Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I sold my images on the art circuit for a number of years, as well as a few galleries. Things vary, but my experience is that the generally accepted practice is to sign the image in the margin under the mat, with an additional visible signature on the mat below the right hand lower corner of the mat window edge. The double signing allows the customer to maintain your signature on the print even if they need/choose to change the mat in the future. Signatures are expected to be hand signed and not a digital signature embedded in the print. ( I once had a gallery owner comment about that practice: “We sell art here, not posters.” 😄). I do know a few photographers who do sign directly on the print rather than the mat. One well known photographer in the Southwest uses white archival ink and signs and numbers his prints small in the lower right corner. (He is a “name” photographer whose works sell for significant prices. He can do what he wants! 😁)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Sign directly on the print using an archival gel pen like a Sakura Pigma Micron.

I don't know if this would be acceptable in other areas, but in NYC photographers have been printing with margins, and a wider margin on the bottom, and signing there. That gives the framer the option to cut the mat tight to the image area or leave a margin all around showing the signature.

Keep the signature small and inconspicuous, and select an ink color that works with the area you are signing.

Digital signing is generally frowned upon.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I have seen that method used as well here on West Coast.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

To me this makes the print look like a poster or a sales advertisement for the photographer more then a beautiful picture to hang on the wall. I like the shot though.
...Cam

Annie Loyd

Thanks I see what you mean..

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

There is no hard and fast rule, but for fine art prints the convention used for prints in general is the safest recommendation. Out side the print, on the paper not the mat, left|middle|right is Title, number of that print in the edition, e.g. 23/75, and your name. (The example has a variation. Not a grievous offense.)

For "popular art" prints, anything seems to go, even signing the work on the photo image itself. Not recommended.

(Download)

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

This looks pretty nice.
...Cam

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I like that approach. I have had a few buyers and recipients of gifts actually request that I sign them.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

If you are not signing personally and printing with a logo or watermark stop doing so as it devalues the print. Sign in lower corners and obscure enough to not be a distraction or better yet sign on the back of the image.

bleirer

Speaking as someone who has paid cash money to galleries for prints, mostly from Jackson Hole galleries where it is a 'vacation expense' I am willing to pay for prints signed and numbered by the photographer's actual hand. I prefer it to be within the image because I want the signature to be visible and that gives me more matting choices. I wouldn't buy a print with a digital signature unless I could hide it under the mat, but a real signature tells me the artist approved the final work and it just seems cooler and more collectable. So increase the value of your art by hand signing and numbering them.

And congrats on being out there showing your art to the world!

Abo

I think that's much too big.

Below is the about the size I use. You will need to "download"
and look in the lower left to see it.

Having said that I "sign" my work not
so much as to advertise but to assert copyright.

(Download)