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Author Topic: Signing prints?  (Read 8114 times)

marimagen

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Signing prints?
« on: October 01, 2015, 06:44:03 am »

Hi,
So far, I have been selling prints locally, and I always sign them at the back before framing. I have been thinking of selling some series abroad using printing services available there. Those prints, obviously, will not bear my signature. Should I have a different price for signed vs. unsigned prints?
Thanks in advance,
Marie

bcnartist.com
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BobShaw

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2015, 05:38:14 am »

I can't see the point of signing prints on the back at all. If they are framed then no one will see it. The best way to frame is to stick the print down so the signature will never be seen.

If you are famous then you probably would charge less for unsigned but if it's not on the front then I don't think a signature means much. Just my opinion.
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marimagen

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2015, 07:25:43 am »

 :) :) :) I see you point!
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jferrari

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2015, 08:47:18 am »

I can't see the point of signing prints on the back at all. If they are framed then no one will see it. The best way to frame is to stick the print down so the signature will never be seen.

If you are famous then you probably would charge less for unsigned but if it's not on the front then I don't think a signature means much. Just my opinion.

Sorry, Bob, but why bother? IMHO there is no sense in signing something if it will never be seen. If you are proud of your work - Sign It! Sign each print digitally. I use a custom brush in PS for this and for many of my clients as well. Simply put it on it's own layer so that it can be sized and have effects applied easily.      - Jim
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AreBee

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2015, 09:21:24 am »

jferrari,

Quote from: Bob
The best way to frame is to stick the print down so the signature will never be seen.

Quote from: jferrari
...why bother?

Provenance?
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Griffin86

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2015, 10:50:54 am »

I can't remember where I read this, but people see more sales of signed prints over not signed.

When I first selling my artwork occasionally someone would give me a disappointed look and ask that I sign it for them.
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Otto Phocus

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2015, 11:48:39 am »

When I first selling my artwork occasionally someone would give me a disappointed look and ask that I sign it for them.

Did you sign it on the front or the back?
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Otto Phocus

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2015, 11:50:03 am »

If you are proud of your work - Sign It! Sign each print digitally.

Will a digital signature layer mean the same thing to the customer?
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jdyrek

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2015, 12:41:17 pm »

There is an excellent discussion on this subject at the Online Photographer's site:

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2014/05/how-to-sign-photographs-part-4.html
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marimagen

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2015, 01:26:28 pm »

Great article, thank you!
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BobShaw

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2015, 03:43:29 pm »

Sorry, Bob, but why bother? IMHO there is no sense in signing something if it will never be seen.
Jim, that is what I said.

When a print is framed, you can't see the back of it.
Most framers will want to stick the print down, because then it can't sag.
Therefore to be of any value a signature needs to be on the front.
I sign my prints on the front.

Actually I usually sign the mat board, (which is also stuck down) because it is neater and takes pencil.
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jdyrek

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Signing prints
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2015, 06:45:55 pm »

I believe the practice of signing prints on the back stems from the preferred ( by galleries and museums ) archival method of attaching prints to the mat board by using a t-hinge. 
« Last Edit: October 06, 2015, 01:18:48 am by jdyrek »
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jferrari

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2015, 07:16:17 am »

Will a digital signature layer mean the same thing to the customer?

Perhaps not but comparing that to an unsigned print the customer will likely think that if you become famous some day that their art investment may increase in value if it has a signature on it. An actual, real handwritten signature would be best but may not always be practical.
« Last Edit: October 06, 2015, 07:25:32 am by jferrari »
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jferrari

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2015, 07:21:15 am »

jferrari,

Provenance?

What good is the provenance if you have to dismantle the package to view it? Take some pride in your work and sign it where it can readily be seen. Ford is proud of their products and prominently displays their logo on each auto they produce.
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Griffin86

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2015, 12:12:03 pm »

Did you sign it on the front or the back?

Front side, bottom right.
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Otto Phocus

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #15 on: October 06, 2015, 01:29:23 pm »

Ford is proud of their products and prominently displays their logo on each auto they produce.

Yes, but Ford is the corporation, not the people who actually built the car so it is not exactly the same thing we are talking about.
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BobShaw

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #16 on: October 06, 2015, 08:22:48 pm »

Yes, but Ford is the corporation, not the people who actually built the car so it is not exactly the same thing we are talking about.
No, Ford built the car. The employees have no intellectual rights in almost all cases. Even contractors have no IP rights unless specifically stated.
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eronald

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #17 on: October 14, 2015, 07:23:01 am »

No, Ford built the car. The employees have no intellectual rights in almost all cases. Even contractors have no IP rights unless specifically stated.

I always took the point of view that the modern customer expects a garish in-your-face signature on the image, or just below the image. Never had any protests from customers although other photographers showed their anger. I used white marker on some images, black on others.

Edmund
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framah

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #18 on: October 16, 2015, 09:47:43 am »

I've noticed over the years that more people  don't care about the signature and want it covered with the matting.  About 50-50 now. The biggest reason is that the white border distracrts from the art and they don't care about the signature just the overall feel of the art when I'm finished framing it.

But if you want to sign it, then, yes the preferred place is on the front.

As for the comment by jdyrek, let me refine that... it gets t-hinged to the board BEHIND the art, not to the back of the mat. No one with any time in framing would t-hinge art to the back of the mat.
The reason for that is in case someone opens the package and lifts the mat, there is more chance of the art being damaged than if it is hinged to the board behind it.
Another reason is that if the mat has been damaged, you only need to remove the old mat and place the new mat in the same place ... no need to do a complete remount of the art. If the new mat is cut properly, it will realign with the art.
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jdyrek

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Re: Signing prints?
« Reply #19 on: October 16, 2015, 11:34:16 pm »

Hi Framah,  you are exactly right.  When I was refering to the "mat" I was not being specific enough.  I think of the "mat" as being one thing that is made up of two pieces of the same material put together with linen tape.  The photograph is attached with a t-hinge to the back piece and the over mat frames the photograph.  There is a lot of material on this issue available on the internet, and I tried to find a link on this subject that I found informative but could not.  But there is no "right" answer, do what ever your gallery likes.
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