| A Limited Edition Art Print is a reproduction of an | | | | the "original print-making" process where the artist |
| original painting,drawing or other two-dimensional piece | | | | actually hand-creates each print.) |
| of art work. "Limited Edition" refers to a setnumber of | | | | In addition to a fixed number of edition prints, there |
| replicas of a work of art. Each reproduction is then | | | | may also exist "AP" prints and |
| signed and numberedby the Artist for authenticity. | | | | "HC" prints. AP prints refer to Artist Proofs. Artist |
| The practice of limiting editions and numbering proofs | | | | Proofs also date back to earlyprinting methods. These |
| dates back to early printingtechniques -- when the | | | | were the first images off the press -- used to |
| quality of the printed images declined as the printer | | | | determineinkcoverage and general quality. As they |
| platesbegan to show evidence of wear. By limiting an | | | | were the first pieces to be printed, they |
| edition to the best examples of anartist's work, the | | | | weretraditionally considered to be more valuable. AP |
| artist protected both his or her artistic integrity and the | | | | prints are signed and numberedseparately from the |
| value ofthe work to the potential collector. Printing | | | | main edition. HC prints, or Hors De Commerce (not for |
| methods have since advancedconsiderably and | | | | trade)prints, are marked by the artist as prints to be |
| editions are now often limited for financial reasons. By | | | | used for business practice: such assamples, display |
| ensuringthe relative rarity of the artist's work, he or she | | | | only, etc. Occasionally there are also PP or Printers |
| increases its value. (Two-dimensional reproductions are | | | | Proofs. Theserefer to the very few proofs which are |
| often referred to as prints, and the terms will beused | | | | given to the printer responsible for printingthe work. |
| here interchangeably. This is not to be confused with | | | | |