Giclée Care

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Maui Island Giclée takes great pride in producing fine art prints. Each print has passed through multiple levels of quality inspection. We recommend that you follow the guidelines below to ensure your giclée stands the test of time.

PRINT CONSERVATION CARE

• General Care: As with any valued fine piece, it is recommended that this print be displayed in indirect lighting conditions and away from any contact with moisture. Using archival materials for mats, backing and spacers, museum quality framing and UV protected glass/plexiglass will add to the life of the print. The artwork should never directly touch the glass/plexiglass.
• Giclée Prints on Paper: The paper of the print itself needs to be handled carefully to prevent absorption of oils and/or marks from fingertips. Be careful to avoid dents and creases, since these can be very difficult or impossible to remove later.
• Giclée Prints on Canvas: When stretching canvas prints, do not steam the back of the canvas to remove wrinkles. This can cause your image to yellow and if not properly dried, can allow fungus to grow. When stretching, use rounded stretcher bars and reduce the amount of tension slightly, depending on the relative temperature and humidity. This should reduce any sagging of the print in the future. Changes in relative humidity and temperature can cause sagging, even to originals. Clean your canvas print with a dry, lint free cloth or soft brush. Never use a wet or moist cloth to clean your giclée canvas pint.
• Lighting: It is recommended that you DO NOT keep your giclée prints in direct sunlight. At present only our canvas products come with UV protective coatings. Less light means less fading from harmful ultraviolet rays.
• Storage: Please store your final canvas or paper piece in an environment controlled for both humidity and temperature. Ideal environmental conditions are 70 degrees and 55% humidity. High humidity can cause yellowing. Keep all giclée prints away from solvent-based materials such as oil paints and linseed oil, as the vapors can cause yellowing. Stretched pieces should be stored upright, not stacked and all prints should be interleaved with archival paper dividers and never stored with any weight on top of them. Avoid tape coming in contact with the coated print as it can peel. Do not store heavily embellished prints in plastic bags.
• Cleaning: DO NOT wash printed surfaces with water or solvents. For cleaning we recommend using a clean, dry, soft lint-free cloth to gently wipe off dust and/or dirt. Avoid cleaning with a dirty cloth. It is acceptable to gently wipe the printed surface with a soft cloth that has been dampened with water. It is recommended to do this only when absolutely necessary.

This extra care given initially will allow you to enjoy your purchase for many years to come.