To be as transparent as possible, I would highly recommend that you read through this page before you make a purchase. It reveals valuable information regarding "Open Edition Prints" vs my "Premium Limited Edition Art Prints.

What is an “Open Edition Art Print”?

The Open Edition Art Prints are printed, packaged, and shipped directly to you by my print provider. These types of prints are not signed by me and are generally less expensive. When you arrive at the pages for purchasing, you will see they are generally available in a variety of select sizes, mediums, and finishing options.

I have carefully prepared files for the printer that adhere to quality standards that fit my needs and the needs of my print provider. Tests have been made and approved to facilitate that the quality meets my demands and matches my expectations.

I do not have the facilities to produce metal prints or acrylic prints or provide stretched canvas gallery wraps. Framing and matting options are also available through the purchase of an open-end edition print. Sales of these open edition prints are all considered final. Returns or refunds are not available.

What is a “Premium Limited Edition Art Print”?

All of my Premium Limited Edition Art Prints are printed by me. They are titled, numbered, and signed and a certificate of authenticity is also provided. Much more information about how they are printed is available in the section titled “FAQ’s Regarding General Production”. Currently, they are only available as prints on 100% cotton smooth surface archival acid-free art paper called “Moab Estrada Bright Rag”. Upon receipt, it is best to take it to a qualified professional picture framer near where you live. This will allow you to have total control over the “look” of the final piece. I have made them available here is some popular sizes, but custom sizes can be ordered if you contact me directly.

I want you to be totally happy with your purchase. So much so, that with a “Premium Limited Edition Art Prints” purchase I am allowing for returns if you are not happy. There are some requirements though. If you are not happy with your purchase, you must contact me before 15 days from the date of delivery. Please keep in mind that a 7% “Restocking Fee” will be applied, as discussed on my page regarding shipping, returns, refunds, or exchanges. This 7% will be deducted from your original print purchase price. It will be your responsibility to re-package the print and ship it back to me insured. Once I receive the returned print I will credit your purchasing credit card for the original purchase amount minus the 7% “restocking fee”. Any applicable sales taxes will be refunded also.

Can you shed some light on the early beginnings of “limited edition prints”?

Traditionally limited edition prints created from a “work of art” were an artist’s option to designate and authenticate that only so many reproductions were made from it. Historically, early stone lithography, linocuts, mono-prints, etchings, etc. were popular art reproduction mediums. The plate was inked. A print was pulled and the “plate” would be re-inked for each successive print.

It was an accepted practice that the artist would make “Artist Proofs” until the plate was perfected to the artist’s taste. The artist would then proceed to print and number each successive print. After so many prints the artist would deem the plate to be “worn out” and the reproductions would no longer be acceptable to the artist. It was considered a normal process for the artist to destroy the plate and no more prints would be made from it. Thus, making the edition limited.

“Low Numbered” prints were the rage back when prints were made from these earliest plate printing processes. As a result of the plate “wearing out” as the print run proceeded, it was popularly believed that these “Low Numbered” print were more valuable.

With modern digital photographic printing, limited edition printing continues to be a superb and accepted reproduction practice. However, the concept of a “worn out” plate does not apply. “Low Numbered" photographic prints are not considered to be any better in quality or value than any successive numbered print. Some photographers may argue that higher-numbered prints may be better as a result of a continued push toward excellence and making aesthetic improvements to each successive print or printing session.

Why are you releasing the same images as an open-end edition print and a premium limited edition print art print?

If you are new to art collecting, the answer to this question can be daunting and controversial at the same time. A seasoned art collector would most likely demand some knowledge regarding the validity of a limited edition, how it was created, and how many prints were made. This type of client demand is usually reserved for the high-end market.

Concerning my print reproductions, both the open end editions and the premium limited edition art prints, are all reproduced digitally at this time. The biggest difference in the two editions is that “open edition” prints are not signed by me. They are available in several mediums that I cannot produce, such as metal or acrylic. Each is printed, packaged, and shipped directly to you from my print provider and is generally available at a lower price than my premium limited edition art prints.

You may find that some of my open edition prints are also available as a premium limited edition art print. So…. You might ask, why both?  Historically speaking many of my images were originally released as a limited edition. I wanted to continue with that tradition. To be brief, my “premium limited edition art prints” are printed, produced, packaged, and shipped under my direct supervision, from my studio in Bellingham, Washington. They are signed, numbered, and titled by me and a certificate of authenticity comes with the print. At this time They are priced slightly higher than the “open edition” prints. They are available in archival paper and canvas mediums only. Custom sizes beyond those noted as available can also be purchased if you contact me directly.

How can I be assured that what I am seeing on my monitor will be similar to what I receive?

You should be aware of the fact that not all monitors show images equally. I work in a color-managed environment (technical speak for high-end color matching). This helps to assure that what I see on my color-calibrated (to a specific standard) monitor simulates, within a specific degree of certainty, what the print will appear as on a specified media that I choose to print on. You may find that the print you ordered may look different than what you see on your monitor

Periodically, I also send images to my print provider for testing to make sure we are “on the same page”. I can report from my own experience that if you happen to own an iPhone, these new monitors are fairly accurate feats of engineering. If you set your monitor brightness in the “middle-range” and display the image featured on my website, it is a fairly accurate representation of what your print will look like when you receive it. Please keep in mind that poor display lighting can make the print “feel” dark. Likewise, if the print is viewed with excessively bright lights It may “feel” slightly on the light side.