#CollectorEducation Series: Limited Edition Prints

Here at Art in Res we have a number of artists who offer Limited Editions Prints in addition to original paintings. If you find yourself wondering what a Limited Edition Print is, don’t fret, you are not alone!

We have partnered with one of our incredibly talented artists, Caroline Burdett to help break down what a Limited Edition print is; why they are perhaps more ‘affordable’ than an original painting, yet still valuable; and why they might be the perfect option for your budding collection.

A Limited Edition Print (LEP) is a high-quality reproduction of an original work of art that is printed in a limited number series or run.

A print, in this context, is a high-quality reproduction via a digital image file that has been printed on paper (or any other physical surface––but for the scope of this article we will just refer to on paper to keep it simple). Within this definition, an LEP can therefore be one of two possible sources:

1. A high-resolution digital photograph or scan taken of an original painting that is then printed on paper.
2. An original digital photograph that is then printed on paper.

Ok, got it––but what makes them Limited Edition, you ask? Great question. Limited, in this case, refers to the artist releasing a predefined number of prints at one specific size. Size refers to the dimensions of the printed image: an artist can sell a Limited Edition of 50 prints of an image at 18x24” and can also sell a Limited Edition of 25 prints of the same image at 24x30”.

An important note to make is that while traditional print techniques such as woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography are also inherently produced in limited editions, they are not discussed within this context or referred to in this manner. These traditional print-making techniques are original processes themselves and are therefore unique works of art that are produced in a limited run rather than an LEP which are copies of an original, unique work of art reproduced in a predetermined limited edition.

Why is this important? What does this mean for you, the collector? It means that the Limited Edition Print will, at minimum, retain its value over time. The LEP’s value will appreciate similarly to an original painting by the artist––meaning that if the value of the artist’s work increases over time, so will the value of the LEP.

To clarify, the limited quantity is important for retaining the prints value because you, the collector, are aware of the total number of prints in that edition ahead of purchase. If the print run limitation is not predefined, the artist could just continue to print the same image at the same size until the end of time––possibly producing thousands of copies. As we all know, the more copies of something available, the less value your specific copy becomes. By limiting the number of copies available for purchase, you are, at the very least, retaining its original sale value. This is why original paintings hold such inherent value, they are the only ones in existence!

An important and almost inevitable part of the printing process is something called “proofing the print”. A proof is a print that is produced during the pre-run process as a means of checking, or “proofing”, the color-correctness and scale of the print. These copies are made in addition to the actual edition prints––existing outside of the Limited Edition run––and are not intended for sale or included in the count of the edition. However, sometimes artists will make proofs of their prints available for purchase, but the print should always be labeled as such and functions similarly to a monoprint. These proof prints are used as a tool, a point of reference, for what colors might need to be tweaked in the image file so that the printed product is as similar to the original work as possible. Below, you can see two prints of Quarantine no. 29 by Caroline Burdett to illustrate how different the colors of a single work can come out from just a slight change in the image file. The cost of proofing a print is incurred by the artist.

Similar to original paintings, there are specific materials used and qualities defined in LEPs that provide more inherent value to the print. Here are some key words and qualities to look for that guarantee value in your LEP:

• Archival Quality: This ensures the print is not light-fast, aka won’t fade if the sun hits it.
• Non-Water-Soluble: This ensures the ink won’t run if somehow water hits the surface.
• Giclée: This is a type of digital, limited edition print that contains both of the qualities above at the highest possible print quality available. This is not to be confused with the poor quality of those college posters or other low-quality prints. Giclée printers use pigment-based inks rather than the dye-based inks that are found in lower-cost inkjets. The high quality and long lifespans of giclées ensure that the prints appreciate in value.

  Giclée prints are expensive simply because the technology and materials used to create these prints are expensive. The giclée print process is a slow and costly one––most giclée prints are produced one or two at a time.

• Numbering & Original Signature: The artist should sign each copy of the print and number them. The number of copies will always be shown on the print itself. For example, 17/50 means it is the Limited Edition Print, number 17 of 50.

In the end, a Limited Edition Print is a fantastic way of collecting original artwork at a budget friendly price while supporting artists. That’s a win-win in my book!

We hope you learned something new from this article and are excited for more #CollectorEducation to come! If this article raised more questions for you than it answered, that’s ok too. We encourage you to reach out to us directly with any follow up questions you may have. We’d love to hear from you! You can message Mel Reese directly at mel@artinres.com or @melaniereese on Instagram.