How to sign/label your prints, properly?

[dewaun]

I'm looking for some website, book or something that shows me how to properly and professionally label and/or sign my prints.

Is there such a place? publication?

-AND- is there a difference in signing small (say, 4x6 to 5x7) prints and larger (say 8x10" to 16x20") prints/photos?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by dewaun

I'm looking for some website, book or something that shows me how to properly and professionally label and/or sign my prints.

Is there such a place? publication?

-AND- is there a difference in signing small (say, 4x6 to 5x7) prints and larger (say 8x10" to 16x20") prints/photos?

I use a custom brush for a adding the copyright symbol and my name. you can can the size by just changing the brush diameter.

The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby has the how to for setting up such a brush.

[johnastovall]

Oh, I should say for true signed prints I sign them with a hand written signature using a metalic fine point perminate marker and date it. This is in addition to the copy right notice.

Check my gallery for some of the custom brush examples.

[dewaun]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Check my gallery for some of the custom brush examples.

Wow, this is good info. I'll check the book out and go take a looksee at your site. Thanks again!

[adam7731]

This is the feed back i have gotten from a few shows.
People are buying the work they dont want the name on the print. Normally one would sign the matte and number it.

Back in the day we would put a peice of the negitive in the with the print when we sold it just to show that we are not going to print anymore images from that neg. Now with digital you really cant to something like that.

You can buy a label and stick it to the mount board of the print and then with a fine time sharpie sign the back of the print and number it to the front of the print, that is if it's a musuem mounted print. If it's not musuem mounted where it's taped to the mount board but instead it's dry mounted to the board then you put your sticker on the back of the board and sign it.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by adam7731

This is the feed back i have gotten from a few shows.
People are buying the work they dont want the name on the print. Normally one would sign the matte and number it.

Back in the day we would put a peice of the negitive in the with the print when we sold it just to show that we are not going to print anymore images from that neg. Now with digital you really cant to something like that.

You can buy a label and stick it to the mount board of the print and then with a fine time sharpie sign the back of the print and number it to the front of the print, that is if it's a musuem mounted print. If it's not musuem mounted where it's taped to the mount board but instead it's dry mounted to the board then you put your sticker on the back of the board and sign it.

I don't think any serious collector of prints (I have a rather nice collection of Allan Bean and Don Troiani was well as 19th century Japanese) would consider acepting anything not signed in "Block" or on the print.

That's my take as a collector. That's why I sign the actual print.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by dewaun

Wow, this is good info. I'll check the book out and go take a looksee at your site. Thanks again!

Here's a rather too large custom brush copyright and in the wrong place but I learning that day.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/galle...500&ppuser=932

[Gordon]

or if you are imogen cunningham you could just emboss your signature on to the matte

[jeffkohn]

That's my take as a collector. That's why I sign the actual print.

Front or back?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Front or back?

Front, I'm an egoist. The only thing I have in my collection signed on the back is a Georgia O'Keef which was a gift from her to my mother and it was signed on the back. This requires it to be (at least for me) to have a double glass mount so both the print and signature with the inscription can be seen.

[Wendy]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

The only thing I have in my collection signed on the back is a Georgia O'Keef which was a gift from her to my mother and it was signed on the back.

I assume you meant Georgia O'Keeffe. If so, WOW!!! How amazing to have that in your collection. She has always been one of my all time favorite artists.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Wendy

I assume you meant Georgia O'Keeffe. If so, WOW!!! How amazing to have that in your collection. She has always been one of my all time favorite artists.

You are correct. But the original Hiroshige is the crown jewel of my small collection.

http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/hiroshig...ws_edo_107.jpg

"Susaki and the Jumantsubo Plain near Fukagawa" from 100 Veiws of Edo.

[adam7731]

He was asking about photographic prints. Normally you dont sign a photographic print.
You sign the back of the print or the front of the matte.

canvas, unfinished papers, and such are different those are normally signed on the front. most collectors dont want it signed.

one other for the matte

and yet one for the mark or signing it on the back... It's all taste and what you like.

[dewaun]

adam,

thanks!

looks exactly like what I need to read.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by adam7731

He was asking about photographic prints. Normally you dont sign a photographic print.
You sign the back of the print or the front of the matte.

canvas, unfinished papers, and such are different those are normally signed on the front. most collectors dont want it signed.

one other for the matte

and yet one for the mark or signing it on the back... It's all taste and what you like.

That may have been what was wanted when "prints" actually had a geletin emulsion. But today an inkjet print is no different than any other fine art Giclee print. As for it being signed on the matt that makes for issues regarding conservation and provience as matts are for the most part considered disposable objects and a print may have many different matts over time. So if the mat is signed you are stuck keeping with the print to maintain he provience and that can be questionable since it could be put on another print.