The artwork itself
• Whether it is a limited or open edition
• The quality of the paper
• The inks and printing process
• The quality of the reproduction
• The expertise of the printer
• The rarity and collectibility of the work

A €30 poster and a €300 fine art print may both look beautiful on your screen, but they can be very different physical products. A cheaper print can look ok when you frame it but after some time the cheap paper will start to ripple inside the frame. Our Canson 100% Cotton Rag paper doesn't do that. Also the clarity of the print might not be as sharp and the tones of colour wont have as much depth. The cheaper prints are also more prone to fading in sunlight.

This is why it is worth looking beyond the image and asking what you are actually buying and does it fit with what you need. 

What type of print is right for you?

There isn't necessarily one “best” type of print. It depends on what you are looking for.

If you want an accessible piece of wall art, a poster or open-edition print can be an excellent choice.

If you are looking for something you can cherish for a long time with a greater emphasis on materials, longevity and reproduction quality, then a fine-art print may be more suitable.

And if you are particularly interested in exclusivity and collectibility, a limited-edition print offers the added appeal of a fixed edition size.

The most important thing is to understand the differences so you can choose based on your own priorities.

Once you have established what print to buy, check out our guide on how to hang art in a chalet.

Image Curtesy of Chalet Art Store by artist Steph Fonteyn

Why Buy Art from Chalet Art Store?

Chalet Art Store is a small, independent art gallery, run by me, Catherine, working directly with a carefully selected group of artists.

My background is in both interior design and fashion design, and I created Chalet Art Store after years of designing and decorating chalets in the Alps. I found that sourcing artwork that felt distinctive, well made and genuinely suited to chalet interiors was surprisingly difficult. There was plenty of generic alpine décor, but much less artwork that I would actually want to put into a beautifully designed chalet.

That is what led me to create Chalet Art Store.

I personally select the artists and artwork in the collection, looking not only at the artwork itself but at how it will work within a chalet interior. The print collection includes fine-art reproductions, limited-edition prints, open editions and posters, with a focus on artworks that bring something distinctive to an alpine space.

Chalet Art Store is simply me and the artists I work with. I enjoy discovering artists whose work captures the mountains in a different way and giving them exposure beyond their own resorts and local markets. Some of their work is exclusive to Chalet Art Store.

We also don't use AI-generated artwork. Every piece in the collection is created by an artist, with their own ideas, perspective and creative process behind it.

If you're furnishing a chalet, I can also help you choose artwork for a particular room or project. I can curate a selection of pieces based on your space, colours and style and present the options in a PDF for you to review.

If you'd like me to put together a selection for your chalet, [get in touch].

If you need some insider tips for decorating your chalet then go to our guide How to Decorate A Chalet .

Image Curtesy of Chalet Art Store

A simple checklist when buying a print

Before buying an art print online, look beyond the image on your screen and ask:

Who is the artist?

What am I buying? Is it a reproduction, a limited-edition print or an open edition?

How is it printed?

What paper and inks are used?

Is it archival? And what does that actually mean in this particular case?

If it is a limited edition, how large is the edition?

Is the artwork exclusive to the seller or available elsewhere?

These questions will tell you far more about the quality and value of a print than words such as “premium” or “museum quality” on their own.

FAQS

There is a lot of terminology around art prints, but the basics are relatively simple.

Giclée describes the printing process.

Fine-art reproduction describes a print made from an existing artwork.

Limited edition means a fixed number of prints will be produced, offering scarcity and potential collectible value.

Open edition means there is no fixed limit to the number that can be produced.

Archival describes materials selected for their stability and longevity.

Museum quality describes a high standard of materials and production rather than a separate category of print.

Digital Print means the artwork has been created digitally, using tools such as an iPad, computer or digital drawing software, and then printed onto paper or another surface. It does not mean it was created with AI.