caring for your your print
What is an original print?
An original print is not a reproduction, or copy of anything else. Confusion arises because commercially printed reproductions of paintings, photographs or designs are often called ‘limited edition prints’. However they are often ‘limited’ to thousands of photographically produced copies of the same image, and if the artist has any involvement at all, it is only to sign them.

CELScotland Original prints are truly limited editions – sometimes as few as five copies. Each one has been hand printed by either the artist or a highly trained printer, using a manual press or screen-table, and hand-mixed inks. The image will have been conceived for printing, and use the qualities of the particular medium chosen – etching, lithography, screen print or relief print are the main techniques. If printed by a printer the artist will be involved in every stage of the process, from making and proofing the block or plate, to the mixing of colours and hand finishing of every print. The prints will be numbered (1/20,2/20,3/20 etc) according to the order in which they were printed, titled, dated and signed by the artist in pencil. (Pencil does not fade)

Best quality, acid-free, paper and archival inks are used so that the print will not fade or yellow (as long as properly handled, see below) and the colours remain constant. (Rembrandt’s etchings are often better preserved that his paintings)
An object of value
The price of these prints can seem high compared to the reproductions mentioned above. This is because they are closer to original paintings, and involve a great deal of skilled and patient work, building up layers of colour over several stages, for example, each colour being applied to the plate or block by hand, then carefully registered and printed on a hand-operated press. It also reflects the quality of the materials that they are made of – reproductions will fade and yellow in at best a few years.

While there is absolutely no reason for not buying a reproduction if you like the image and want to have it on the wall, you should be aware that it is not likely to be an investment that will increase in value as will an artist’s original.