Fine Ink Print Glossary | Terminology and Definitions

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Archival: Materials or processes designed to resist deterioration over long periods. In fine art printing, archival refers to inks, papers, and finishes that maintain color and structure for 75 to 200 years or more under proper display and storage conditions.
Acid-Free: Paper or materials with a pH of 7.0 or higher, meaning no acid content that could cause yellowing or deterioration over time. Acid-free is a baseline requirement for archival fine art papers.
Artist Proof: Prints from an edition set aside for the artist's personal use or review, designated AP or A/P. Artist proofs are typically produced outside the numbered edition and are often considered more valuable by collectors.
Archival Framing: Framing practices that protect a print from damage over time, including UV-filtering glass or acrylic, acid-free matting and backing boards, and materials that do not off-gas harmful chemicals.

Cotton Rag: Paper made from cotton fibers rather than wood pulp. Cotton rag papers are naturally acid-free and lignin-free, offering superior archival stability and a distinctive surface texture preferred for fine art prints.
Certificate of Authenticity: A document that accompanies a fine art print, confirming its edition details, ink type, substrate, artist signature, and print number. A COA establishes provenance and supports the print's value as a collectible.
Color Profile: An ICC color profile that defines the color space of a digital file or output device. Accurate color profiling between the original artwork, display, and printer ensures that fine art prints reproduce colors faithfully.
Color Gamut: The complete range of colors that a printer or display can reproduce. Professional fine art printers use wide-gamut ink sets to reproduce the full range of colors in original artwork.

Dye Ink: Ink in which color is dissolved in a liquid carrier rather than suspended as particles. Dye inks produce vivid colors but fade faster than pigment inks and are not considered archival for fine art reproduction.
Deckled Edge: The rough, feathered edge of handmade or mould-made paper. Deckled edges are often preserved on fine art prints to signal authenticity, craft quality, and the natural character of the substrate.

Edition: The total number of prints produced from a single image or artwork. Editions can be open (unlimited) or limited (a fixed number). Edition size affects collectibility and often pricing.

Fine Art Paper: High-quality paper manufactured specifically for art reproduction, typically acid-free, lignin-free, and made from cotton or alpha-cellulose. Fine art papers are available in a range of weights, textures, and coatings.

Giclee: A French-origin term (from gicleur, meaning sprayer) used to describe high-quality inkjet art prints produced on professional-grade equipment. The term has been widely used in fine art markets since the 1990s. Fine Ink Print is considered clearer modern language for the same category.

Lignin-Free: Paper that has had lignin, an organic compound found in wood pulp, removed or excluded. Lignin breaks down over time and causes paper to yellow and become brittle. Lignin-free papers maintain their integrity significantly longer.
Limited Edition: A print edition in which only a fixed number of copies are produced. Each print in a limited edition is typically numbered (e.g., 3/50) and often signed by the artist. Limited editions carry greater collectible value.

Open Edition: A print edition with no stated limit on the number of copies produced. Open editions are generally less collectible than limited editions but make artwork more accessible.

Pigment Ink: Ink made with solid color particles suspended in a liquid carrier. Pigment inks bond to paper surfaces and offer superior archival stability compared to dye-based inks, making them the standard for fine art print production.
Photo Rag: A fine art paper made from 100% cotton with a smooth, matte surface optimized for photographic and detailed art reproduction. Photo rag papers are a common choice for fine ink print production.
Print Resolution: The level of detail in a printed image, measured in dots per inch (DPI) or pixels per inch (PPI). Fine art prints typically require a minimum of 300 PPI at output size to achieve gallery-quality detail.

Substrate: The material on which a print is produced. Common substrates for fine ink prints include cotton rag paper, photo rag, matte fine art paper, canvas, and other archival surfaces.