Giclée Print Handling

Caring for your Giclée map print before gifting

Your map is a Giclée print on 230gsm fine art paper. The paper has a substantial feel, but its printed surface needs gentle handling.

Storing an unframed Giclée print

  • Keep it in its protective packaging until you are ready to gift or frame it.
  • Store somewhere dry, away from sunlight, radiators, and sudden temperature changes. Avoid sheds, lofts, and damp garages.
  • Prints delivered flat should stay flat, with nothing heavy stacked on top.
  • Prints delivered rolled can stay in their original tube for short-term storage before gifting. For longer storage, flat archival storage is preferable.
  • Wrap the outer packaging rather than placing gift wrap, tape, or elastic bands directly against the print.
Giclée print handling by mikebellmaps

Unrolling a large print

  1. Clear a clean, dry table large enough to support the whole sheet. A second pair of hands helps with larger sizes.
  2. Carefully remove the protective wrapping and print together. Never tug at an exposed corner.
  3. Unroll slowly, keeping the protective paper over the printed surface. Do not force the sheet flat or bend it backwards.
  4. With the print facing upwards beneath its protective paper, gently hold the ends down using clean, smooth, light weights over the protected margins.
  5. Allow several hours for the curl to relax. Some prints need longer. If it resists, let a professional framer flatten it.

Never use an iron, steam, water, or heat to flatten your print.

Handling your print

Use clean, dry hands and hold only the edges or unprinted margins. Clean cotton gloves offer extra protection. Support the whole sheet so it cannot sag or crease, and avoid touching, rubbing, or wiping the printed surface.

Storing a framed Giclée print

Keep the corner protectors and protective packaging in place. Store upright on a padded, stable support, raised off the floor and secured against slipping or falling. Avoid pressure against the glazing and do not stack other gifts on top.

Giclée framed print handling by mikebellmaps

For gifting, keep your map protected until the recipient is ready to display it.

Care guidance checked against specialist printing and conservation advice from Metro Imaging.