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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Should I sign my name on prints that I sell?
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 04/15/2006 08:57:55 PM · #1
I'm trying to get some prints together to do a small show to sell some of my work. On framed shots I'm just signing the matte below the picture. But what if a buyer wants the photo unframed? Do I just sign the photo in the corner or leave it alone? What have you guys done? Thanks alot.
 04/15/2006 09:00:24 PM · #2
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
I'm trying to get some prints together to do a small show to sell some of my work. On framed shots I'm just signing the matte below the picture. But what if a buyer wants the photo unframed? Do I just sign the photo in the corner or leave it alone? What have you guys done? Thanks alot.


I would sign it with a copyright sign, otherwise they can take it to any photo place say it's their own and make copies and resell them.

Deannda
Never lets anything out of her sight without a copyright and name on it
 04/15/2006 09:02:44 PM · #3
Originally posted by Neuferland:
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
I'm trying to get some prints together to do a small show to sell some of my work. On framed shots I'm just signing the matte below the picture. But what if a buyer wants the photo unframed? Do I just sign the photo in the corner or leave it alone? What have you guys done? Thanks alot.


I would sign it with a copyright sign, otherwise they can take it to any photo place say it's their own and make copies and resell them.

Deannda
Never lets anything out of her sight without a copyright and name on it

Yeah, already had that idea. Thanks though, good point. Are you saying to sign the unframed picture on the actual print though? Who's Deannda?

Message edited by author 2006-04-15 21:03:21.
 04/15/2006 09:44:07 PM · #4
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
I'm trying to get some prints together to do a small show to sell some of my work. On framed shots I'm just signing the matte below the picture. But what if a buyer wants the photo unframed? Do I just sign the photo in the corner or leave it alone? What have you guys done? Thanks alot.

Fine art prints, just like paintings, should be hand signed by the artist. You don't see painters signing the frame, do you? :)
04/15/2006 10:00:36 PM · #5
I sign the actual print with a metallic ink gold pen

B Collings '06

You can use initials, alias or any mark that is unique to you. That's enough to legally establish your copyright. As Steve says, just like a painting. I think the (c) symbol is a bit naff in that context and not required by law anyway.

Brett
 04/15/2006 10:03:05 PM · #6
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
Originally posted by Neuferland:


I would sign it with a copyright sign, otherwise they can take it to any photo place say it's their own and make copies and resell them.

Deannda
Never lets anything out of her sight without a copyright and name on it

Yeah, already had that idea. Thanks though, good point. Are you saying to sign the unframed picture on the actual print though? Who's Deannda?


I'm Deannda and I usually add a post it note to the end of my posts. Any work you sell should have your name on it, on the front, in view. When I was doing a Christmas shoot at a pet store we were printing up the proofs on site and one lady asked that we not put our name on the proof. I told her that nothing went out of that shop without my name on it, it's my copyright, my picture and sorry, but no, it had to have that on it. She got all huffy and turned to her husband and said, "Well GREAT! Now we can't take it to Wegman's and get it scanned and put the copies in the Christmas cards like we planned!"

I made the copyright just a little bigger on those proofs so there was no way she could crop it out and still use the shot. And told her should she wish to order additional proofs the print would be much smaller.

Deannda
04/15/2006 10:05:07 PM · #7
my boss (who charges $500 for an 8x10) signs them too with a plain old sharpie(no copyright)... although I like the metallic idea much better

edit to say he has a coyright stamped in seveal paces on back of the print...

Message edited by author 2006-04-15 22:05:50.
 04/15/2006 10:37:31 PM · #8
Originally posted by KiwiPix:
I sign the actual print with a metallic ink gold pen

I do the same thing with a metalic silver sharpie. Great minds... ;)
 04/15/2006 11:56:19 PM · #9
Do you use one of those special "archival, photo-safe" pens, or are all pens "photo-safe"?
 04/16/2006 12:40:37 AM · #10
I've got my first shots for sale in a gallery right now and all are signed in metallic silver sharpie. I figure it is the same as when I have done original paintings, they come from my hard work and creativity and should have my mark permanently on them, not just on the mat or frame.

Plus, if you sell them and a limited number are signed, they generally get higher prices.
 04/16/2006 06:07:11 AM · #11
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Originally posted by KiwiPix:
I sign the actual print with a metallic ink gold pen

I do the same thing with a metalic silver sharpie. Great minds... ;)

Maybe, but I've never tested if it can be simply wiped off with something ... lol

Message edited by author 2006-04-16 06:07:41.
 04/16/2006 07:32:33 AM · #12
A little bit off the point but you might be the guys to ask. My wife and I use to exhibit photos(years ago) in galleries (signed on the bottom corner in silver) of prints we did ourselves - film - therefore darkroom printing. I have only come into digital in the last 5 months. Have done some personel printing (on a Canon S820 printer) but nothing for others. My question is - do you guys do your own printing or send it out? If you do your own - what sort of printer do you use ?
 04/16/2006 11:00:53 AM · #13
Originally posted by hankk:
Do you use one of those special "archival, photo-safe" pens, or are all pens "photo-safe"?


I bought two of the "photo writting" pens(gold and silver) to sign my photos with and have found that they dont write on the front of the photo at all! I have the metalic silver sharpie but have never used it to sign anything yet (it was bought to sign our DVDs to keep people that borrow them from saying it was thiers). thanks for sharing that its used for this. I will definately be using the sharpie from now on. It shouldnt wipe off as its a permanete marker and if you get a photo wet the photo will also wipe off.
 04/16/2006 11:36:29 AM · #14
Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:
It shouldnt wipe off as its a permanete marker and if you get a photo wet the photo will also wipe off.

Only (most) inkjet prints will smear with water -- if you have actual photographic prints made (e.g. on Fuji or Noritsu photo printers) at Costco, Ritz, or any of the many internet photo sites (e.g. DPC Prints), they are processed through aqueous chemical solutions, and will probably survive getting wet without smearing the image, though the paper may buckle or delaminate.

Sharpies and other permanent inks can usually be removed with an ammonia-based solvent, though probably not from a photo without damaging the image.
 04/16/2006 11:55:55 AM · #15
I wouldn't put a copyright notice on any fine art prints, instead, what I do is sign either the bottom right corner of the print with archival acid free ink or sign the matt, the latter being my prefered option. Just my 2 cents.

June
 04/16/2006 11:56:02 AM · #16
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:
It shouldnt wipe off as its a permanete marker and if you get a photo wet the photo will also wipe off.

Only (most) inkjet prints will smear with water -- if you have actual photographic prints made (e.g. on Fuji or Noritsu photo printers) at Costco, Ritz, or any of the many internet photo sites (e.g. DPC Prints), they are processed through aqueous chemical solutions, and will probably survive getting wet without smearing the image, though the paper may buckle or delaminate.

Sharpies and other permanent inks can usually be removed with an ammonia-based solvent, though probably not from a photo without damaging the image.

Here is something for the "for what its worth" department...

I have an Epson inkjet printer that uses their UltraChrome inks on which I sign prints using a silver metalic Sharpie shortly after printing. I just took a damp sponge to a print and there was no smearing or removal of either the Sharpie signiture or the print inks. So it looks like they are reasonably durable. Prints come out of it pretty much dry to the touch but I "cure" them for about 24 hours before framing.
 04/16/2006 12:10:05 PM · #17
Originally posted by stdavidson:
I have an Epson inkjet printer that uses their UltraChrome inks on which I sign prints using a silver metalic Sharpie shortly after printing. I just took a damp sponge to a print and there was no smearing or removal of either the Sharpie signiture or the print inks. So it looks like they are reasonably durable. Prints come out of it pretty much dry to the touch but I "cure" them for about 24 hours before framing.

It's true that Epson has had some success at making water-resistant prints, and I'm sure that there will be continued improvements in this area as the technologies advance and mature. I personally just prefer the photo prints anyway, and not having to deal with calibration or refill issues or paper jams.
 04/16/2006 12:24:45 PM · #18
I don't sell prints - but why don't you scan a sig (or use a tablet) and photoshop the sig on the corner of the print itself (or add a white border and put it there if you don't want it on the pic itself)?? Seems permenant, easier and would as long as the image itself.

Message edited by author 2006-04-16 12:26:22.
 04/16/2006 12:29:38 PM · #19
If you are concerned about archival quality, then make sure you use a pen that is archival safe. You can buy these at art & craft stores, or anywhere that they sell scrapbooking materials.
I personally would use an archival safe pen. If you, or someone who buys your print, cherish it years from now, you wouldn't want an acidic pen to have ruined the corner of it.

Message edited by author 2006-04-16 12:30:16.
 04/16/2006 12:38:43 PM · #20
Originally posted by robs:
I don't sell prints - but why don't you scan a sig (or use a tablet) and photoshop the sig on the corner of the print itself (or add a white border and put it there if you don't want it on the pic itself)?? Seems permenant, easier and would as long as the image itself.

Welllll... that would be like Picasso using an ink stamp to sign his pictures.

People want real signitures by the artist on their purchased artwork. They would consider it cheapened and impersonal with an electronic signiture. Not to mention that it provides print authenticity. Fine art photography is no different from any other artform in that regard.

Message edited by author 2006-04-16 12:40:38.
 04/16/2006 12:41:22 PM · #21
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Originally posted by robs:
I don't sell prints - but why don't you scan a sig (or use a tablet) and photoshop the sig on the corner of the print itself (or add a white border and put it there if you don't want it on the pic itself)?? Seems permenant, easier and would as long as the image itself.

Welllll... that would be like Picasso using an ink stamp to sign his pictures.

People want real signitures by the artist on their purchased artwork. They would consider it cheapened and impersonal with an electronic signiture. Fine art photography is no different from any other artform in that regard.


Okay - Fair enough - You mean Picasso didn't use rubber stamps for the artwork too? :-). It would not bother me either way, so was just thinking not using a pen at all.....
 04/16/2006 01:24:32 PM · #22
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Originally posted by robs:
I don't sell prints - but why don't you scan a sig (or use a tablet) and photoshop the sig on the corner of the print itself (or add a white border and put it there if you don't want it on the pic itself)?? Seems permenant, easier and would as long as the image itself.

Welllll... that would be like Picasso using an ink stamp to sign his pictures.

People want real signitures by the artist on their purchased artwork. They would consider it cheapened and impersonal with an electronic signiture. Not to mention that it provides print authenticity. Fine art photography is no different from any other artform in that regard.

Well, there's an issue about whether they're buying a "work of art" or a "print" isn't there? If the print I sell is the same one the customer can order themselves from DPC Prints -- where I never even see the product before it's shipped -- I don't see that adding my ink signature should change the value of the work all that much.

If you were hand-printing and custom dodging/burning each print from a negative it would make more sense, but with today's machine-made prints I tend to consider these images more along the lines of poster-prints than "original" art pieces, and I typically print the copyright info in the border where it can be displayed or matted-out as desired.

Message edited by author 2006-04-16 13:25:33.
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