Signed and Numbered (s/n): Limited-edition prints that have been signed by the artist and sequentially numbered. The artist's signature is usually found in one of the lower corners of the print and is accompanied by a number that looks like a fraction; the top number indicates the number of the print and the bottom number indicates the total number of prints in the edition. (e.g. 153/950). This would designate this particular print is number 153 out of 950 prints.
*The myth about print numbers. In true lithography where the original medium is inked and is pressed directly on to the substrate (usually paper), it is true that the first impression is usually the sharpest, as subsequent impressions can deteriorate the original medium.
In today's giclee and offset print reproductions, there is absolutely no difference in quality whether the print is number 1/1000 or 969/1000. Please use the following example:
Imagine 100 sheets of paper on one end of the printer, ready to go through a press. The top sheet is fed into the press, and comes out the other end a finished print. This print is deposited onto a rack. The second sheet then comes through the printer, and is deposited on top of the first print. And so on, and so on. At the end of the run, the last sheet (100th) comes through the press and is now at the top of the pile of finished prints on the other end. The rack is brought over and hypothetically the artist is there to sign the prints. The artist takes the first print on top of the rack and signs it and then it is numbered 1/100. Remember, this was the last (100th) print off the press, not the first. If the artist continues to sign and the balance is numbered, the first print off the press will be numbered 100/100, the last in the edition. Now you see where numbering in this case doesn't have any bearing on how they came off the press or for that matter, quality of the print. Therefore, contrary to conventional wisdom, lower numbers in these editions are not more valuable than higher ones. Sure it's nice to have the uniqueness of a low number, and perhaps if two of the same prints are for sale, the lower numbered one may sell quicker but not necessarily for any more money.

Artist's Proofs (a/p): In offset and giclée reproductions, artist's proofs are additional prints not included in, but of the same quality as, the regular s/n edition. Artist's proofs are distinguished by the abbreviation "AP" and are numbered separately. Generally, artist proofs run about 10% additional of a s/n edition. (i.e. if there are 1000 prints made as a signed and numbered (s/n) edition, about 10% more (or 100) will be designated as a/p's).
The history of an a/p is that they were created to signify the artist's final approval of a print after the process of reproduction. These a/p's were generally kept by the artist. In original prints, artist's proofs are the first prints pulled, which are the sharpest prints in the edition because the plates and screens have not yet been worn down.
Most of today's artist proof offset and giclée reproductions however are of absolutely no different quality than any other part of the print edition. Those a/p's that are sold are sold at a premium price, as they are considered more collectible because there are less of them. In our professional opinion, unless you're considering an original print a/p, they are no more special than the regular s/n edition.

Edition Size: The total number of prints printed, or pulled, of one particular image. Separate edition sizes are recorded for the signed and numbered prints, artist's proofs, publisher proofs, printer's proofs, conservation editions, canvas editions, enhanced editions, etc. You should find all these various editions indicated on the certificate of authenticity - provided with most if not all limited editions.

Giclée: - (Pronounced Zhee-Clay) is an elegant, state-of-the-art reproduction that gives a vibrant color rendition of an original painting. A result of the marriage of art and modern printing technology, a giclée faithfully reflects the vibrant color, rich detail and lush texture of the original. Giclée, a French term for "fine spray", is created by a high fidelity digital printer's tiny ink jets that spray millions of droplets of water based ink onto fine archival art paper or canvas known as the "substrate". The combination of specific inks and substrate are carefully selected to assure maximum print longevity. Giclées are produced one at a time. Depending upon their size, this intricate printing process can take up to an hour or more for each print. Afterward, giclées are coated with a protective finish to further assure their longevity. More and more artists are using the giclée process as it is today's best method to faithfully replicate the original. A giclee canvas print is usually mounted or stretched on wooden stretcher bars and framed without matting or glass - just the frame itself.

Limited-Edition Print: A reproduction of an original work of art that is signed by the artist and sequentially numbered. The total number of prints is fixed or limited by the artist or the publisher.

Offset Lithograph: A photomechanical reproduction created by the separation of colors in the original and then the recombining of those colors on a printing press. A painting is scanned into a computer where all details of the original are eventually separated into film. The film is then developed onto metal plates - one plate for each film. (Most presses use four colors, CMYK or cyan, magenta, yellow and black.) The plate is then fastened to the printing press on a drum. A separate drum rotates and collects the appropriate color ink (cmyk) and the inked roller goes across the plate, which then inks another roller, and as that rotates, it finally transfers the ink to the paper below. That paper then goes across the press and the inking process is repeated three more times (for a total of four colors - cmyk) if using a traditional four color press. Offset means the plate never touches the substrate (the paper). Offset lithography is very well adapted to color printing and gives a sharp, clean image very close to the original painting.

Open-Edition Print: A reproduction of an original work of art that is sometimes signed by the artist. The number of prints published is not predetermined and is not individually numbered.

Replacement prints. These are extra prints held in reserve by the artist or their publisher to replace prints that may have become damaged in transit, etc.