How to Prepare Artwork Files for Giclée Printing
- 1. File Formats & Resolution
- 2. Colour Spaces & Profiles
- 3. File Naming & Upload
- 4. Photographing Originals
- 5. Checking & Proofing
- 6. Related Topics
1 File Formats & Resolution
Best formats: JPEG (preferred for upload) or TIFF (for archiving). If you start from TIFF, export as high-quality JPEG before uploading — there is no visible loss for print sizes at 300 dpi.
- Resolution: Aim for 300 dpi at final print size.
- Upsizing: We can enlarge images up to around 4× the original size with minimal quality loss, provided there are no extremely fine lines or very small text.
2 Colour Spaces & Profiles
Work in Adobe RGB (1998) for widest reliable colour range. Always embed the colour profile when saving your file — this ensures accurate colour interpretation on our systems.
If you’re not sure which profile your image uses, open it in Photoshop or Lightroom and check the “Document Profile” info at the bottom of the window.
For a deeper look at how profiles behave, see Understanding Colour Profiles.
3 File Naming & Upload
Use short, clear filenames (e.g. artistname_title_edition.jpg). Avoid special characters such as / ? * or #.
Files are uploaded via our secure system; your artwork remains private and used only for your orders.
4 Photographing Originals
If you capture the artwork yourself, ensure even lighting, avoid glare, and keep the camera parallel to the surface. Distortion (keystone) can occur if you shoot at an angle — we can usually correct this digitally if needed.
Tip: Reflective or metallic paints can be difficult to photograph accurately; proof-strips are ideal for fine-tuning colour in those cases.
5 Checking & Proofing
For colour-critical artwork, order a proof-strip or thumbnail proof before your main print. This allows you to confirm colour balance, saturation, and paper choice under your own lighting.
6 Related Topics
• Paper Guide
• Printer & Inks
• Proofing Options
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