Giclee and inks We heard once more that some labs (mostly photolabs) are using photo dyes to produce inkjet prints. A client of ours recently had us print some photographs on a satin resin coated paper and noticed that the prints we produced were not as saturated as the ones she got from the local lab. The local lab uses the same equipment as we do. The main difference is that we use pigmented inks to produce giclee versus dyes. Let me explain further: photo dyes have a wider gamut than pigments. On the other hand dyes will fade in a matter of months. This is an unacceptable method for giclee. A true giclee HAS to be made with archival (pigmented) inks. Photo labs in particular produce prints with dyes for a reason. Their target customers are for the most part photographers who are proofing to show their work to clients. These prints are not designed to be permanently displayed like a giclee.
The inherent characteristics of how pigmented inks are made (by the way of incapsulating the pigments) makes them less brilliant than a pure dye. Some manufacturers have created hybrid inks that incorporate both dyes and pigments and therefore maximizing results. Another way to increase gamut is to have more ink colors in the printers. As technology advances the pigments are becoming more brilliant.
A giclee made with a photo dye and sold as a giclee is a faulty product. Ask your printer what type of inks are being used. It is your right to know!  ¶ 3:48 PM