To sign or not to sign
November 22, 2013 1:55 PM Subscribe
I'm doing a series of digitally printed images on canvas for a show. I've only done this screen printed before, so this time with the digital prints, I'm not sure what to do about signing and numbering them. Is this something I should do? Not?
I am showing about 30 digital collages based on old found photographs that have been digitally manipulated - and when I've done pieces like this in the past I've screen printed them, but I don't have access to a studio where I can do that right now, and some of them are huge so it wouldn't have been possible anyway. I'd like to limit the prints to 5 each, and then retire them. But I'm confused about a few things:
• Should I even worry about limiting the prints, or is this something only done with more traditional media?
• If so, do I sign and number them?
Has anyone else done anything like this? There is a (blurry, instagram) example of what I'm talking about here if this helps any. Thanks much for your input!
I am showing about 30 digital collages based on old found photographs that have been digitally manipulated - and when I've done pieces like this in the past I've screen printed them, but I don't have access to a studio where I can do that right now, and some of them are huge so it wouldn't have been possible anyway. I'd like to limit the prints to 5 each, and then retire them. But I'm confused about a few things:
• Should I even worry about limiting the prints, or is this something only done with more traditional media?
• If so, do I sign and number them?
Has anyone else done anything like this? There is a (blurry, instagram) example of what I'm talking about here if this helps any. Thanks much for your input!
absolutely sign them and number them!
limit the prints if you like, it's more about creating a limited edition or a first printing run than anything else.
I sign my digitally printed work, and so do all of my illustrator friends, and the vast majority of prints I own, digital or not, are all numbered.
posted by euphoria066 at 2:11 PM on November 22, 2013
limit the prints if you like, it's more about creating a limited edition or a first printing run than anything else.
I sign my digitally printed work, and so do all of my illustrator friends, and the vast majority of prints I own, digital or not, are all numbered.
posted by euphoria066 at 2:11 PM on November 22, 2013
As I understand it, "traditional media" artworks have been signed in order to identify and authenticate their origins; in addition, the signature implies that the work is considered finished by its creator.
As various techniques have been developed allowing an artist to create more than one copy of a work -- whether litho, screen printing, bronze casting, or whatever -- signing and numbering has served the same purpose. The artist can control the creation of a limited edition, even choosing to destroy the master so that unauthorized parties cannot make further copies without the artist's knowledge and supervision. Presumably, you own and control the digital file from which these prints are produced, so you can take similar steps as you choose.
IMHO, if you want to claim it as your work, sign it. If you want to control the rights to produce authentic copies of your work, number each one.
posted by peakcomm at 2:26 PM on November 22, 2013
As various techniques have been developed allowing an artist to create more than one copy of a work -- whether litho, screen printing, bronze casting, or whatever -- signing and numbering has served the same purpose. The artist can control the creation of a limited edition, even choosing to destroy the master so that unauthorized parties cannot make further copies without the artist's knowledge and supervision. Presumably, you own and control the digital file from which these prints are produced, so you can take similar steps as you choose.
IMHO, if you want to claim it as your work, sign it. If you want to control the rights to produce authentic copies of your work, number each one.
posted by peakcomm at 2:26 PM on November 22, 2013
Assist the art cataloguers of the future: sign legibly, number if you wish, and DATE.
posted by CheeseLouise at 2:37 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseLouise at 2:37 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for helping clear that up for me, everyone. They'll be signed and numbered (with the year).
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 11:41 PM on November 22, 2013
posted by monkey!knife!fight! at 11:41 PM on November 22, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:57 PM on November 22, 2013