Selling prints

Hi there.

I have some questions concerning selling prints. I've started doing this
with some modest success, at local shows in Toronto, and have been asked a
few questions for which I have no answers!

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.
2. If you are doing a numbered set, what do you see as a reasonable number -
20-30 comes to mind, but I really don't have any idea how to go about this.
3. Do you find folks price less for giclée as opposed to traditional
printing methods?
4. Are you using any specific factor - beyond the cost of materials - to
determine the difference between unframed and framed versions?

I'd appreciate any opinions, experiences you can provide.

Thanks!
Chris Hutcheson
Chrishutcheson.com

Chris Hutcheson wrote:

Hi there.

I have some questions concerning selling prints. I've started doing this
with some modest success, at local shows in Toronto, and have been asked a
few questions for which I have no answers!

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.
2. If you are doing a numbered set, what do you see as a reasonable number -
20-30 comes to mind, but I really don't have any idea how to go about this.

What you're talking about here is a "limited edition". Generally, the
smaller the edition, the higher the price. Some artists do a small
edition and charge a high price, others prefer to charge less but make
the run larger. I've seen editions as small as 8 and as high at 1,500.
The people looking for signed and numbered prints are looking for the
value to increase because of the rarity of the prints. You do realize
that if you do this, when you reach the end of the run that you cannot
ever print the image again in order for the edition to have any value at
all to collectors? In fine art limited editions, the plates made from
the painting and used to create the prints are physically destroyed.
Some photographers do something similar by destroying the negative used
to produce a limited edition. You can't be tempted to print the image
again if you don't have the negative.

--
Angela M. Cable
Paint Shop Pro 9 Private Beta Tester
Neocognition, digital scrapbooking source:
http://www.neocognition.com/

PSP Tutorial Links:
http://www.psplinks.com/

5th Street Studio, free graphics, websets and mo
http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/alaia/354/

Chris Hutcheson wrote:

Hi there.

I have some questions concerning selling prints. I've started doing this
with some modest success, at local shows in Toronto, and have been asked a
few questions for which I have no answers!

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.
2. If you are doing a numbered set, what do you see as a reasonable number -
20-30 comes to mind, but I really don't have any idea how to go about this.

What you're talking about here is a "limited edition". Generally, the
smaller the edition, the higher the price. Some artists do a small
edition and charge a high price, others prefer to charge less but make
the run larger. I've seen editions as small as 8 and as high at 1,500.
The people looking for signed and numbered prints are looking for the
value to increase because of the rarity of the prints. You do realize
that if you do this, when you reach the end of the run that you cannot
ever print the image again in order for the edition to have any value at
all to collectors? In fine art limited editions, the plates made from
the painting and used to create the prints are physically destroyed.
Some photographers do something similar by destroying the negative used
to produce a limited edition. You can't be tempted to print the image
again if you don't have the negative.

--
Angela M. Cable
Paint Shop Pro 9 Private Beta Tester
Neocognition, digital scrapbooking source:
http://www.neocognition.com/

PSP Tutorial Links:
http://www.psplinks.com/

5th Street Studio, free graphics, websets and mo
http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/alaia/354/

Thanks for your response, Angela, and yes, I'm aware of the constraints. At
the moment I'll be surprised - pleasantly - if I hit 30!

Cheers
Chris

Chris Hutcheson wrote:

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.

Given the mechanical nature of photography, and the fact that (using digital
technology) it's quite possible to make unlimited prints from one image,
I've always found the idea of limited-edition prints to be both pretentious
and cynically money-grubbing. But there you go...

--
@+

Chris Hutcheson wrote:

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.

Given the mechanical nature of photography, and the fact that (using digital
technology) it's quite possible to make unlimited prints from one image,
I've always found the idea of limited-edition prints to be both pretentious
and cynically money-grubbing. But there you go...

--
@+

In article , srm wrote:

Chris Hutcheson wrote:

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.

Given the mechanical nature of photography, and the fact that (using digital
technology) it's quite possible to make unlimited prints from one image,
I've always found the idea of limited-edition prints to be both pretentious
and cynically money-grubbing. But there you go...

Yes and no. Limited editions are a good way of finding more buyers
because few buyers are going pay 2,600 for a single print. Where as if
you sell say 25 prints at 100 each its more likely you will find the
buyers. If you sell one print and can command 2,600 more power to you.
Of course its a work related issue and I would certainly rather sell one
print at 2600.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:09:24 -0500, Chris Hutcheson
wrote:

Hi there.

I have some questions concerning selling prints. I've started doing this
with some modest success, at local shows in Toronto, and have been asked a
few questions for which I have no answers!

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.
2. If you are doing a numbered set, what do you see as a reasonable number -
20-30 comes to mind, but I really don't have any idea how to go about this.
3. Do you find folks price less for giclée as opposed to traditional
printing methods?
4. Are you using any specific factor - beyond the cost of materials - to
determine the difference between unframed and framed versions?

I'd appreciate any opinions, experiences you can provide.

Thanks!
Chris Hutcheson
Chrishutcheson.com


The people who have run l.imited editions of their work and have made
a lot of money are usually people who hand printed their own work.
What this tells the client is that the image has been reproduced
exactly the way the artist saw it. I was at the Center for Creative
Photography and read a correspondence between Ansel Adams and another
photographer (I can't remember who right now-it's late) and he was
jacking up the other photographer for selling his prints for more than
$100 each because the photographer was able to print more than one at
a time.

Now, of course, Ansel's prints go for over $45,000 a piece, no matter
how many were printed at that time.

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:09:24 -0500, Chris Hutcheson
wrote:

Hi there.

I have some questions concerning selling prints. I've started doing this
with some modest success, at local shows in Toronto, and have been asked a
few questions for which I have no answers!

1. What are folks opinions about numbering prints? It comes up frequently,
so it seems to be of interest to potential buyers.
2. If you are doing a numbered set, what do you see as a reasonable number -
20-30 comes to mind, but I really don't have any idea how to go about this.
3. Do you find folks price less for giclée as opposed to traditional
printing methods?
4. Are you using any specific factor - beyond the cost of materials - to
determine the difference between unframed and framed versions?

I'd appreciate any opinions, experiences you can provide.

Thanks!
Chris Hutcheson
Chrishutcheson.com


The people who have run l.imited editions of their work and have made
a lot of money are usually people who hand printed their own work.
What this tells the client is that the image has been reproduced
exactly the way the artist saw it. I was at the Center for Creative
Photography and read a correspondence between Ansel Adams and another
photographer (I can't remember who right now-it's late) and he was
jacking up the other photographer for selling his prints for more than
$100 each because the photographer was able to print more than one at
a time.

Now, of course, Ansel's prints go for over $45,000 a piece, no matter
how many were printed at that time.

In article ,
McLeod wrote:

Now, of course, Ansel's prints go for over $45,000 a piece, no matter
how many were printed at that time.

Some do, not all. Some are more some less,...it depends.

--
LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President,
or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong,
is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable
to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918