Art Terms Guide: Giclee, Limited Edition, Artist Proof and More
By Kani Saburi Ayubu, Founder, The Black Art Depot. Updated October 15, 2026.
Buying African American art online should feel exciting, not confusing. This guide explains the words you will see on our product pages in plain language, so you know exactly what you are getting before you buy. Have a question we did not answer? Call or text us at 678-916-6545, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET.
The short version
- A giclee (zhee-CLAY) is a museum-quality print made with archival inks on fine art paper or canvas.
- A limited edition is printed in a fixed number, then never printed again. Ours are signed and numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity.
- Artist proofs, printer's proofs and remarques are rarer versions of a limited edition.
- Canvas hangs without glass. Paper is framed under glass with a mat.
Jump to: Print types · Edition terms · Canvas or paper · Framing and stretching · How we ship your art · Common questions
Print types: how your art was made
What is a giclee print?
A giclee (pronounced zhee-CLAY) is a high-resolution fine art print made with archival pigment inks on fine art paper or canvas. The original artwork is captured in detail, then printed on large-format fine art printers, with colors checked against the original. A giclee is made to last for decades without fading when kept out of direct sunlight. Most of the limited editions we sell are giclees.
What is a giclee on canvas?
The same giclee process, printed on artist canvas instead of paper. It has the texture and look of an original painting and is displayed without glass.
What is a lithograph?
A lithograph is a print made by transferring ink from a flat printing plate onto paper. An original lithograph is one the artist drew directly onto the plate, so each print is considered an original work. An offset lithograph is a reproduction made on a commercial printing press, common for posters and older limited editions.
What is a serigraph?
A serigraph, also called a silkscreen, is made by pressing ink through a fine screen, one color at a time. The result is bold, flat, layered color.
What is an art print?
An art print is a printed reproduction of an original artwork. Prints range from affordable posters to signed, numbered giclees. The terms below tell you which kind you are looking at.
Giclee vs. lithograph vs. poster
| Giclee | Offset lithograph | Poster or open edition print | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Archival pigment inks, fine art printer | Commercial printing press | Commercial printing |
| Surface | Fine art paper or canvas | Paper | Poster paper |
| Often signed and numbered | Yes, when a limited edition | Sometimes | No |
| Best for | Collectors, lasting color | Vintage and classic editions | Enjoying an image at a lower price |
Edition terms: how rare your print is
What is a limited edition print?
Only a fixed number are ever printed. Each print is numbered, such as 45/500, meaning print 45 of 500. Once the edition sells out, no more are made at that size. Every limited edition we sell is signed and numbered (except estate editions, below) and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Browse our limited editions.
What is an artist proof?
An artist proof (AP) is one of a small set of prints kept aside for the artist, outside the main edition. It is marked "AP" instead of a number, and the set is usually about 10% of the edition size. Because fewer exist, artist proofs are often priced higher and prized by collectors.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Open edition | Printed with no set limit. The most affordable way to own an image. |
| Signed and numbered | The artist signed the print by hand and wrote its number, usually in pencil along the bottom margin. |
| Certificate of authenticity (COA) | A document confirming your artwork is genuine, listing details such as the title, artist and edition number. Keep it with your artwork for insurance, appraisal and resale. |
| Estate edition | A limited edition released by an artist's estate after the artist has passed away. Each print is numbered and embossed with the estate seal instead of signed. |
| Estate seal | A raised seal pressed into the paper (an embossment, not an ink stamp). Because the artist can no longer sign, the seal is the estate's mark that the print is authorized and genuine. |
| Printer's proof (PP) | A very small number of prints given to the master printer, marked "PP". Among the rarest prints in an edition. |
| Hors d'commerce (HC) | French for "not for trade." Prints originally set aside as samples for galleries and publishers, marked "HC". Limited in number, like artist proofs. |
| Remarque | An original sketch the artist draws by hand in the margin. No two are alike, so the print becomes one of a kind. |
| Hand embellished | The artist adds brushstrokes or highlights by hand on top of the print, so each one is slightly different. |
| Sold out at publisher | The publisher has no more copies. We may still have a few in stock, but once they are gone, they are gone. |
For more on how our limited editions are printed and shipped, see A Special Note About Limited Editions.
Canvas or paper?
Both show the same image. The difference is in the look and how you hang it.
| Paper | Canvas | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Smooth and crisp, fine detail | Woven texture, like an original painting |
| Displayed | Framed under glass or acrylic, usually with a mat | Without glass, stretched or framed |
| Good for | Detailed images, a traditional framed look | A bold gallery look, larger rooms |
Stretched (gallery wrap) canvas is pulled tight over a wooden frame, with the image wrapping around the edges. It is ready to hang without a frame.
Rolled canvas ships in a tube and needs to be stretched or framed before hanging. If a product page does not say "ships stretched and ready to hang," the canvas ships rolled.
Framing and stretching
We can frame anything on our site. Some artwork has a framed option on the product page. If the piece you love does not, contact us and we will send you framing options and pricing. Once your frame design is discussed and approved, framed orders ship within 1 to 14 business days.
Want rolled canvas stretched? Contact us for a quote and we will be happy to stretch it for you.
How we ship your art
- Unframed paper prints and rolled canvas are rolled in kraft paper, placed in a sturdy tube, then boxed for extra protection.
- Limited editions also get glassine paper over the image to protect the surface.
- All limited editions and orders over $250 ship signature required. Want signature required on a smaller order? Call us to add it, usually $5 to $10.
- We ship from Atlanta, GA. Most orders ship in 1 to 3 business days. See our shipping policy for delivery times.
- Not 100% happy? Start a return within 30 days in our Easy Returns Center, no phone call needed.
Common questions
Why do limited editions cost more?
Only a fixed number will ever exist, and each one is hand signed and numbered by the artist (or numbered and sealed by the estate) and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Limited editions are also printed on archival materials made to last. You are buying a collectible piece, not just an image.
By "paper," do you mean thin paper?
No. Our fine art prints are printed on high-quality archival paper, much thicker and longer lasting than everyday printer paper. The exact paper is chosen by the artist or publisher and is often listed on the product page. Examples include acid-free fine art paper, watercolor paper and heavyweight archival paper. Posters are printed on poster paper.
By "reproduction," do you mean you just print it on a printer?
No. Fine art reproductions are made by professional fine art printers and publishers, often working directly with the artist. The original is captured at very high resolution and printed with archival inks on large-format fine art printers, with colors checked against the original. Limited editions are approved and signed by the artist, or numbered and sealed by the estate, before release.
Is a lithograph an original?
An original lithograph, drawn by the artist directly on the printing plate, is considered an original work. An offset lithograph is a reproduction made on a commercial press.
Can you mat a canvas?
No. A mat is a border used with art on paper to frame the image and keep it from touching the glass. Canvas is never placed under glass, so it does not need a mat. Canvas is framed directly or with a floater frame that leaves a small gap around the edges.
Does canvas artwork have glass?
No. Canvas prints have a protective coating, and part of their beauty is the canvas texture. Glass would hide that texture and add glare.
Can you frame a canvas print?
Yes. Stretched canvas can be framed directly or in a floater frame. Rolled canvas must be stretched first. We can do both for you; contact us for a quote.
Still deciding? We are here to help.
Call or text 678-916-6545, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM ET, email [email protected], or visit our Atlanta showroom at 154 Selig Drive SW, Suite A.
