Specifications of Prints

Last week at the painting Symposium, I was giving out cards ( eyes of the future reproductions )
One artist that was in the booth beside me was asking about prints, limited prints, open editions ect.....
We started a conversation on this.and 2 more joined us.
2 were professional artists..and have had prints edited .
After searching the web, later at home.....I have to agree with this.

I wrote down some information and decided to share theses with you.


What does the print's number mean?

Each print has two numbers, which appear like this on the print:

The bottom number (in this example, 400) refers to the number of prints in the edition. The top number ( or left side ) (26) means that this is the 26th print in a series of 400 prints. Once the stated number of a limited edition has been reached, no more prints are made from that original image. Both the artist and the printer destroy all high-resolution scans of the image, ensuring that no more prints are made. An OPEN edition means that there is no limit to the number of prints produced from the same original image.


What does "Limited" mean?


Limited refers to the bottom ( or right side )number of the print. Once that number is defined, which it must be before the series is printed, more copies of the print cannot be made. The print has had its quantity LIMITED, or prescribed.


Is a Limited Edition Print as valuable as an Original Painting?


No, an original painting is more valuable because it is one of a kind - literally the ORIGINAL.

What is the relative value of different types of prints?

A LIMITED edition is usually much more valuable than an OPEN edition.A smaller limited edition (eg. 40) is usually more valuable than a larger limited edition (eg. 4000) Prints that have the artist's original signature are more valuable than an unsigned or mass-printed artist's signature edition. As always, it depends upon supply and demand.






Does the Artist hand-sign each print?



Yes, each print is individually hand-signed and hand-numbered, in pencil or acid free pens ( depending on the paper ), on the bottom of each print. The number appears on the bottom left; the signature appears on the bottom right.
The artist must have a signature and not an Inicial ( eg : LT ...in my case )
Why ?
This is the statement that the artist approved the prints and they are legal. ( like signing any documents , checks, contracts )
The signature on the prints must be the same as on the Certificate of Authenticity that comes with the print., thus Identifying the Artist.

What is the difference between a painting and a print?


With the sophistication of modern printing methods, it can be difficult to differentiate between an original painting and a print. Under a magnifying glass, you should be able to see the fine dot pattern that is distinctive for a print. The original painting will not have a dot pattern.



Is a print a good investment?




Yes. The investment value of these prints is enhanced by their limited number and by the artist hand-signing and hand-numbering each individual print which is produced. They are not as valuable as the original painting, but will still be a valuable collector's item. In most cases, a limited edition print will increase in value in the same way as an original. For example, a 1984 limited edition print by wildlife artist Terry Redlin sold for $600. Now the same print sells for $2,800.



How should my print be framed?







It is very important for your print to be "Conservation Framed". This method uses acid-free board, tape and glue. Any reputable framer will know about Conservation Framing. It is suggested that the prints be framed behind glass. It is customary to leave a small margin of white space between the printed area and the edge of the framing mount board. This margin of white space is where the signature and number of the print appear.


How does light affect my print?

Bright daylight and even bright artificial light can cause colors to fade and papers to discolor and become brittle. Too much light is harmful even when ultra-violet rays are filtered out; so make sure your print is exposed to moderate light for limited hours at a time. Don’t place prints on walls that receive direct outside light for any length of time. Think, too, of rotating your prints from time to time to give them a rest. Strong light has serious effects on prints, with ultraviolet light causing colors to fade and change. Using UF3 Plexiglas instead of normal glass will reduce light damage.

Hope this will be helpful to you :)