Practice Makes Perfect

Artist Proof or A/P

Common practice is that 10 to 15 percent of an edition is reserved for the artist. In addition to the regular numbered edition, the artist usually selects a specified number of inventory for either his or her own uses, for a museum, or as the artist chooses. These proofs may be designated as artist’s proofs (AP, or EP in French and PA in Spanish) Print marking example; A/P 1/100 is the first print of an edition of 100 Artist Proof impressions. By art market standards Artist Proofs usually rank higher in value to S/N’s of an edition. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Art on Paper: Our standard, semi-gloss paper looks great, mounts easily, and works in nearly every environment.

Certificate of Authenticity / COA

A document issued with signed and numbered reproductions, or limited edition prints, with the print publisher information, title of the image, size of the image, reproduction media or method, and number of the prints in the edition. Certificate may contain a statement about the work from the artist. Original works do not require a certificate of authenticity.

Giclee or Digital Print

A fine art print that has become more precise with the advent of the revolutionary printing process Giclee (ghee-clay) a French term meaning “spray of ink.” In the Giclee process, a fine stream of ink (more than four millions droplets per second) is sprayed onto archival art paper or canvas. Each piece of paper or canvas is carefully hand mounted onto a drum which rotates during printing. Exact calculation of hue, value and density direct the ink from four nozzles. This produces a combination of 512 chromatic changes (with over three million colors possible) of highly saturated, non-toxic water-based ink. Since no screens are used in Giclee printing, the prints have a higher resolution than lithographs and the dynamic color range is greater than serigraphs.

Hors de Commerce or H/C

Hors de Commerce (Not for trade) traditionally were the graphics pulled with the regular edition but marked by the artist for business use only. These graphics were used for entering shows, exhibits, samples, etc. Today, however, since people began to acquire and collect them, these graphics now generally find their way to the market place through regular channels and are sold. Print marking example; H/C 1/10

Limited Edition Prints or L/E

A pre-determined number of identical prints of an image are produced from a master plate, stone, or other method, after which no more impressions are allowed. The edition size is the sum of all numbered pieces and proofs. The prints are then signed by the artist, sometimes titled, and sequentially numbered showing both the print’s number and the total edition size. Each print is referred to as a “limited edition print”. The original print plates are typically destroyed after the production of the reproduction is completed.

Printers Proof or P/P

Common practice by many printers is that a small number of impressions are made for review by the artist or publisher for approval at the time of printing. The amount of proof vary depending on reproduction method used. Offset lithographs usually have a larger amounts as they are produced rather quickly through an offset press. These proofs are often marketed and are identical impressions to the edition in most instances. Print marking example; P/P 1/100 is the first print of an edition of 100 Printers Proof impressions. By art market standards Printers Proofs usually rank higher in value to S/N’s or A/P’s of an edition. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Printers Proof or P/P

Common practice by many printers is that a small number of impressions are made for review by the artist or publisher for approval at the time of printing. The amount of proof vary depending on reproduction method used. Offset lithographs usually have a larger amounts as they are produced rather quickly through an offset press. These proofs are often marketed and are identical impressions to the edition in most instances. Print marking example; P/P 1/100 is the first print of an edition of 100 Printers Proof impressions. By art market standards Printers Proofs usually rank higher in value to S/N’s or A/P’s of an edition. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Rag Paper

One hundred percent rag paper are constructed of cotton fibers. Traditionally considered museum quality. Watercolor paper and most printmaking papers are examples of archival rag paper.

Remarque or RE or rem

A current practice by some artist is the addition of a small personalized drawing near his penciled signature in the margin of the graphic. The simple sketch or drawing is usually rendered in pencil, but can be rendered in color. A print containing one of these hand embellishments or drawings is called a Remarque. Print marking example; RE “1/25” is the first print of an edition of 25 Remarques. By art market standards Remarques usually rank higher in value to S/N’s, A/P’s, and P/P’s of an edition. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Serigraph or Silkscreen

The artist prepares a tightly stretched screen, usually of silk, and blocks out areas not to be printed by filling the mesh on the screen with a varnish-link substance. Paper is placed under the screen, and ink is forced through the still-open mesh onto the paper by means of a squeegee. A print made by this process involves the use of stencils. Paint is applied to a fabric screen, penetrating areas not blocked by a stencil. Several stencils are used to produce a multicolored print. As a commercial medium, silk-screen printing has been used by many contemporary artists such as William Tolliver. Serigraphs are usually hand pulled, while Silkscreens utilize the latest automated printing technologies. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Signed and Numbered or S/N

Prints that are authenticated with the artists signature, the total number of impressions in the edition, and the order in which impression is signed. The artist pencils in his signature and a number on the bottom of the print. Pencil is usually used on reproductions because it does not effect paper over time. The number appears as a fraction. Numbering example; L/E 5/1500, indicates the fifth print of a limited edition of 1500 impressions. All prints are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.