Blog post 4: Understanding print editions
When learning the key terms about print editions, it is clear that the reason for editioning your work is to increase the desirability and value of the work. Although technically you can make your edition 5 to 100, it is advised that going above 30 can be detrimental to your career. Editioning your work goes alongside pricing your work and understanding the worth of you and your work.
In this video, it is reiterated that once you set an edition, you need to stick to that number, this is to keep the industry and yourself reputable. This is also similar advice from Debra Klomp of New York’s Klompching Gallery who said “I will stop working with a photographer if they’d been making extra prints, issuing a further edition after the event is “career suicide”. It is very important to keep track of your editions and who you have sold to, keep all this information together and organised.
Key terms:
Print Edition:
This is the total number of prints made from the original. This should be limited and be a fixed number. The artist can determine this.
Numbered Print/limited edition:
This is shown through a fraction, for example if it is the second print out of five, it would be marked as 2/5. It is also important to write this with pencil to reduce the risk of fraud. They are also signed by the artist.
AP- Artists Proof:
This is a print that is not part of an edition. An Artist Proof is the same as any editioned work, however there is fewer AP’s within an edition so it is something that would be worth more money.
PP – Printers Proof:
This is a print given to the printer to thank them for their work.
Looking specifically at one photographer’s work for sale on this website, showing an example of the difference in price between AP and numbered print.
This one is the Artist Proof print
This one is image 15/20
This video explains how editions are a group of prints that are meant to be as identical to each other as possible. Printing in edition can be a difficult process, but with photography it is fairly easy, due to its reproductive nature.
This video explains how some artists like to have open edition prints, which means there is no cap on the number of prints they will make from one piece. This in turn makes your work more accessible. This is a good way to hopefully sell lots of work, but at a lower price.
