Art Print Terminology

Archival Inks and Papers: 
Special inks and papers that have been developed for the printmaking process.  The inks are primed for optimal color saturation and permanence, and the papers are heavy with textured surfaces to more readily accept and maintain ink hues.  They tend to be more fade-resistant and stable (over time) than less expensive materials.

Artist's Proofs (APs):
Typically, the first 10 percent of prints in each edition in a separately numbered subset and valued by collectors.  Generally, they sell for about 20 percent more than a print from the regular edition, although we maintain there is no difference in the quality.   

Canvas Print:
A reproduction that is printed directly on canvas instead of paper, giving it the textured look of the canvas surface of an original painting.  Our canvas prints are almost always textured with an acrylic compound, then reworked by the artist to add color and highlight details in the image.  Finally, an acrylic varnish is applied to protect against damage caused by contact or moisture, enabling the art to be hung without glazing.  Thus - because of the careful handwork by the artist - each of our canvas prints takes on subtle nuances and becomes much more than a mere print.

Canvas Transfer:
A process used to make canvas reproductions, by which special chemicals separate an image from the paper it was printed on, and re-bond it to canvas.  Although we consider this method inferior, occasionally someone outside our company may have this done with one of our paper prints.

Certificate of Authenticity:
A document accompanying a limited edition print that verifies its title, edition size, number in the edition, and other pertinent information that is required by law in some states.

Giclée:
A French term (pronounced ZHEE-CLAY) meaning "to spray," describing fine art prints produced by digital spray technologies.   Reproductions produced with this technique are considered to be more closely matching the original art, and may be printed on more textured surfaces such as watercolor paper or artist's canvas.  As seen in national art magazines such as U.S.ART, Art World News and InformArt, these fine art reproductions of original paintings by Stephen Henning are faithfully reproduced and printed with lightfast pigmented inks on archival quality acid-free paper.  The particular combination of paper and ink used in our prints has been tested by an independent laboratory and been shown to be archivally stable up to 300 years.  Because this superior printing process is more than 30 times the cost of offset lithography, the prints sell at a higher price.  And because our edition sizes are so small, the art collector attains greater value.

Hand-embellished:
Describing artwork that, once printed, is enhanced by the artist  with textures, color washes and special touches of color highlighting.

Iris Print:
A digital print created using the printing equipment, inks, and papers developed by Iris Graphics of Bedford, Massachusetts.   In the 1990s, Iris Graphics was one of the few digital fine-art printers, so "Iris print" has come to be used interchangeably, and erroneously, with "giclee" to refer to all prints produced through digital technology.

Limited Edition:
A reproduction of an original work of art that is signed and sequentially numbered by the artist.  The total number of prints is fixed by the artist or publisher.   Limited editions can be offset reproductions, digital prints, serigraphs, original lithographs, etc.  Inspiration Peak Publishing Company is dedicated to keeping its edition sizes small, ensuring a level of uniqueness (and value) for our customers.   The largest edition we will run is 750, and most are much smaller.

Offset Lithographic Reproduction:
A photomechanical reproduction created when an image is transferred to a plate photographically, transferred in reverse to a roller, and then printed positively on paper or, in some cases, canvas.   Many limited and open edition prints are created using offset technology.

Open Edition:
A reproduction with an edition size not limited to a specific number.  Sometimes signed by the artist, open editions are often printed on more expensive paper and with better quality inks than posters.

Poster:
A reproduction with an unlimited edition size that is produced using less expensive inks and papers than limited and open edition prints.  Posters are not signed by the artist and they usually contain promotional verbiage that is meant to be exposed when framed.

Publisher:
The company who finances and organizes the process of creating reproductions of original works of art for public showing and sale.  The publisher should not be confused with a printer, the company that actually creates prints through offset lithographic technology, digital printmaking equipment, etc.

Remarque:
A small drawing, usually in pencil, rendered by the artist on the border of a print.

Signed-and-numbered (S/N):
Describing a limited edition print that has been signed and sequentially numbered by the artist in one of the lower corners of the print.  The numbering takes the form of a fraction, with the numerator indicating the number of the print and the denominator identifying the actual number of prints in the edition.