TonyBot

What do *you* think? This is to settle a discussion. I hope.

(Please note: this is not about *signing* a print. It is assumed that to be a numbered edition, all prints will be signed.)

If I produce two sizes of the same print, say an 11x14 and a 16x20, and decide that they will be a "limited edition" print, wouldn't *all* of those prints, regardless of size, be numbered sequentially? For example: I make 2 - 11x14s and they would be numbers 1/xx and 2/xx, then I make 5 - 16x20s, then they should be 3/xx through 7/xx, and my next set of prints are 11x14s that would then be starting with 8/xx, etc. ALL prints in that case would add up to the "limited ... " total number. I could *not* have an uninterrupted run of 11x14s and a separate run of 16x20s - each with their own separate numbering sequence?

By extension, this would also include (for example), a paper print, a metal print, and then an acrylic print - all should then be numbered in their order of production in a sequential manner, not separately, and count towards the "#/xx" total?

(And a separate, but similar question: If there is an "artist proof", shouldn't they also be numbered? I have seen someone who would just label them as "AP" with no numbers. I was under the impression that artist proofs would be numbered like "(roman numeral)/x", and be limited to an absolute maximum total of ten, with five be preferable, and even less more desirable. ??? )

Wow! I hope you all understand my question.

T

ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile

Limited edition is ill defined. One edition could be 8x10 and another edition of the same picture could be
11x14 and another edition could be a B&W version of the same picture. In each case the
edition is numbered separately, not cumulatively. When I sell prints through galleries
some want the prints to be part of an edition and other galleries don't care one way or the other.
Unless you have a track record it is not going to matter much with regard to price.

BebuLamar

What do you mean by limited edition? You destroy the image file after printing?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Known artists number prints or works of art. For the average "art" person that is just presumptuous. And say you are a "beginner" and you start selling art prints as an unknown at say $25 for say your first several thousand prints of various photos and they were numbered. What to you now do, charge $250 for prints number #100 once you are collectible? Sure print #1 is then most valuable, but what good does that do you? You already sold it. Does not really make sense does it? Limited editions are for REALLY known artist. If then.

And yes, editions, with numbering would be by size.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

For me an edition is a specific size print. I usually make two different size prints from each of my series. For one series it is 10x13 and 14x18 and for another series they are 10x12 and 20x24. Photography is a bit more complicated than other media because of the ability of enlargement. When I took printmaking classes we always made editions. The prints in an edition all had to be on the same paper, with the same ink and tonal range.

Frankly artists proofs generally mean very little unless one is well known.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I know what he means, he just does not print or sell more. That is for known established artists.

Imogen Cunningham used to destroy negatives she did not like. And Lord Snowdon I heard wrapped his garbage with bad prints.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

The original purpose for limited editions was from traditional printmaking. Each type of printmaking (lithography, etching, silkscreen, etc.) had a certain number of prints that could be make before the print quality started to degrade. With photography, obviously you could make as many prints as you want and not lose any quality. So limited editions of photographs are an artificial way to charge more for the prints.

BebuLamar

And if it sells well he can then issue second limited edition by popular demand. In the days of film photography it's kind of difficult to make identical prints after a while although it's possible. With digital it's easy.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

As with inking a plate in print making, it can be difficult if not impossible to print two prints exactly the same in the darkroom. Editions often contain slight variances. If an image is known enough and has a definitive version then that version is generally the most valuable. For instance later prints of Adams Moonrise over Hernandez are often more valuable than earlier copies because of the darkened sky that has become the iconic version.

BebuLamar

Adams preferred darker prints later in his life but he kept good records of how he made his prints so I think he could make prints that are very close to ones made earlier but of course even him would have difficulty to exactly duplicate the dodging and burning in.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I think that would defeat the idea of "limited".

Unless you are someone famous, "limited edition" will be irrelevant to customers buying the print. They are not purchasing it as a collectors value investment, but simply because they like it.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

He had cataracts! He refused to get them removed. His assistants had to finally tell him when a print was "done."

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

To me do what you think is best

kensil

And that's what makes darkroom prints so special. Each print is a unique piece, made with the hands, eyes and heart of the photographer. 😎

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't think it matters much either way....

If an image is identical in all other ways, but offered in several sizes.... You could either treat them all as the same sequential series or number each size with its own sequence (though presumably you'd make the same total run of prints, either way).

Different renditions of an image... such as one in color and another in B&W or sepia or whatever.... I'd definitely consider and treat as separate series.

At least theoretically, an edition of prints would all be made at one time. For example, with an edition of 100 total, you wouldn't make 10 today, 10 more next year, etc. You'd make all 100 today and sell them over time.

"Artist's proofs" are usually early test prints that aren't numbered as part of the sequence. Those may or may not be destroyed, ultimately.

Ansel Adams' printing instructions are extremely detailed.... So much so that his heirs are able to make very accurate prints from them today. A photography instructor of mine was one of Adams' assistants.