Different Print Types Explained

When buying art prints you will come across a range of print types, so I have out together a quick easy guide to understanding your prints!

Digital Prints

Digital prints are created using inkjet or laser printers. They’re crisp, versatile and can capture a wide range of colours and details. They can be produced quickly and in many sizes making them a great way for artists to make their work accessible and keep costs low while still keeping the quality high.

Giclée Prints

Giclée prints are a type of digital print but with a little extra attention to detail. They’re made using archival-quality inks and papers, giving them a richer finish and helps the colours stay vibrant for decades. The texture of the paper often adds a fine-art feel that makes giclées stand out from standard digital prints.

Screen Prints

Screen printing is a more hands on process. Ink is pushed through a mesh stencil (the screen), one colour at a time onto paper or fabric. This gives screen prints their bold, layered look. Because each colour is applied separately, you often get variations between prints, making every piece feel one-of-a-kind.

Risograph Prints

Risograph printing sits somewhere between screen printing and photocopying, but with its own very distinct style. Riso machines use soy-based inks and drum rollers to layer colours, often resulting in bold, slightly offbeat effects. The colours are vibrant, the texture is tactile and the little imperfections (like misalignments) are part of their charm.

CMYK vs RGB

You’ll also see colour spaces mentioned when it comes to printing:

• CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black/Key) is used for print. It mixes inks to create a full spectrum of colours on paper.

• RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is used for screens. Colours on your phone or laptop often look brighter because they’re made with light, not ink. This is why a design might look slightly different on-screen compared to the printed version.