Should you number your prints?

Numbering your art prints serves multiple purposes, including establishing a sense of exclusivity, maintaining accountability, and providing a historical record of your artistic journey. The convention for numbering prints is to utilise the 'edition number/total number of prints' format.

Are numbered prints worth anything?

Artists typically now number their prints so that collectors will know that this print edition is limited and that their print is part of the official edition. The numbering of a print does not in itself make that print any more or less valuable, but it does give collectors some important facts about the print.

Why do artists number their prints?

To distinguish between individual artworks in an edition, artists will label each piece with a distinct number—and you will often find this number published alongside the total edition size (e.g. 1/30 or 30/30). A common misconception is that editions are numbered in the order that they are printed.

What does it mean when a print is signed but not numbered?

Modern printing techniques mean that Artist's Proofs are of the exact same quality as the Limited Edition Print. Artist's Proofs are signed by the artist and may or may not be numbered. They will be marked AP or A/P. The amount of Artist's Proof released are normally 10% or less of the Limited Edition Print run.

Is an artist print more valuable than a numbered print?

Even though they look completely the same as any other print form the same edition, since artist's proofs only make around 10% of the edition, they are considered to be more exclusive (and more valuable) than regular prints.

Printmaking: Editions vs. Artist Proofs, How to Sign Your Prints

What is a good number for limited edition prints?

How many editions? Generally speaking, for contemporary art to steadily increase in value the size of the edition is best kept low, perhaps between 10 and 50 editions. Higher limited editions are usually reserved for iconic works from highly collectible artists like Charles Blackman or John Olsen.

What size art prints sell the most?

Standard Art Print Sizes

Typically, the most popular of these print sizes (and thus the most sellable) are 10” x 8”, 10”x14”, and 12” x 12” – although this all depends on the customer or artist. These sizes are ideal for curating art gallery walls and providing versatility to suit any home interior.

What prints are worth money?

The general rule of thumb is that if a print has been signed by the artist, it will be much more valuable. A signed print refers to a finished fine print with the artist's autograph. You'd expect a signed print to be signed by hand, and not through mechanical means of reproduction.

Is it worth buying limited edition prints?

Almost every limited edition print value will sport Artist's Proof in the information, and it makes a limited edition art even more expensive because the artist personally handled those works. Like unique original artwork, the value of Limited edition prints appreciates over time, making them worthwhile investments.

What does it mean if a print is numbered?

Numbered Print

It shows the number of the print and the total number of prints in the edition. For example '25/500' means the print is number 25 within an edition of 500. Limited edition prints are usually numbered in pencil to reduce risk of fraud as computers cannot trace pencil marks.

Do prints devalue art?

Contrary to what some might think, reproducing artwork will not decrease the value of an original. In fact, giclée prints can actually increase the value of an original. Also because of the high quality, these prints can often increase in value over time. This is of course dependent on the artist.

Is it better to sell original art or prints?

Prints can diminish the value of your original works. Prints won't earn you much if you only produce a few—they must be sold at higher volumes in order to make a profit. The up-front costs of getting all the equipment can be too high for some artists.

How can you tell if a print is an artist proof?

Artist's Proofs are exactly the same in terms of how they are printed, the colours, quality of printing, paper etc. Artists number them, often with Roman numerals and with the mark A/P. Artists sign them too, exactly the same as with the limited editions. There are not as many artists proofs released however.

Is artist proof better than numbered print?

Additionally, the initials AP will often be present to signify it being an artist's proof. Some artists will write these numbers in roman numerals, so they are easily distinguished by art collectors as artist's proofs instead of edition prints. Artist's proofs can be worth 20% to 50% more than any limited editions.

How can you tell if a print is an original?

An original limited edition print is printed on high quality, specialist paper, chosen by the artist for the way it interacts with the ink and the printmaking process. It is numbered and signed. Typically, the signature will be in pencil to the bottom right of the image; the edition number will be to the bottom left.

How can you tell if a print is vintage?

Notice the feel, the patina, the aroma of an old print. Look for indications of hand printing such as the impression from the printing press or ink smudges, signs of age, the quality and texture of the paper. Hold them up to a strong light and look for a watermark in the paper, the kind you find in quality stationary.

What does a P mean on a print?

Ok, lets start with A/P. A/P stands for 'Artist's proof' and is a small number of prints that are the first ones printed deemed good enough by the artist. Usually the number of A/Ps is about 10% of the size of the main edition, and this mini-edition can be numbered or not.

Does art increase in value when artist dies?

Does an artist's death make their work more valuable? In some cases, death can cause an artist's work to rise in value, but in truth it's a rarity unless they are already a celebrated figure in living times – in the case of most artists it is likely that their death will have little impact on selling prices or value.

How do you number a 2nd edition of prints?

When we number prints, we usually use the x/y format where y is the total number in the whole edition and x is the individual number of the print being signed. For example, an edition of 10 prints would be labelled 1/10, 2/10, 3/10 etc.

How do I find out how much my prints are worth?

If you suspect that your picture is valuable, take it to a specialist fine art auctioneer, such as Bonham's, Christie's or Sotheby's.

How do I know if a picture is worth money?

What is the most expensive type of print?

Canvas Prints

Canvas Prints are said to be one of the most expensive items to print out, especially canvas prints such as Lyve canvas. However, printers differentiate the cost on each roll of canvas. Printers use inkjet printers to print out canvases, which helps to give it a sharp resolution.

What color paintings sell best?

Blue, red, green, yellow, purple, and orange are the colors that tend to sell best in the art market. Each of these colors has its unique qualities that appeal to different art collectors and interior designers.

What size photo sells best?

But how do you decide which size is right for your art? There are a few standard sizes that tend to sell well: for smaller prints = 10" x 8" and 10" x 12" frames. for larger prints = 16" x 20" frames.

How much should I sell my art print?

Generally, it's a good idea to price your products at 2x-4x, if not more, the material costs. So if you're able to sell your print at $10, great!