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A fine art print, produced in an edition, is an original work of art in multiples. It is a work that the artist has created directly on a "master" printing element, such as a lithograph stone, wood or linoleum block or copper plate. A limited edition may be printed from the printing element, and each print is signed and numbered by the artist.
The term “original print” also has legal meaning. A photo-mechanically reproduced print of an already existing painting or drawing is not considered an original print. Such works are reproductions, not originals – even if they are printed in a limited edition and signed by the artist.
Original fine art prints are traditionally categorized as one of four types: relief, intaglio, stencil, or planographic (lithography). Some modern and contemporary artists have used more than one of these techniques to create a single image. Others include photographic or photomechanical elements, such as Xerox or computer-generated images, in the process.
Some artists print their work independently. That means that they create the image, proof it, and print the edition on their own. Others work collaboratively with a master printer, who helps the artist make an acceptable proof from which the edition may be produced. No matter how it is created, an original print is a unique piece of art.
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