Do all artists make limited edition prints?

No. Although most successful artists make prints of some description. Artists, whose paintings are very highly priced often have a similar image available in a print medium for those who could not obtain the original painting.

Why are limited edition prints better than posters or reproductions?

They are completely different products. A limited edition is usually an artist’s drawing made by his own hand and then replicated with a printmaker in a small and limited quantity. The artist collaborates with the printmaker to help and control the quality of the work being printed. When the edition has been signed and numbered (by the artist) the plates are destroyed or cancelled (so that no more prints can ever be made). Berkeley Editions Fine Art Limited Editions are always printed on the highest quality acid free paper and, with proper care, can last for hundreds of years. In contrast, a poster or reproduction can be done by anybody who pays for the copyright to use it. The image can be printed in very large and uncontrolled numbers and often in variable qualities. They rarely have any significant resale value, are almost always unsigned and can deteriorate rapidly if not on archival paper.

Are limited edition prints really a good investment?

Limited edition prints are handmade, numbered and signed by the artist unlike mass produced prints or posters. Collecting limited editions is a fast growing area of the art investment market. All art objects are prone to some risk in terms of investment. That risk can be minimized by buying prints by artists who have a high reputation and are fairly well established or of an iconic nature.

How do I look after limited editions prints?

The Fine Art limited editions published by Berkeley Editions are printed on 100% rag paper which is archival and acid free. The inks are the highest quality and light fast, which means that the inks are stable. However, limited editions should never be hung in direct sunlight. The Limited Editions should not be rolled for long period of time and framing is the best preservation. If not framed, the limited editions should be kept flat between acid-free paper in a box or portfolio and in a dry place. When framing, the limited editions must be mounted with all acid free materials. The image surface should never be in direct contact with glass, so a generous border should separate the two. Do not hang the limited edition in direct sunlight. If placing in a brightly lit room, it is advisable to use UV glass. Choose a position that is damp free as the Limited Edition will absorb moisture, that may cause foxing or mould. Please ensure the hanging arrangement is sufficient to hold a substantial weight.

What is meant by ‘acid free’ paper?

The papers used by printmakers are specifically made by papermakers to have a ‘neutral’ acidity, whereas almost all everyday paper such as newsprint or copy paper has a natural acid content. This acid content leads to browning, brittleness and eventual disintegration. The acid free papers, however, show no such features, even after many years.

Are all the prints signed by the artist?

Yes. The artist always signs each print, usually in pencil, on the bottom right hand side of the print. The edition size and number are usually written on the left hand side and the title of the image in the middle. Artists only sign off a print when they are totally satisfied with the image and the print itself. This means that the signature is both a sign of authenticity and also a sign of the artist’s approval.

How do I store and/or frame my limited edition prints?

The prints should not be rolled for long period of time and framing is the best preservation. If not framed, the prints should be kept flat between acid-free paper in a box or portfolio and in a dry place.

What is the difference between hand made and digital prints?

Computer generated images and digital printing is new and some artists are using them to make limited edition prints. Most artists will continue to use mediums such as etching because of its astonishing sensitivity to the papers involved and because each print is an artwork in itself and collectable. No two are completely the same.