How to Keep Your Art Prints Looking Fresh for 100 Years

At Dotspace, we work closely with brilliant artists and reputable fine art studios across the UK. We use only museum-grade, acid-free materials because we want to offer you high-quality art that lasts - at a fair price.

In the art world, they say production gives an artwork its body, but daily care decides its lifespan. Under the right conditions, a high-quality Giclée print can easily last over 100 years without fading.

To help you enjoy your collection for a lifetime, we have put together this simple guide. Think of these five steps not as a strict manual, but as a quick routine to keep your art in perfect condition.

 

The Prelude: What Exactly is a "Giclée" Print?

Before we look at the steps, it helps to understand what you are holding.

Giclée (pronounced zee-clay) is a high-resolution inkjet printing process used for fine art. It is not an art style, but an exceptionally precise way to reproduce an artist's original work, making it look exactly like the original.

The term was created in the early 1990s to separate these long-lasting fine art prints from cheap, ordinary posters. At Dotspace, a true Giclée print must meet three strict standards:

• High-Resolution Files (≥300 DPI): The original artwork is scanned at a very high quality to make sure every single brushstroke and texture is captured perfectly.
• 8-12 Colour Archival Pigment Inks: Unlike cheap inks that fade in the sun, we use up to 12 different mineral pigment inks. These have excellent light resistance and will not fade for over a century.
• Museum-Grade Paper: We print on thick, acid-free cotton paper. This stops the paper from turning yellow or becoming brittle over time, ensuring your print can be passed down to the next generation.
  
  

STEP 1 | Know the Enemies of Fine Art Paper

To protect your art, you need to know what damages it. There are four main environmental elements to watch out for: 

• UV Light: Long exposure to direct sunlight is the biggest enemy of colour. It breaks down the ink pigments and causes the artwork to fade.
• High Humidity: Damp spaces cause fine art paper to absorb moisture, which makes the paper warp, bend, or ripple at the edges.
• Dust: Left uncovered, dust settles deep into the texture of the paper and makes the colours look dull.
• Physical Prints: The natural oils from your fingers, accidental fingerprints, or sharp scratches can cause permanent damage to the delicate paper fibers.

STEP 2 | The Rules of Touch: Handling with Care 

Your print looks and feels its best when handled gently. When you unbox your art or take it to a framer, please follow these golden gallery rules: 

• The Clean Hand Rule: Always wash and dry your hands before touching the print. If you have them, wearing a pair of clean cotton gloves is the absolute best way to block any natural oils or sweat from your skin.
• Edges Only: Treat the center of the print as a no-touch zone. Always hold the artwork by its clean, unprinted white borders or from the back.
• Keep It Flat: Unless you are traveling, do not leave your print rolled up inside a tube for a long time. Keeping it flat on a clean, dry surface is always the best way to protect the paper.

 

STEP 3 | Frame It Up: Your Art's Best Shield

While finding the perfect spot to hang your art is important, professional framing is the ultimate protection. 

A proper fine art frame offers three layers of defense:

• UV-Protective Glass: High-quality glass or acrylic blocks out harmful light, providing permanent "sunscreen" for your art.
• Acid-Free Mounts: Using acid-free backing and mounts stops the materials from turning yellow and damaging the paper over time.
• A Sealed Environment: A well-sealed frame keeps dust, moisture, and tiny insects away from the artwork.

No matter how good it looks, never hang fine art prints in bathrooms or kitchens where temperature and humidity change constantly. Keep them away from radiators and fireplaces too.

 

STEP 4 | Gentle Cleaning: Less is More 

Dust happens. But the surface of a fine art print, especially on matte paper, is very delicate and scratches easily. Keep your cleaning routine simple:

• For a framed print, simply use a soft, dry microfibre cloth to gently wipe dust off the glass surface.
• Never use water, wet sprays, or harsh cleaning liquids. When cleaning the frame glass, do not spray the liquid directly onto the frame, as it can seep through the gaps and ruin the paper inside.
  
  

Glad you've read this far.

Here is the last step: Storing Unframed Prints Correctly 

If you have bought a Studio Edition print, or haven’t decided on a frame yet, proper storage is essential: 

• Use Separation Layers: Keep your prints flat inside a portfolio case, and place a sheet of acid-free tissue paper between each artwork to prevent them from rubbing together.
• Keep It Cool and Dry: Store your prints in a room with a steady temperature of 18-21°C and a humidity level of 40-50%. Avoid damp basements or hot attics.
• No Heavy Objects: Do not stack heavy books or boxes on top of your portfolio case, as heavy pressure can dent the paper texture.
• If You Must Roll It: If you need to transport the print in a tube, choose a wide tube (at least 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter). Wrap the print in acid-free tissue paper first, and never roll it too tightly.
  
  
  

That’s it. You now know everything you need to keep your art alive for a century.

At Dotspace, we believe the life of a print doesn't end when the artist finishes it. Its true life happens across the years, quietly sharing your space and your home day after day.