Wallsio Art Print Glossary

By Jakub Paśnik, founder of Wallsio Art · Updated May 2026 · About the author

A quick reference for the print and framing terms used across Wallsio Art product pages, journal articles, and care guides. Every term is explained in plain English with practical tips for choosing, framing, and caring for your wall art.

Giclée Printing

Pronounced "zhee-clay" (from French la giclée, "to spray"). A high-resolution inkjet printing technique often used by galleries for limited editions and art reproductions, usually combined with pigment inks and specialist art papers. Wallsio Art prints are not giclée prints. They are printed paper posters made to order on premium 200 gsm poster paper.

Archival

A term used in the print industry for materials intended to resist deterioration over long periods, typically acid-free papers combined with pigment-based inks. It describes a category of specialist products and is not a description of Wallsio Art prints.

FSC-Certified Paper

Paper carrying the Forest Stewardship Council mark, certifying that wood fibers come from responsibly managed forests that meet environmental, social, and economic standards. You will find this mark on many paper products when the producer has completed the certification.

Pigment Ink

Ink containing solid color particles (pigments) suspended in a carrier liquid, as opposed to dye-based ink where colors are dissolved. Pigment inks generally resist fading longer than dye inks, which is why they are common in specialist art printing.

Lightfastness

The resistance of a print's colors to fading from exposure to light, measured on the Blue Wool Scale (1 to 8). Results depend on the ink, the paper, and where the print hangs. For any printed poster, direct sunlight speeds up fading, so placement matters: choose a wall that gets indirect light.

GSM (Grams per Square Meter)

The standard measurement of paper weight. Higher GSM means thicker, sturdier paper. Standard office paper is 80 gsm. Wallsio Art prints use premium 200 gsm poster paper, which feels substantial in hand and resists curling and denting far better than everyday paper.

Matte Finish

A non-reflective paper surface that scatters light rather than reflecting it. Matte prints show little glare under living-room lighting and reveal subtle detail in shadows and midtones. The trade-off: blacks appear slightly less deep than on glossy paper.

Framed vs Unframed Prints

An unframed print is the paper poster on its own, ready for a frame you already own. A framed print arrives in a wooden frame, ready to hang. Wallsio Art offers both: unframed posters, or framed prints in black, white, natural wood, or dark wood frames. In a nursery, hang frames securely and out of reach of a crib.

Diptych

An artwork composed of two separate panels designed to hang together as one composition. The word originally referred to hinged panels (Greek di- "two" + ptyx "fold"). Modern diptych prints tell a wider visual story than a single piece, with a strong vertical or horizontal sweep. Browse Wallsio Art's Set of 2 collection.

Triptych

An artwork in three panels (Greek tri- "three" + ptyx "fold"). The classic format for storytelling and large-scale impact. Three panels of equal width hung with 5 to 10 cm gaps create a balanced focal wall above a sofa, bed, or console. Browse Wallsio Art's Set of 3 collection.

A production model in which each item is printed only after a customer orders it, eliminating warehouse stock and over-production waste. Every Wallsio Art print is made to order this way by a professional print partner with production close to you, typically in 1 to 3 business days. Shipping is free to the US, Canada, UK, Australia and 11 EU countries.

CMYK vs RGB Color

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the additive color model used by screens: colors are produced by emitting light. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the subtractive model used in printing: colors are produced by ink absorbing light from white paper. Because CMYK has a smaller color gamut than RGB, printed colors may vary slightly from what you see on screen.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)

A print resolution measurement: how many ink dots fit in one inch. Standard photo prints use 300 DPI, and some specialist art prints use 600 DPI or more for finer detail and smoother gradients. Higher DPI means sharper edges and richer tonal transitions. The resolution of the source image file sets the maximum achievable DPI at any given print size.

Bleed

Extra image area extending beyond the visible trim line, ensuring no white edges appear after cutting (typically 3 mm on each side). It matters whenever you prepare a file for printing yourself: artwork without bleed risks a thin white border or a cropped composition.

Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between print width and height, expressed as a ratio (e.g., 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 1:1 square). The common photo ratio is 2:3, while many wall art prints use 3:4 or 4:5 for a balanced composition. Choosing artwork with the right aspect ratio for your frame and wall space prevents awkward margins after framing.

Frame Profile

The shape and look of the frame moulding as seen from the front and side. A slim, simple profile suits modern minimalist interiors, while a bolder one draws more attention to the frame itself. Wallsio Art framed prints come in a wooden frame in black, white, natural wood, or dark wood, so you can match the frame to your furniture and the tones in the print.

Color Space

The defined range of colors that can be represented digitally or in print. Common color spaces include sRGB (web standard, smaller gamut), Adobe RGB (wider gamut, used by photographers), and ProPhoto RGB (largest gamut, used in professional editing workflows). Print files are typically converted to a CMYK color space matched to the specific paper and ink combination. For more terms, see the full glossary or browse abstract art to see these ideas on the wall.