NESBA Prints & Cards Guidelines

** These are general guidelines. Be sure to read any specific requirements for the exhibit/venue you are submitting items for that may differ from the below.

Exhibit venues often provide the opportunity for our artists to sell notecards and giclee prints in their gift shops. The following guidelines have been established to ensure that the quality of your prints and notecards reflects the quality of your work.

These guidelines apply only to digital reproductions of original artwork. They do not apply to monoprints, intaglio prints, relief prints, or other original artwork which may also be included in the exhibit itself.

Note cards:

Note cards should be made from high quality captures. They may be printed at copy shops, as the cost of giclee cards is prohibitive in most cases. The quality of the cards should reflect the quality of the artwork. Note cards should be packaged in transparent envelopes. The show committee has the right to reject poor quality note cards.

Art Prints:

Quality of prints:

The quality of your prints reflects the quality of your work. NESBA will accept only Giclee prints on archival paper for sale at NESBA shows.

One difference between a giclee printer and a home printer is the addition of colors. A home printer typically has four colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK). A giclee printer has 6 or 7, sometimes 12 colors, giving the print a much higher color gamut. The ink is then sprayed onto the page, actually mixing the color on the page to create truer shades and hues. Another difference is that most home printers print at 300 DPI, while giclee printers can print up to 2800 DPI. A third difference is in order to create the appearance of a continuous tonal range, a printer must be able to produce graduated values for each color. Also the inks used in good quality giclee printers are not fugitive.

** The show committee has the right to reject poor quality prints. NESBA will not accept prints made on home computers or copy shops if they are not of the required quality.

Signatures / edition numbers:


When having prints made, the signature should be removed electronically. Each print should be signed individually. The total number of prints the artist intends to have made is called the edition number. Limited edition numbers can affect the value of the print and the edition number should not be changed once prints are ready for sale. Prints should be labeled with the print number and the edition number expressed as a fraction, i.e., 2/50 means it is the second print out of a total of 50.

Matting Format and packaging:

  • Prints may be made in any size regardless of the size of the original artwork. You may want to consider having them made in standard sizes to facilitate framing.

  • Prints must each have an archival backing board.

  • Prints may be sold directly on the backing board or matted with an archival mat (white or off white) on the backing board.

  • Each print needs to be protected with a clear sleeve.


SOURCES FOR SLEEVES

Many sleeves (including the Clear Bags brand) are available on Amazon, or through art supply shops such as Dick Blick and Jerrys Artarama

Search for “artwork sleeves” and be sure to choose a clear sleeve that is acid-free

Clear Bags ( http://www.clearbags.com ) are a reliable brand available at the above sites or direct from their website.

Pricing prints:

When pricing, consider in addition to the value of your work:

  • capture price (price for scan or photo of artwork)

  • cost of having your capture made into prints

  • cost of matting materials and bags

  • any commission taken by the gallery or shop for sale of prints

  • any specified minimum (or maximum) prices set by the gallery or shop

  • adjustment in price for larger quantities for small quantities

Some sources for having prints made recommended by NESBA members:

Image Resolutions - Norwell, MA www.imageresolutions.com

Jetart Company - Bolton, MA www.jetart.biz 

Anchor Press - Norwell, MA (Cards) www.anchorpress.com 

Labeling & Delivery of prints and note cards for sale:

  • Fill out an Intent to Sell Form as specified in the exhibit or event as requested by NESBA, noting the details therein

  • Please label your inventory clearly to align with the information entered on the Intent to Sell Forms (Your Name, Name/Title, Product, Price)

  • Exhibit chair will check-in and check-out specified inventory and return any unsold merchandise to you at the end of the exhibit.

  • Prints/note cards may need to relate to the theme of the show but do not have to be of the actual piece displayed. Please see individual exhibit details for requirements around prints/notecards or other for-sale merchandise.

  • Prints/note cards must accompany other work for a show. Prints/note cards will be delivered to the delivery person with artwork so the hanging committee can check off on the inventory.

  • Prints/note cards should be protected in bubble wrap envelope or box.

  • Most galleries/shops will retain a percentage of the sales price on items sold. Please see the details of the specific exhibit or event for details on artist commissions.

Any questions on print/card sales can be directed to the Exhibit Chair for the exhibit or event you are selling at.
Thank you!