Original Linocut Print vs Giclée Print: What Is the Difference?

If you are buying art online, the words original linocut print and giclée print can be confusing. They describe very different ways of making an artwork, and understanding the difference can help you decide which is right for you.

I make and sell both original linocut prints and selected giclée prints, but they are created in completely different ways.

What is an original linocut print?

An original linocut is a print made directly from a carved lino block.

I begin by drawing the design and transferring it to the block. Areas of lino are then carved away before ink is rolled onto the remaining surface. The image is transferred from the block onto paper.

Most of my work is made using the reduction linocut technique. Instead of using a separate block for each colour, I work from one block, carving more of it away between each layer of colour.

Once the final layer has been printed, much of the original block has been removed. This means the full image cannot simply be printed again later.

You can read more about the process in How a Reduction Linocut Print Is Made.

Is a linocut a reproduction?

No.

An original linocut is not a reproduction of an existing painting or drawing. The carved block is the means by which the original artwork is created.

Each sheet in the edition is printed individually from the block.

Small variations in ink, pressure and texture are a natural part of this process, which is one of the things I enjoy about printmaking.

What is a giclée print?

A giclée print is a high-quality reproduction of an existing artwork.

The original artwork is professionally photographed or scanned, and the resulting digital image is printed using archival-quality inks and fine art paper.

A good giclée can reproduce colour, detail and texture extremely accurately.

Unlike a linocut, however, the image is not created by printing directly from a carved block. The giclée is a reproduction of an original artwork.

What is the main difference?

The simplest distinction is this:

A linocut is an original printmaking process. A giclée is a reproduction of an existing artwork.

Both can be beautifully made and both can use excellent materials, but they are different kinds of artwork.

With an original linocut, the carving and printing process creates the artwork itself.

With a giclée, the artwork already exists and is reproduced through high-quality digital printing.

Why are original linocuts usually limited editions?

With reduction linocut, the block is gradually carved away as each colour is printed.

Because those carved areas cannot be put back, the complete image cannot be printed again once the edition has been finished.

For this reason, I decide on the edition size before printing and each finished print is signed, titled and numbered.

For example, an edition of 20 will be numbered individually as 1/20, 2/20 and so on.

Are giclée prints limited editions?

They can be.

Some artists produce open-edition giclées, while others choose to make a fixed limited edition.

When I describe a giclée as limited edition, the total number available is fixed. An open edition does not have that restriction.

The individual product page should always tell you which type you are buying.

Why does an original linocut often cost more?

A reduction linocut involves a substantial amount of hands-on work.

The block is drawn, carved, inked and printed repeatedly, with another stage of carving between colours. Each sheet has to pass through the printing process many times and each layer must line up correctly with the previous one.

An edition can take several weeks to complete.

A giclée involves significant work at the beginning too, particularly in creating the original artwork and producing an accurate professional reproduction, but once the digital file has been prepared, further copies can be printed without repeating the original creative process.

That difference in process, labour and scarcity is reflected in the price.

Which should you choose?

Neither is automatically the better choice.

If you are drawn to the physical process of printmaking, the carved marks, subtle variations and limited nature of an edition, you may prefer an original linocut.

If you love a particular image and would like a high-quality fine art version at a more accessible price, a giclée can be a very good choice.

For me, they serve different purposes.

My original linocuts are the closest connection to the printmaking process itself. My giclée prints allow selected artworks to be enjoyed in another format while still being produced to a high standard.

Explore the work

You can browse my original reduction linocut prints original linocut prints here.