I have been having a wonderful email discussion with renowned artist Joy Engelman lately about Limited Editions and her thoughts on the process. She has kindly allowed me to share some of those thoughts with you.

Our discussion came about after Joy placed an order for 10 artist’s proofs. AP’s are rare these days because of the  apart from the one we do for you when we copy your original, which technically speaking I guess is the Printer’s Proof. So, why did Joy order them?

The answer was a clever one, from a marketing point of view…

“Traditionally, an artist can pull as many AP’s as they like and use for their own purposes. In the days of the etching press, they were used for adjustments to the plate but also for promotional purposes to galleries and dealers. Nowadays we can still call the first print that you send to us an AP as we adjust the colour from that but we also still  need to be able to have small runs to promote our works. In the past they were always the same size of course due to the constraints of the technology. 

I spoke with Joy about the “rules” for Limited Editions and the fact that in the last 13 years of searching, I’ve found no definitive source or set of rules that must be adhered to, it seems to be the responsibility of the artist to decide on a method that works for them.

Joy says “Oh I think in the interests of the collector, someone sometime might have tried to make an arbitrary rule, but I am all for the artist being able to make the rules otherwise where would anarchy be? But at the end of the day, an artist can always make a second edition of another run of prints if they wish.
For me, I like to keep it simple with one on paper at a good size and one on canvas at the original size with an edition of 49 of each size, signed, editioned and stamped with my mark. I keep the CofA’s in a folder to give to my children should there be a need for someone somewhere after I die to certify that the print is indeed one of mine.
But I am not even sure in the scheme of things if anyone will be really interested – life being as it is in Oz and a ‘very young’ culture in the European sense.
While everyone is running around putting systems, schemes, rules and order into place, it is the role of the artist to undermine it all and create chaos!”

“At Jayes Gallery, Orange, there are on show 5 x first edition Francisco Goyas and at Bathurst Regional they are exhibiting fifth edition Goyas. Hmmm…….
You can tell the difference by the quality of the first pull and also the artist’s markings on the works and the type of paper…. All these things add to the story and hence respective values if these survivors of time and history.

It is a minefield out there and l love it!”

Thanks Joy, love our chats!

For more information on Limited Editions, see our  other post – Limited Or Open Editions – Which to Choose”

Let’s be really honest here… If you want to completely protect your artwork or photography from being copied or stolen by someone you should…

•  never  post it online to your blog, website or social media page,
• never make and sell a print of it,
• and keep your computer, backup drives where the images are stored and the cards from your camera locked in a hidden safe where nobody can steal them,
• never display your artwork anywhere for fear that someone can wander up to it with a camera or iphone and snap a shot of it.
• and seriously, DON’T EVER SELL ANYTHING TO ANYONE BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL COPY IT OVER AND OVER AND MAKE MILLIONS FROM IT AND YOU WILL MISS OUT.
• Better still, the ultimate protection… Don’t ever create any images at all.

That all sounds a bit ridiculous doesn’t? You are in the image business, you are producing images for people to see and purchase. At some point as an artist or photographer you have to decide to display your images to be able to sell them and make a living. If you are smart, you will use all means at your disposal to show off your wares, things like Facebook, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram, blogs and websites – they are integral parts of most businesses today.

You need not be afraid to show off your images but there are some things you can do to minimise the risk. Each method has it’s pros and cons, it’s up to you to decide what works for you. Here are a few ways to protect the images you display online and the reasons why most don’t work.

Copyright –  

There is no way to register your image as copyright under Australian Copyright Law – it is yours for free and automatic the moment you create the work. However, protecting that copyright can be expensive if you find someone using your image without permission and you decide to take them to court. Australian Copyright Law is all well and good in Australia and the other countries that follow the same conventions but there are those other places around the world that simply do not recognise copyright and will use your image without fear of reprisal. Essentially, copyright law will only work with honest people.

If you find someone using your images online, without permission you can send them a “Cease and Desist” email or if they are in the USA, a DMCA takedown notice. If that doesn’t work, things could  start to get expensive, involving the legal eagles.

Make them more difficult to steal from your site - 

There are various methods you can employ to make it more difficult such as disabling the ‘right-click’ option on each page of your website or blog (doesn’t work on social media sites), adding a translucent layer over the top of all images in the HTML code or splitting every image in to multiple segments that look like one image on your screen. It doesn’t matter which of these systems you use, anybody with a little bit of knowledge will know how to get around it and steal your image anyway. It could be as simply as pressing the “Prt Scr” button on your PC keyboard to print a screen capture. Again, you only stop the honest ones.

Only upload small files - 

The reason I’m happy to use your images online without watermarks is that I keep the files quite small. They are rarely over 1 megabyte and never over 1000 pixels on the longest edge. At 300ppi, they will print out at 8.5cm long. Once you try to enlarge them, the quality falls off dramatically. So it’s important if you are posting your own images that you are aware of the pixel dimensions of the files you use.

Edit your EXIF data - 

When you capture a digital image there is a file attached to it that stores all the information about that image – what camera and lens were used, when it was taken, what settings were used. If you know how you can add your name and copyright information to this file.

This is all well and good when you post images to your own website or blog but the moment you upload the image to a social media site, that information is stripped away. As an artist, your work will typically include a signature so this isn’t too much of a problem. Regardless of Exif data being attached or removed from your image – if you can prove you own it, it’s yours.

Watermark your images - 

I hate watermarks and I know a lot of people think the same way. I even hate the station logo appearing at the bottom of my TV screen when I’m watching a show at home. So I am against watermarking my own images on websites.

However, most of the images I deal with are not mine – they are yours and only used with your permission with the sole intent to help you sell more reproductions. If you want me to watermark your images you will need to ask as it is not a standard procedure. I believe that only uploading the small files I create is sufficient and the images look better without stuff written all over them.

Yes, watermarks such as copyright symbols and splashing your name across the image work as a deterrent for the honest people but anyone with any Photoshop skills can remove most watermarks pretty easily. Safe again from all the honest people – a bit of a challenge to those who aren’t.

The Bottom Line…

So, the bottom line to protecting your images in the real world is to use small files, watermark if you feel you must and don’t bother with all the rest of the stuff as any crook with some basic skills can defeat most of your efforts anyway. Most people are basically honest and in this caring, sharing world, if they see an image they like they will share it on their network for others to see… enhancing your chances for a sale.

Everybody wants FAST service these days, instant access to information, food on demand.

Everybody wants to save money, get things CHEAP, get a good deal and bargain for a better price.

Everybody wants GOOD if not the best quality, nothing shoddy that’s going to fail after the second use.

But can you have all three? RARELY.

This old adage – Fast, cheap, good, pick any two –  comes from the design industry but applies in all areas of your life. What do these words mean in relation to your business?

Let’s say someone has commissioned you to do a very special artwork – it’s a large work and it’s for an important client, it will bring you notoriety, fame and fortune, you’ll get huge amounts of ‘exposure’ (your client’s words not mine) – GOOD. The client has indicated that the budget is minimal, they can’t afford your normal work, only about half what you normally charge, but you’ve come highly recommended (another boost to your ego) and they’d really love you to do the work – CHEAP.  They also are under a tight deadline – they need it framed and ready to hang in 3 days (it would normally take you 2 weeks) – FAST.

But here’s the catch…

You need the money and really can’t afford to refuse the job. Where would you compromise?

GOOD – Do you get sucked in by their smooth talk and say to yourself “Well if they really want me and there’s a chance I might get something else out of it, I guess I’ll have to do it – it might be my big break.”

FAST – Can you create what the client wants and deliver in 3 days without giving yourself a heart attack or breakdown from stress in the process? Would you work around the clock, keep painting until your eyes are sore and your hands are numb to finish a painting by their deadline?

CHEAP – Would you work that hard AND then be satisfied with half the normal sale price? Would you still give them the very best product money can buy or would you try and cut corners on the canvas or paints you used, compromise in some way to bring your costs down?

OR WOULD YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY NO?