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Post by Steve (FloppyDog) on Oct 24, 2009 9:31:53 GMT -5
I have a few questions to present regarding the sales of prints.
1. Is it preferrable to add the artist's signature in digital form, or by hand?
2. What should be included in a signature? (name, date, year, web address, issue number, etc.?)
3. When/if signing by hand, what type of instrument is best? I've been thinking about using a paint pen. Any thoughts?
4. Should the signature reflect the artists personal name, or business name?
5. Is it customary to note the year the photo was created, or the year it is sold/signed?
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Post by john101477 on Oct 24, 2009 14:35:20 GMT -5
I have seen many ways of doing signatures steve. some on the matting, some on the print itself. I have seen company stickers on the back of the print and a list of others. dates should reflect the date of creation IMO and A issue number should only be used in a limited edition situation where you plan to print out 30-50 images and then destroy the file. I would rather sign the print with my name, and year on the front and company name, location of print and year on the back. It really depends on the format in which you plan to run your company. If I was to bring in 2-3 other photographers and make it Northern Cal Images as a brand name, I would still want the print to reflect my artistry as a person. I have also seen it the exact opposite. company on the front and photographer on the back so it is really where you want it to go for you. If you plan to hand write your signature, the choice of pen is really up to you. I would how ever use that pen or one like it for every signing. Just my thoughts, I am sure there are plenty who would disagree with me.
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OrcaBob
Lead Photographer
Frank Zappa lives
Posts: 394
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Post by OrcaBob on Oct 24, 2009 16:49:55 GMT -5
My sister signs her prints digitally and it's just her first name. Granted, she mainly works in a field (horse photography and high-end horse advertising) in which she's recognized by first name.
When she did sign the prints herself, she used a fine paint pen.
I'm still just using my Orca Bay Images stamp, but my sister has long suggested that I add a digital signature. I'll likely go with first and last name, with Orca Bay Images in the usual font below and smaller. If I were signing by hand, I'd be afraid of wrecking the print if I botch the signature. (I don't write longhand much any more.)
If you want to add date, location, copyright, serial number on a limited run, or any other information, you might do what my sister does: she adds it as an adhesive label on the back of the print.
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Post by NCPhotoTrekker on Oct 24, 2009 17:42:43 GMT -5
When I am doing a client print, I will do a digital signature on the front in a small unobtrusive color that says "(c) Greg A. Kiser). I will hand sign the back with a non-acid fine point black felt pen along with the date of print.
I have heard that for those wanting to sign the front a pencil actually works out great. It doesn't fade over time. You can sign below the actual ink boudary and mat it below the signature. If you are mounting and matting the image, then you can sign the mat.
A signature is a lot like a personal stamp and whatever method you choose you need to stick with it. If you have a lot of different versions out there, then the originality of the work might be put into question.
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Post by Steve (FloppyDog) on Oct 26, 2009 10:35:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback all. I'm not really in the print selling business per say, but have had some interest lately and want to come up with a simple and consistent way to mark them. The photographer I assisted for used to give his prints two coats of laquer, with his signature and year of creation in pencil on the bottom right corner, and between coats. I may adopt this technique or a variation of it, with the addition of an adhesive label on the back with more detailed information such as website etc.
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