Limited or Open Editions - how do I choose?

At some point early in your foray into producing reproductions of your work you will ask yourself this question...

Should I do Limited or Open Edition?

Like most things, the answer isn't always simple. The only thing you must do is make a decision and stick with it! You can't change a Limited Edition in any way once you've sold the first one! 

There are many ways your can present your reproductions and the choice will depend on you, your business plan, the artwork itself and your type of client.

Here are the different ways you can offer your fine art reproductions...

• Limited Edition - signed and numbered - digitally or by hand
• Numbered Edition - signed - Number and signature digitally or by hand
• Numbered Edition - unsigned - Number added digitally or by hand
• Remarque or Enhanced Edition - Extra work is done on top of the reproduction to enhance/personalise it.
• Open Edition - unsigned, unnumbered - typically offered any size, any media, used for anything an image can be printed on, like mugs, cushions, jigsaws etc.
• Timed Limited Edition - The edition is only available for sale for a set period of time - what you sell in that time, becomes the limit of the edition
• Artist’s Proofs - 10% of an edition - if the Edition is 100, you can sell 10 AP's
• Printer’s Proofs - 10% of an edition - if the Edition is 100, you can sell 10 PP's

Limited Edition Reproductions

• Limited by number, size, media - for example, you might say there are 100 only on either paper or canvas in one size only. You might limit them to an edition of 100 with mixed sizes on paper or canvas. My suggestion in most cases is limit the number, not the product or size. Let the client buy what suits their needs, within reason.
• Limited means a set number - Once you've sold that number no more will ever be produced.
• Hand signed or digitally signed - the choice is whatever is the most convenient.
• Always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• There are no specific rules - no LE Police-  you are limited by your integrity and respect for your clients.
• EXCEPTION - you might offer limited edition in one large size and open edition in smaller sizes. Provided this is advertised as such from the beginning, it is a perfectly fine option.
• The image is not used for anything else, ever. No calendars, mugs, postcards etc.

Numbered Edition - not limited

• No limit to how many you sell but each reproduction is numbered as in " NE 35 "
• It may or may not be signed but probably would be to add value - digitally or by hand
• Always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
• It can be a set size and media or a variety of options, as for limited editions.
• The image is not used for anything else, ever. No calendars, mugs, postcards etc.

Remarque or Enhanced Edition

• Extra artwork added post printing to the reproduction.
• Each work will be unique
• Editions may be lower due to the extra work involved
• Price should be higher to reflect the artist’s input
• Should be numbered and signed personally because you have it in front of you to do the work.
• Always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Open Edition

• Any size, any media, any quantity
• Reproductions, posters, coffee cups, placemats, splashback, curtains, anything!
• Not signed, not numbered
• Usually does not come with a COA but can if you really want to.
• Open edition means you could licence the image

 Timed Limited Edition

• Mostly the same as for Limited Edition but the work is only available for purchase for a set time frame. For example - After an intense marketing campaign driving traffic to order starting at a set time and date, finishing on a set time and date - typically only a few days to encourage haste.
• Once the sale period ends the edition consists of whatever you sold. If you sold 6, you order 6 reproductions, sign, number and dispatch them. If you sold 300, then the same thing goes - order sign, dispatch.
• You must have a huge following and be an excellent marketer for this to be a success.
• Always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Artist’s Proof

• Old school option, usually 10% of a print run when prints were done by the thousands at a time
• If an Edition sells out, you could offer 10% of the edition in addition as Artist’s proofs marked with the symbol A/P 1/10
• The AP may be a different size and only one media to make it stand out.
• Always comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Printer’s Proof

• Old school Option again - the printer would create proofs from plates etc and may keep those, perhaps have them signed by the artist and sell later
• The Printer’s Proof we create is the one we give to you. You can choose to call it what you want, keep it, sell it or give it away.
• It’s not really a thing with the way inkjet printing is done these days. Because our colour corrections are so accurate, our first proof is often the only proof. If we do a second, we destroy the first.
• Comes with a COA - could be signed by both the artist and the printer.

Which is more valuable Limted or Open?

• Honestly - the one that sells!
• It’s about how you market your work.
• It’s all about finding someone prepared to buy what you are selling regardless of the title
• Sure, some will like the exclusive factor
• Some will like the COA
• A few will be prepared to pay extra for Enhancements
• Some will be collectors
• Most will be regular people looking to decorate their home.

OK, So you've decided on a Limited Edition - what number should you choose?

• Back in the old offset days, it could be anywhere from 500 to 50,000 - The likes of Darcy Doyle, Kevin Best and Pro Hart did this.
• The most common number these days is 100 - you could be different and choose an odd number like 88 or 99 - really makes no difference.
• Fewer than 50 and you should consider raising the mark-up from 4 to 6 or more
• Fewer than 20 and the mark-up should be even more!
• Enhanced Editions are difficult to price due to the variable amount of extra work that may be applied but you gotta get paid for that - it's sometimes like painting another original!