BetterPhoto Q&A
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kathleenkparkerphotography.com - Kathleen K. Parker Contact Kathleen K. Parker Kathleen K. Parker's Gallery		What kind of pens to use to sign a photograph Hi Everyone, I am going to be in an art market show in one month-May 21. The head of the show has said that all photos must be signed by hand by the photographer and some should even be numbered. This is a first for me. I will be selling photos mostly,so not too many will be framed and matted. What kind of pen do I use to write on the photo? Where do I purchase that, too? They do not want a signature that is computer made. It has to be handwritten. I am not even sure where to put my name on the photo witout ruining the image! I appreciate any help anyone might give me.Thanks very much!!! Kathleen To love this question, log in above April 22, 2005

Dan Smith		Hello Kathleen...I am fairly new at this but I have used color sharp metalics perminent markers by roseart ...i got a 4 pack at wallmart for @ 5.00 it has a large side like a sharpie but the outher end has a fine point ... they work verry well...or I use a set of roller jell pens also a 4 pack the package said they were good for photos... they work well....also from walmart .... hope this helps... To love this comment, log in above April 22, 2005

kathleenkparkerphotography.com - Kathleen K. Parker Contact Kathleen K. Parker Kathleen K. Parker's Gallery		Hi DJ...you are a lifesaver!! I'll wing my way to Wallmart today!! Thanks so very much for your help and reply. I am learning a lot from being in this art market. What I am also learning is that they are suspicious of photos...at least the head honcho of this is. And I guess in the digital era, there is reason to be sometimes. I assured him all my work is MY work. But who is to say he believed me! He doesnt know me yet! What I have also learned is that you can digitally sign and date your photos on here, but if you want to sell them at such shows like I am in, you have to get rid of that digital text on the photo and sign by hand. Next, see what my artist friend in New Orleans said about this topic. Thansks again DJ!!! Kathleen ___________________________ LETTER I GOT RE. WHERE TO SIGN AND NUMBERING and how to handle photos as fine art...etc.. KK, You shouldn't sign on top of your image unless it's a really huge print. Try making your prints with a bit of white paper at the bottom, 1/2 inch or more, and sign on that. I have one of Chris Harris's prints, and it's a landscape image on vertical paper - half the paper is blank for the signature. He also wrote a personal message, so I guess that's why he printed it that way. What I'm trying to say is, leave enough room so YOUR signature looks good. Sharpies take on photo paper, and so do a number of markers only available in art supply stores. Numbers go according to the size of the edition. You decide up front that you are going to print only 50, 100, 500 prints off of a certain negative, and that is your edition. The smaller the edition, the more valuable the individual prints will ultimately be. Then, you make however many prints you are going to make (you can always make just a few and print others later) but when you've printed as many as you originally decided to print, you're done. You have to destroy or otherwise mutilate the negative. When lithographs or etchings are printed, many artists use an indelible stamp that says "withdrawn" and then they keep the plate, often they frame it for their own collections. What one does about a digital file, I don't know, but presumably you destroy it or put some mark on it. You never, ever make prints beyond the numbers of your edition, it's an honor thing. Maybe an artist proof or two. Here's how you number them. Say your edition is 100. You number your prints 1/100, 2/100, 3/100, etc. An artist's proof is A / P, just a couple. I never heard of any hard and fast rule about which side of the bottom holds the number and which the signature. You could always put the number and your signature together in the center of the bottom. It's an aesthetic thing, whatever feels good to you. Not like photojournalism or advertising, is it? It's the way prints of all kinds are handled as fine art. You might want to keep a record of an edition, writing down who buys which number. Don't make yourself crazy with all this. This is from Jeanne de la houssaye a New Orleans artist and a friend of mine. You might just want to also check out her work at http://www.mardidraw.com Thanks all, Kathleen To love this comment, log in above April 23, 2005

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