Art can be somewhat intimidating because it has its own language and
terminology. We thought that this glossary of terms and definitions would be helpful when discussing various types of artwork and the field of Art in general. We hope this information is helpful to you and serves as a valuable resource.

Acid Free

All components of rag mat board are completely acid-free and do not contain alum or lignin. The board is buffered with calcium carbonate, resulting in a pH of 8.5 to 9.5, according to independent laboratory test results. 

Acrylics 

A plastic-based painting medium which, because it is water-soluble, dries quickly and cleans up easily. Effects range from translucent watercolor-like washes to opaque hard edges in bright colors.

Archival

A term used to describe conservation quality art and framing materials.

Artist Proof (a/p) 

An artist proof is physically the same thing as a signed and numbered print. The artist and publisher inspect for quality control and approval. In addition, the artist has signed them a/p instead of s/n.

Why is an Artist Proof worth more?

For the simple fact that the edition is much smaller than the signed and numbered one. Supply and demand dictates a tighter market for artist proofs. 

Banner Art 

Large scale colorful sheets of nylon sewn into shapes which hang or drape across large expanses such atriums and cathedral ceilings. 

Bottom Weigh 

The technique of making the bottom of the mat slightly larger than the top and sides to weight the picture down. Not used as much currently, but still sometimes requested, particularly on signed/numbered pieces and other graphics. 

Canvas Transfer 

A process by which the ink from a print-say, on paper-is actually lifted off the paper surface in a chemical bath and then applied to a piece of canvas. 

Advances in canvas printing also allows for the replication of the artist's brush stroke, further enhancing the quality of reproduction. The artist can further enhance a canvas print by doing additional work with oil or acrylic paints directly onto the canvas.

Canvas transfers typically sell in the same price range as a lithograph artist proof. In many instances a canvas transfer looks and feels like an original and may require no frame Or;
The process of taking a poster or photograph and transferring it with an emulsion to a sheet of prepared canvas. This techniques gives the poster or photograph the illusion of being painted on canvas. (Several techniques can also be applied that can give either an aged/cracked look or simulate brushstrokes).

Cast Glass 

Unlike kiln forming, which used existing sheets, cast glass starts with glass in a liquid state which is poured into a sand mold or form. Its main advantages are the thickness of glass which can be achieved, and the variety of colors available. 

Chromium Print 

A print produced using a patented chromium printing process made famous in the racing collectibles market by Maxx Race Cards. Chromium prints are produced from original paintings and have a "foil" or "metallic" look to them.

Cibachrome 
 
Color photographic print produced from a color transparency.

Collage 

The gluing together of bits and pieces of originally unrelated images and parts thereof, including previously used commercial materials, to create something unprecedented. This term is also used when diverse elements are mounted and framed together, as in a shadowbox treatment.

Cotton Content

Fiber used to make the finest types of paper and mat boards because it is the purest form of natural cellulose. Cotton rag is strong, requires less processing, has a history of performance and it is an annually renewable resource, making it a better product for our planet.

Cotton Fiber (100%) 

A paper that is often used in printing fine art because of its purity and longevity.

C-print 

Color photographic print produced from a color negative.

Decorative Reproductions

Another term used interchangeably with posters, that is, artwork reproduced in unlimited quantities for decorative use. Though they are not produced as "limited", they often do go out of print since the initial run may be only 3,000-5,000. As these are sold, the artist or publisher may choose not to reprint the poster, in preference to another work by the artist to create "something new."

Etched glass 

Glass in which an image is made by masking and then sandblasting surfaces. All sorts of patterns, designs and lettering can be frosted on glass, making it ideal for dividers, walls and signage.

Etching

Original graphic prints made by scratching, incising or eroding the surface of a flat sheet of metal to create indentations. The plate is then placed in an acid bath that eats away at the incisions scraped into the plate. The plate is inked to allow the indentations to hold ink and the rest of the plate to be wiped clean, and a print is then taken on paper using a press. One common characteristic of etchings is an indentation, which is the mark of the plate pressed into the paper as the plate and paper together move through the rollers of the press. The enormous pressure involved forces the damp, therefore softened paper to extract the ink from the lines and other marks etched into the surface on the plate. This indentation has become its trademark.

Fiber art

Art made with thread, yarn, or fabric such as in weaving. Some fiber artists can create extremely large and complex pieces for use in corporate and health care settings.

Finished Size 

The size of the art piece before the width of the frame is figured in.

Giclee 

Just what is Giclee [zhee-clay] method of printing? Giclee is a French colloquialism, coined in the 17th Century. It means, loosely, "a spraying of ink." It refers to a technology first created by Scitex Corporation Ltd., and brought forth by a machine called the Iris, and it was primarily used for proofing color images. 

The substrate (underlying support material such as paper or canvas) is carefully attached to a spinning drum. Four infinitely small (much smaller than the human hair) pixels of the best archival water based organic inks are then capable of rendering an amazingly smooth and consistent image. These microscopic and digitally programmed droplets of color are sprayed into the substrate at a very high speed (3-5 million pixels per second). 

While rotating at a very high speed, it accurately and consistently mirrors the original work of art. The result then is an image comprised of nearly 18-20 billion droplets of ink saturation onto the substrate without a moiré (watered silk) pattern that becomes a convincing rendering of any fine art image. Its luxurious quality makes it virtually indistinguishable from the original work. It surpasses nearly any other method of color application. It does not yellow, and will resist cracking, even when stretched. 

Iris Print Seal - an aerosol spray overcoat that provides an invisible crystal clear semi-matte top coat offers a smudge and moisture resistance finish, dye stabilizers, and the ultra violate light blockers. 

Giclee prints have a very impressive track record for exhibition at prestigious galleries and museums such as:

· The Louvre museum in Paris
· The British Museum
· The Washington Post Collection 
· The New York Public Library
· The Philadelphia Museum of Art
· The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art
· The New York Metropolitan Museum
· The National Art Museum
· The San Francisco Museum of Art

Giclée Print

Also called Iris Digital printing. The term "giclée" (pronounced zee-clay) from its French origin means "to spray". This high-end reproduction process was initially developed and made popular for the reproduction of photography. Special "ink sets" comprise the colors that are digitally sprayed through tiny jets onto the paper, which is wrapped on a drum. The advantages of this process are its accuracy-differences between the image and its original are in many cases unnoticeable-and the ability to print as many or as few as are needed at a time.

Giclee/Iris Print/Digital Print 

The word Giclee is a French word meaning 'fine spray', which is what an inkjet printer does as it prints this type of art. An original is produced and entered into a computer through a digital scan. The giclee process then is digital printmaking with an iris printer that uses minute droplets of ink to create prints that cannot be duplicated by other printing techniques. Because there is no visible dot screen pattern, the resulting image has all of the subtle tonalities of the original art. Each dot may have over 4 billion possible colors! This produces exceptional museum quality prints. The entire giclee movement is only about 3-4 years old and has allowed many artists to experiment with printmaking that were not involved before. It permits the artist to make the artwork any size and to print on any substrate or type of paper or canvas in very small quantities at any one time.

Hand Colored Photographs 

Black and white photographs painted over with oils, watercolors, or special pencils, which give the photograph a nostalgic look. (B/W photographs were hand colored before the advent of color photography).

Hand Made Paper 

This process takes advantage of the ability of plant cell fibers (cellulose) to adhere to each other when a watery pulp made from the fibers is spread on a screen called a deckle and dried. When the pulp is poured onto a deckle, the water drains away and the fibers begin to bind together. The paper layer is then passed through either a series of rollers that dry, press and smooth it, or dried individually by first being pressed together on felt sheets, and then air dried. Fine artists will often make their own paper to create unique pieces.

Honorary Copy (H/C)

Many times a publisher will designate a few prints from a limited edition to be distributed to people involved with the publishing of the edition. For example, a publisher producing a print of Jerry Rice might choose to give Jerry five prints as a "thank you". These are signed "H/C" and are limited in number as well. They will typically sell in the same price range as an artist proof.

Image size 

What's going to be showing on the poster or where the matting stops and the artwork begins. Typically the image size will be 6" smaller in both dimensions than the final size, when you put 3" matting all around.

Kiln-formed glass

Flat glass that has been heated just enough to cause it to slump or sag over molds, giving it a sculptural, bas-relief effect quite unlike any other form of glass. The glass surface retains a smooth finish, while the underside picks up the texture of the mold material. 

Laminated glass 

Glass made with tinted or screen-printed interlayers. Rice paper or other thin materials can be sandwiched between glass layers. Multiple colors can be added to the PVB interlayer itself, and any type of design can be silk-screened on, including even the halftone dot patterns of photographs.

Limited Edition Print 

Such prints are done photographically from an original in another medium, such as watercolor or oil. There is really no limit to the amount of prints which can be made since it is entirely a printing process. The artist will generally sign and number the print in pencil at the bottom of the image. 

Lithograph 

A planographic printing process. The printing and non-printing areas lie in the same plane. The natural antipathy between grease and water is the fundamental principle of lithography. A drawing is done on a zinc plate with grease pencils; the plate is then inked with a water-based ink which repels the grease. An indication of a lithography print is how the ink sits on the paper. It appears to be on top of the paper and has a flat, even consistency, with little variation in ink application.

Lithograph (Offset)

A process whereby a photograph is taken of an original painting. Then it is reproduced with an offset lithograph printing press which normally uses only four colors. These four colors are blended together to give the appearance of many colors. In today's high tech printing, expensive presses can get very close to the original colors in a painting within one hour after the color is approved and correct. Sports Art Etc teams up only with publishers who use acid-free paper. Given proper care (see below), a lithograph should last a lifetime. 

Why is a lithograph so much more expensive than a poster? 
Answer: The process for a poster and lithograph are similar. However, the paper used for lithographs is typically acid-free and a much higher grade of paper, while the paper used for posters is, for lack of a better word, cheap. Because the poster paper is not of museum quality, chances are fading will occur in the near future. 

Millennium Print

Also from JIREH Publishing, Millennium prints measure 16" x 20" and are provided with some fantastic marketing literature setting out the history behind the print. These prints will need to be framed. Paper quality is very good-the same high quality paper as a lithograph-and each is numbered by the artist, Rick Rush.

Mini-Print 

A mini-print is typically a smaller version of an actual lithograph or larger print. These are generally "open editions," meaning they can be produced as many times as a publisher desires. Many publishers choose to limit the number of mini-prints produced by engraving serial numbers on the prints or by producing a limited signed and numbered edition. The typical size of a mini-print from Sports Art Etc is around 8" x 10". Many of these come double-matted with team or player colors.

Monoprints 

One of a series of prints in which each has some difference of color, design, texture, etc. applied to an underlying common image. Will have a number 1/1 in pencil on the print to indicate it is a unique piece of art.

Monotype

A one-of-a-kind print made by painting on a smooth metal, glass, plexi-glass or stone plate and then printing on paper. The pressure of printing creates a texture not possible when painting directly on paper. Will have a number 1/1 in pencil on the print to indicate it is a unique piece of art. 

Mosaic 

A picture or design made of tiny pieces called tesserae of colored stone, glass or tile or paper adhered to a surface. 

Original Portrait 

Just as the name says, it's the original! Whichever medium an artist chooses to use-water colors, oils, acrylics or even pencil lead-he or she will end up with an original, one-of-a-kind painting or sketch.

Painting 

An image created on paper, canvas, masonite, wood, or furniture made by dispersing a pigmented liquid called a vehicle, which includes a binder to make it adhere both to itself and to the surface to which it is applied. Types of paint include tempera, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, enamel, encaustic, fresco and secco

Pastels 

Pigments mixed with gum and pressed into a stick form for use as crayons. Pastels have a chalk appearance and must be sprayed with a fixative before they are framed. 

Poster 

A term originally used to identify those art pieces created to advertise an event or a location. Some of the earliest examples were the posters created by Toulouse-Lautrec for the Paris dance halls. Now this term designates any art piece produced as a decorative print, often not connected to any museum showing or event, but exclusively created for the buying public.

Rag Mat

A mat whose core and backing paper are made of 100% cotton fiber. 

Relief Printing 

Exploits the surface characteristics of almost any material. Traditionally, these particular characteristics have come from the gouging, cutting or carving out of the surface of a wood block, be it fine or coarse-grained. Recently "found" objects such as corroded metal, eroded wood and other natural surfaces, which contain disparate elements, are inked up and brought together in one work. The surface of the print can possibly have variations in surface texture. The inked areas may be raised to accommodate the large textured objects.

S/N

Shorthand for Signed and Numbered, this is the process whereby the Artist who has done the original artwork signs and numbers every print, generally in pencil lead. So if you see "500 s/n", that means 500 prints have been signed and numbered by the artist. In the case of lithographs, after an edition has been completed the presses are destroyed, making the edition limited because no more prints can be made. 

Screen Printing/ Silk Screen/Serigraphs

Prints made by squeegeeing ink through a fine mesh screen. The white areas of the image are painted with a substance which hardens and so prevents the paint from passing through. Once a screen is complete, it is placed in its frame above the piece of paper or other material to be printed. A thick layer of ink is ranged along the far edge of the screen and is drawn across by means of a squeegee, which forces it through all the open areas of the mesh. The squeegee consists of a long flexible blade, which in essence is like the windscreen wiper of a car. The blade pushes the ink into the many tiny interstices of the mesh, but at the same time wipes away any ink remaining above the mesh. The result, when the mesh is lifted, is a complete flat skin of ink on the paper, often showing a ridge where one color overlaps another. A separate screen is made for each color of ink used in the print. Although silk-screens have a flat appearance, you can tell them from lithographs by the slight layered texture each ink color builds upon the next.

Sculpture

A three dimensional work of art. Such works may be carved, molded, constructed or cast. 

Signed and Numbered

Refers to a print from a limited edition run. Generally, all limited edition prints are numbered as a fraction with the top digit being that particular print's number and the bottom digit being the total size of the edition. The artist will generally sign in pencil at the bottom of the print as well.

Silver Gelatin Print 

Rag paper coated with silver halides suspended in a gelatin emulsion, used to produce black and white photographs.

Tight Poster 

This is the term used when no mats are going to be used in framing. It indicates that the entire poster, including all the words, will be showing.

Vignette Print 

A nicely packaged mini-print produced by JIREH Publishing, typically measuring about 10" x 13", and provided in a thick fold-out envelope which details the history behind the creation of the print. These prints can be left in the original package or framed. Paper quality is high- these prints use the same high quality paper as a lithograph-and each is numbered from the publisher.

Watercolor

Pigment in a water-soluble medium, handled as a wash. Most watercolors are quite translucent and exploit effects such as reserve highlights and the appearance of spontaneous and rapid execution.

Window Size 

The size of the image that will show with any borders or bottom weighting. The same as image size.