The Best Types of Wall Art Prints Explained: Giclée, Digital, and Fine Art

Why Print Type Matters

Not all prints are created equal. When you're investing in wall art — whether it's a statement piece for your living room or a carefully curated gallery wall — understanding the difference between print types helps you make a better decision. It affects colour accuracy, longevity, texture, and ultimately, how your art looks on the wall.

At The Poster Edit, we're passionate about print quality. Here's everything you need to know about the most common types of wall art prints, so you can shop with confidence.

Giclée Prints

Giclée (pronounced zhee-clay) is widely considered the gold standard in fine art printing. The term comes from the French word meaning "to spray" — a nod to the inkjet process used to produce them.

What makes giclée special?

• Exceptional colour accuracy — giclée printers use 8–12 individual ink cartridges (compared to 4 in standard inkjet printers), producing a far wider colour gamut and smoother tonal gradations
• Archival quality — when printed on acid-free paper or canvas with pigment-based inks, giclée prints are rated to last 100+ years without significant fading
• Fine detail — high-resolution printing (typically 1440–2880 dpi) captures intricate detail that standard printing simply can't match
• Museum-grade materials — giclée prints are the format used by galleries and museums worldwide for reproduction prints

Best for:

Photography, fine art reproductions, botanical prints, and any artwork where colour accuracy and longevity are a priority.

What to look for:

Look for prints described as "pigment ink" on "acid-free" or "archival" paper. GSM (grams per square metre) is a good indicator of paper weight — 200gsm and above is generally considered premium.

Digital Art Prints

Digital prints are produced from artwork created entirely on a computer — illustrations, graphic designs, typographic posters, and abstract compositions. The term refers to the origin of the artwork rather than the printing method, and digital prints can be produced to a very high standard when printed correctly.

What makes digital prints great?

• Versatility — digital art spans an enormous range of styles, from bold geometric abstracts to delicate line drawings
• Consistency — because the artwork is digital, every print is identical to the original file, with no variation between editions
• Accessibility — digital prints are often more affordable than hand-produced originals, making it easier to collect art you love
• Colour vibrancy — when printed on quality stock with pigment inks, digital prints can be strikingly vivid and sharp

Best for:

Typographic posters, abstract art, illustrated prints, minimalist designs, and bold graphic wall art.

What to look for:

The quality of a digital print depends almost entirely on the printing process and materials used. Always check whether the seller prints on archival paper with pigment inks — this is the difference between a print that lasts decades and one that fades within a few years.

Fine Art Prints

"Fine art print" is a broader term that describes any print produced to a high artistic standard, often in limited editions. It's less about the printing technology and more about the intent, quality, and context of the work.

What defines a fine art print?

• Limited editions — fine art prints are typically produced in numbered, limited runs (e.g. 1/50), making each print part of a finite collection
• Artist involvement — the artist or photographer is usually closely involved in the production process, approving colour proofs and overseeing print quality
• Premium materials — fine art prints are almost always produced on heavyweight, acid-free paper or cotton rag stock
• Certificates of authenticity — limited edition fine art prints often come with a signed certificate confirming the edition number

Best for:

Collectors, statement pieces, and anyone looking to invest in art that holds or increases in value over time.

What to look for:

Edition size, paper quality, and whether the print is signed or comes with a certificate. Smaller editions (e.g. 1/10 vs 1/500) are generally more collectible.

Other Print Types Worth Knowing

Screen Prints (Silkscreen)

A traditional printmaking technique where ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto paper. Each colour requires a separate screen, making screen printing labour-intensive — but the results are distinctive, with rich, opaque colours and a tactile quality that's impossible to replicate digitally. Highly collectible.

Lithographic Prints

A classic printing method used widely in the 19th and early 20th centuries, now largely replaced by digital processes for commercial printing. Vintage lithographic posters are highly sought after by collectors.

Canvas Prints

Artwork printed directly onto canvas and stretched over a wooden frame. Canvas prints have a painterly texture and work well in larger formats. They're a popular choice for photography and abstract art.

How We Print at The Poster Edit

All of our prints are produced in-house using professional-grade giclée printing on premium acid-free paper. We use pigment-based inks across a wide colour gamut to ensure every print is as close to the original artwork as possible — and built to last.

Our paper stocks range from smooth fine art matte to textured watercolour paper, depending on the artwork. Every print is inspected before dispatch to ensure it meets our quality standards.

Browse our full print collection or get in touch if you have questions about a specific print or paper stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a giclée print and a regular print?

A giclée print uses a high-resolution inkjet process with pigment-based inks on archival paper, producing far superior colour accuracy and longevity compared to standard inkjet or laser printing. Regular prints typically use dye-based inks on standard paper, which fade more quickly over time.

Are digital prints good quality?

Yes — when produced correctly. A digital print on archival paper with pigment inks can be indistinguishable from a giclée print in terms of quality. The key is the materials and printing process, not the origin of the artwork.

How long do art prints last?

Giclée prints on acid-free paper with pigment inks are rated to last 100+ years under normal display conditions. Standard prints on non-archival paper can fade significantly within 5–10 years, especially in direct sunlight.

What paper is best for art prints?

Acid-free, archival paper is the gold standard. Look for weights of 200gsm and above. Cotton rag paper (made from cotton rather than wood pulp) is considered the most archival option and is used for museum-quality prints.

What's the difference between an open edition and a limited edition print?

An open edition print can be reproduced indefinitely, with no limit on the number of copies. A limited edition print is produced in a fixed, numbered run — once sold out, no more are made. Limited editions are generally more collectible and may hold value better over time.