How to sign prints?

If you print an image and frame it what is the best/usual approach to signing the photo? Does one place a signature within the image itself using photoshop, or is it better to perhaps sign the matting?

I am framing something for the first time and am trying to figure out the best asthetic approach.

Thanks,
Peter

I don't use photoshop to sign my name. I always hand sign it. If I'm selling the prints alone in a clear bag, I sign in the field of the print itself using contrasting colored ink or leave a white border around the print and sign on the white border. If I'm selling a matted, framed print, I sign on the mat, which generally ensures the print will not be taken apart and re-matted and framed. Where I show my work, I sell both types, one for those who want to express themselves through their own matting and framing and those who like the way I prefer it and who don't want to have to go to the extra work.

All in all, I like the way it looks signed on the mat better than on the print.

I have all my framed prints flush mounted on a mat board. I then sign the mount with a #2 pencil.

For 'bagged' prints, I use the same method Steve describes for his work.

-PB

Thank you! That makes sense to me, signing the mat seemed preferable to me.

Peter

Being a frame shop owner that works with a lot of photographers and other artists, I suggest signing the art. I quite often work with customers that bring in art with signed mats for framing or reframing that want different mats. They have a dilema to keep the signature, or choose new mats that better suits them or the art.

Giving the potential buyer the option of how to display the art may help the artist's sales and mine

Ron,

That makes good sense to me. In my case I am printing and framing for my own use. They will be on display at my offices but not sold. I was only concerned with best asthetics for my situation. I have not even thought about selling anything yet. :-)

Peter

I never sign the mat as I didn't create the mat and the mat is not the artwork. Further, some people will re-mat the print and then they have an unsigned piece of art. I always sign the print (the art), by hand, in the lower right or left corner. Not on the border of the print or below the printed area (as those areas could be trimmed off) but on the printed portion using a contrasting, permanent (pigment) ink.

I've never understood signing the mat. If you were a painter and painted on canvas, would you sign the painting or the stretcher bars the canvas is mounted to? If you were a sculptor would you carve your name into the sculpture itself or the pedestal it sits on?

Be proud! Sign your art!!

I thought about this one myself. After talking to a gallery owner, he told me to sign the bottom right corner of the image itself. So that is what I am doing.

Don Gorczynski
www.naturewildphotography.com

You can also sign prints on the back. Sure it's not visible to viewers, but it frees up buyers who might (and often do) want to change the presentation to match changes in their home or office decor schemes.