What should I know about prints before I buy one?  Here are some FAQ and things to know.

With art, one size does not fit all.  Considering the following when browsing the prints:

• What size do I want?
• What quality do I want?

Other FAQ

• What’s a numbered edition print vs a limited edition print?
• Do the images come mounted or framed?
• Do the images have borders?
• What kind of license comes with a digital download?

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What size do I want:

Many Blue Muse prints are made in the following four sizes:

1)  8.5″ x 11″

2)  11″ x 14″

3)  16″ x 20″

4)  18″ X 24″          

note:  1″ = 2.54cm

However, select Blue Muse images are printed in a smaller 5.5″ x 8.5″ version.

Certain prints are made square (e.g., 11″ x 11″).  This will be clearly marked on the description of the image.

 

What quality do I want?

Prints are made with different kinds of paper, and with different printing processes, and can vary in quality.  The price is usually reflected in the quality.

Photographic paper and metallic photographic paper – these are exceptionally high quality prints and the most expensive to make.  The most expensive, the metallic prints have a silvery look to them.  In my opinion, the metallic prints look incredible with certain medium toned images with high contrast areas, and detract from primarily very light or very dark images.   I have printed each of the images on both kinds of paper to determine the most suitable for each image.

When possible, these photographic prints will be coated with a glossy clear coat to protect the photo and preserve the life of the photo.

As with all Blue Muse prints, they will be signed and numbered by the artist (and sometimes by the model as well!).

Glossy paper – glossy paper prints are printed through a machine called a press.  Many prints have to be made at once, but can be done substantially cheaper than when printed on photographic paper.  Usually, I have them made on impressively thick, high quality, 130 pound glossy paper stock.  However, prints larger than 11″ x 14″ are printed on thinner paper to allow them to be rolled and mailed in a photo tube.

These prints are signed and numbered by the artist in sequence with photographs of the same image.  They are also suitable for framing and easier on the budget.

 

Digital downloads – Some Blue Muse photos are available as digital downloads.  These downloads are substantially larger than on this site, generally 1920 x 1080 pixels.  Please note, these downloads are for personal use only.  That means you must agree to the following conditions to purchase a digital download.  Very generally, they are not to be reproduced or distributed in any manner, sold, edited, or printed.

The Blue Muse watermark is on all the prints and digital downloads.  It has been carefully incorporated to be part of the finished piece.

Only select images will be available as digital downloads.

 

What is the difference between a limited edition print and numbered edition print?

Limited edition prints are printed in only limited quantities.  For example, only 100 of a given print are made.  The number of the image is marked on the image itself (front or back), or on the matting, as “(print number)/(total number of prints)”, e.g., “6/100” along with the artist’s signature.

Numbered edition prints are signed and numbered the same way as limited edition prints, but without limits on the number of prints produced, e.g., “#6.”  Most Blue Muse prints are numbered edition.

Why not limited editions?  There is lots of debate on the best way to make photographic prints or digital art.  In the past, physical templates were used to make the reproductions of images.  These would wear out after a time and so only a limited number could be made before the template needed to be recreated (a second edition, or second printing).  Collectors came to value the initial reproductions the most.  Even today, in theory, the benefit of a limited edition print is that it may become extra valuable over time since, once all the prints are sold, the prints in circulation become more in demand.  However, there are a number of reasons to not chose this route, despite the benefit of possibly increasing value.  One consideration is that I would like to accommodate prints of various sizes to suit the needs of those who would like to purchase them.  This is less feasible if limiting the number of prints (including print sizes) off the bat.  A second consideration, is that since the printing process could be very similar, it is an ethically grey area to reprint a limited edition print in future publications (e.g., a compilation art book – which I would like to make).  Third, the first few prints of a numbered edition print may come to be more valuable by collectors anyways, and thus similarly increase in value as limited edition prints.  Fourth, and perhaps the biggest reason to me, is that limiting a run of a print has the drawback of precluding improvements in a given image down the road.  As technology (and my editing skills) improves, it is possible that I may revisit an older image and make improvements to it.  A truly limited edition print should not be re-edited this way, and that, to me, might be a real shame.  There is an argument to be made for the sacredness of having only one version of piece of art, flaws and all, and another to be made for the value in allowing a piece of art to be adapted, revamped, and perhaps recreated more powerful than ever.

Finally, artist proofs of the images may be made available in the future (the initial prints made to decide on the final version of the print and/or reserved by the artist).  These are very limited in number, usually around 10, and are numbered the same way as limited edition prints (usually with “A/P” added by the number).  Please contact the artist if you have a special request for an artist proof of a certain image.

 

Do the images come mounted or framed?

No.  Unless indicated on the description page of the image.  Framing and mounting is best done locally.

 

Do the images have borders around them?

Yes, but not all. Most of the prints done on photographic paper will have a white border around them of varying thickness.  I will often crop an image to the size and perspective I feel most suits the image rather than trying to accommodate a crop simply because it is traditional.  (Call me a purist to my pieces that way.)  However, that does not mean it will be problematic for framing.  In fact, I find the white border around the image to work very well as a make-shift matting if you opt to frame the piece directly that way, and the non-traditional crops can make the piece stand out as unique.  Mattes can be made to any size (but do shop around, some places charge a lot for this service), so the piece can still be framed in a traditional sized frame – in fact is printed with the ratio of the prints above in mind.

 

What kind of license comes with a digital download?

There are no licenses granted with a digital download.

Digital downloads are for personal use only.  That means the images are NOT to be used for any commercial purposes (e.g., advertising, put in to templates, sold, resold, re-licensed, etc).  They are not to be used for personal websites, printed, nor distributed in any manner.  The rights and ownership of the image is now and in the future exclusively that of Blue Muse Fine Art.

Should you wish to use a Blue Muse Fine Art image for commercial purposes (e.g., as one might use a “royalty free” or “stock” image) please contact Blue Muse Fine Art with your licensing request.

If you wish to include a Blue Muse Fine Art image on a personal website, many of the images are already made available to be shared on Facebook or Pinterest pages and the like via sharing links provided on this site or in other Blue Muse portfolios (e.g., 500px).

If you would like a hardcopy print of the image, please order a print option (besides, that way it will be printed on the proper paper, and personally inspected and signed by the artist).

Please respect copyright.