| Limited
Edition FAQ
1.
What is a limited edition print?
2.
How is a fine art limited edition print numbered?
3.
Who does the copyright belong to?
4. What
is archival paper?
•
Media Specifications
5. What
is archival ink?
6.
How do I care for my archival limited edition print?
7.
How do I know that I'm getting an authentic high quality print?
In T.W. Richards' print series, each
archival, museum-quality edition is limited to either 300
or 500 prints; this small number keeps the value and rarity
of the art piece precious. As a limited edition sells out,
the value of each piece in that edition often increases well
beyond the original purchase price. Each and every limited
edition print is individually signed and numbered by T.W.
Richards and an autographed Certificate of Authenticity accompanies
each print.
The opposite of a limited edition
is an open edition. Open edition prints are not limited in
the number of copies that are produced and typically are not
signed by the artist. When you purchase a limited edition
print, you are making an investment. All of the prints sold
by Dutch Flats Wildlife Art Gallery, LLC are limited edition
prints.
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Our system of numbering and documenting
the fine art limited editions is designed to guarantee the
authenticity and originality of our prints in the art market.
Each print is signed by T.W. Richards in the lower right-hand
corner or margin. The edition size can be found in the left-hand
corner represented as one number divided by another number.
The number on the top represents the order in which the artist
has signed that particular print and the number on the bottom
represents the total number of prints in that specific edition.
For example: 3/300 means that a print is number 3 out of a
total limited edition of 300.
You will find the following detailed
information for each print in our online gallery:
"ROCK WITH A VIEW" (title)
Unmatted Size: 9" x 12"
Unmatted Price: $50.00
Matted Size: 14" x 18"
Matted Price: $85.00
Limited Edition size: 300 signed and numbered by the artist
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T.W. Richards and Dutch Flats Wildlife
Art Gallery, LLC retain the copyright for all of his images
and prints. T.W. Richards' prints are exclusively published
by Blackberry Press and all rights are reserved by Dutch Flats
Wildlife Art Gallery, LLC.
This means that the images cannot
be copied, reproduced, or reprinted by anyone else. Anyone
who attempts to do so will be in breach of the law and will
be subject to legal penalties.
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Paper is one of the most important
elements in creating fine art prints because the choice of
paper for an artist's image is crucial to the final printed
effect as well as the longevity of the print. Archival paper
is specially designed paper, which has chemical and physical
properties that ensure the brilliance of the original image
is preserved. This is why archival paper is used by leading
artists and printmakers.
T.W. Richards' limited edition prints
are printed on 100% cotton rag archival fine art paper made
to last 100 years or more. We chose this paper because of
the beauty of its printed effect as well as its ph neutrality,
weight (basis weight 225 g/m2), thickness (15 mil), strength,
and longevity.
The physical strength of the paper
is ensured by using a high quality cotton fiber instead of
a wood fiber. The reason why paper in good books from the
mid 1800's and earlier is not brittle or discolored, whilst
paper in newspapers or books less than 20-years old is yellow
and brittle, is that the former are made with quality acid-free
cotton paper while the latter are made with acid woodchip
paper that deteriorates rapidly. We don't use papers processed
with wood chips and wood fiber because they are not archival.
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Textured Fine Art Paper
The egg shell colored paper selected for
T.W. Richards' limited edition prints has the look and touch
of Old World handmade paper. It yields brilliant colors and
deep blacks.
Features/Benefits
- Acid free to preserve fine art and photos
- 100% cotton rag for long term durability
- White surface for vivid color reproduction
- Rich black images for prints with exceptional
contrast
- Textured surface for a true artistic
appearance
- 225 g/m2 basis weight for maximum versatility
- Flat matte surface to eliminate glare
Feature Checklist
Indoor/outdoor usage
Indoor use only
Lightfastness
200 years
Lightfastness ratings are based on accelerated testing of
prints on specialty media (only when using archival inks and
displayed indoors under glass). Lightfastness only estimates
the life of the ink, not the media.
Achievability
Excellent
To provide the best protection, keep prints behind a glass
plate or Plexiglas shield with UF3.
Resistance to water
Good
Bleeding does not occur with incidental water contact. However,
try to prevent exposure to moisture.
Handling requirements
Use gloves when handling the paper to avoid smudges and fingerprints
on the printing surface.
Mounting feasibility
Recommended
Use rag board or other high quality, acid-free mounting materials.
Lamination feasibility
Not recommended
If a protective coating is desired, use a fast-drying, acrylic
spray with a UV absorbent.
Technical Specifications
- Basis weight 225 g/m2
- Thickness 15 mil
- ISO brightness 89%
- Opacity 98%
- Hot lamination No
- Base material 100% Cotton rag
- Surface finish Textured matte
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An archival ink is a specially designed
ink preferred by artists and art buyers because of its longevity.
These inks fight fading, water-solubility, the effects of
UV sunlight, and general degradation.
Archival inks are scientifically tested
and favored for their resistance to the damaging effects of
light (particularly UV light) color stability, and excellent
saturation in the widest range of vivid colors. This makes
them perfect for "heirloom quality" limited edition
prints.
All of Dutch Flats Wildlife Art Gallery's
fine art limited edition prints are created using both archival
ink and archival paper to produce a print with a life of over
100 years when correctly preserved in a stable environment
(please refer to the next section: How do I care for my archival
limited edition print?).
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Although archival paper and inks are
used to produce T.W. Richards' limited edition prints, any
print placed in direct sunlight will fade over time. The archival
paper and inks of Blackberry Press' prints will ensure the
longevity (100+ years) of your artwork investment if the print
is kept in a stable environment with a steady temperature
(around 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and moderate levels of humidity.
It is very important to hang your limited edition print in
an area well away from any direct sunlight and where it will
not be subjected to temperature extremes of heat or cold.
We recommend having your print matted
and framed under glass, the latter of which includes UV filters
that will reduce the deterioration caused by sunlight and
humidity.
Until you have your print framed we
recommend using white cotton or nylon lab gloves when handling
the prints. These gloves are readily available from good photographic
supply stores and their use prevents harmful deposits of body
oils from your fingers being deposited onto the prints.
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Each T.W. Richards' limited edition
print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. It is your
assurance that you are receiving a high quality print that
will not be printed in multiple editions, on different substrates,
or in other sizes.
T.W. works very closely with the printer
in the production process and his signature on each print
verifies that he has personally inspected and approved every
print. The artist hand-numbers and signs each print during
the inspection process. The certificate, in conjunction with
T.W. Richard's signature on the print, is your guarantee that
no other prints or similar editions of his drawings exist
now or will ever be published in the future.
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