Original Lithography
Original lithography is more of a "hands-on" method of printing and is much more time consuming than offset lithography. The process involves a stone or metal plate onto which a printer’s wax is poured. The image to be printed is cut (in reverse) into the wax down to the stone or metal plate. When this is complete, water-based ink is spread onto the plate. The ink will remain where the image has been cut, but will not stay on the way. The plate is then pressed onto paper and the image is transferred. Several plates with different portions of the image may be used in completing the full image. Original lithography is the type of printing where the first images pulled from the press may very well be of better clarity than the last images. The nature of the wax to expand from pressure during the printing process can cause latter images to be less clear and distinct than the first images. Hence the origin of the demand for lower numbered reproductions. Bob Timberlake's images of "The Alexander Long House" and "Bald Head Island Lighthouse" are original lithographs.

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Offset Lithography
The type of printing Bob Timberlake reproductions used for many decades is called offset Lithography. Bob found this method to be the most appropriate type for the work which he does. During those era’s It gave a very clear and detailed image which allowed people to appreciate the detail of Bob’s work. It was also very cost effective. With offset lithography Bob was able to provide affordable artwork to many people.
Offset lithography incorporates a sophisticated printing press which has the capability of
producing reproductions at a fairly high rate of speed. The printing plates (which are aluminum) are attached to round cylinders inside of a printing press Ink is mechanically transferred to areas on the aluminum plates where the image appears. From there the ink is transferred to a rubber toller called a blanket. When the art image is transferred to the "blanket" it is reversed (put down backwards). Printing paper is then channeled between the "blanket" roller and another cylinder (hence the term offset) and the image is transferred to the paper. Several printing plates may be used for different colors and different intensities of colors. We characteristically use four different plates and sometime run a print through the press over twenty times until the reproductions are exactly like we want them!

 

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Etching
This is a form of printing which incorporates a metal (usually copper) plate on which an image is etched. The etching is done with acid which "eats" into the plate or by a cutting tool called a "roulette" which actually cuts the metal surface. After the image is "etched" onto the plate (in reverse), ink is poured onto the plate and then the plate is wiped clean. The ink remains in the etched areas and at that point the plate is pressed onto paper and the image is transferred to the paper. Several plates may be needed in a four-color reproduction. This is a very old and respected method of reproducing art images, done almost completely by hand. Bob Timberlake used the etching process on several of his works including "Snow World" and "Another World."

 

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Reproduction
A reproduction refers to a print which has been reproduced from an original painting. It is not the original, but a copy of the original. One of Bob Timberlake's original paintings is created directly by him. If he wishes to have more of these images, copies or "reproductions" will need to be made by a printer. The reproductions do not have the same value as the original painting because they were not created by Bob, but rather by a printing press, and this is less expensive and time consuming. Generally speaking, we can produce as many of these reproductions as we want. Normally, however, we produce only specific quantities which we call limited-editions or in some cases time-limited editions.

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Limited-Edition Reproduction
A limited-edition reproduction is created when you "reproduce" or make a specific number of prints from an original work of art. Limited-edition reproductions can be in any quantity. At Bob Timberlake, Inc., our standard editions are now in quantities of 100 up to 400 signed and numbered reproductions. We print 2 copyright proofs and 3 printer's proofs during each release. Throughout Bob's professional career, he has had edition sizes from 100 all the way up to 8000 plus! The size of the edition is up to the artist.

When you look at a limited-edition print, you should generally see two sets of numbers, one set above the other, such as 346/1250. The top number will indicate the specific print which you are looking at and the bottom number will indicate the total signed and numbered prints in the edition. Bob currently numbers each released print with identical numbers.

Example: In a 100 edition size release, the numbers will be as follows; print 1 = 1/100, print 2 = 1/100, print 3 = 1/100.

 

 

Artist Proofs

In some forms of printing (lithography), the first prints off of a printing press are "proofed" or examined by the artist to be sure they are correct.....that the color and clarity are acceptable and that there are no flaws on the print. If none are found, the artist directs the printer to run (print) the rest of the edition. These initial prints which are proofed by the artist are called "Artist Proofs". In older forms of lithography, the nature of the production method was such that the first prints off of the press had images which were clearer and more distinct. In other words, they were better.
Since these first prints were oftentimes better, folks began to want the "artist proofs" and were willing to pay more for them. Today when people request an artist proof or a low number, their reasoning usually comes from the notion that the first prints off of the press are better. In some forms of printing this may be true. Our reproductions are currently done by an offset press and it does not matter if a print came off of the press first or last, their quality is still the same. An Artist Proof is generally numbered 1/75 AP, 2/75 AP, 3/75 AP, etc. with the top number indicating the specific print and the bottom number indicating the quantity of Artist Proofs produced in the edition.

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Giclee

Giclee is a French term meaning “to spray”, referring to how an inkjet printer works and how giclee prints are usually produced. These large format inkjet printers use small spraying devices that can both match color and apply ink precisely, giving artists a high-quality print of their original art

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Remarque

A remarque is a small original work of art hand-drawn or painted directly on the print by the artist.

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Printer's Proof
A printer's proof is simply a reproduction which a printer keeps for his records. He may
oftentimes use it to compare its quality to other reproductions. Printer's proofs are often entered into competitions in the graphic arts industry where the best quality reproductions receive awards. Bob Timberlake reproductions have won every top national and state award for excellence in the graphic arts industry.

 

 

Copyright Proof
Every Bob Timberlake reproduction is copyrighted with the Federal Government so it cannot be reproduced without our express permission. We must send a copy of the reproduction to the Copyright Office in Washington for them to use for comparison in the event of copyright violations. Those reproductions (usually two) are referred to as "copyright proofs".

 

 

Signed and Numbered Releases
A signed and numbered reproduction refers to each are hand signed signed and numbered by the artist. "Numbered" means the number of the print and the edition size, generally one over the other, such as 256/1250 or as our current method 1/150 consecutively. Once a reproduction/print is released, it should never be reproduced again. A substantial portion of the value is due to the limited nature of the reproduction. When we release a print and once it sells out, the value automatically increases by 10% of its original listing price.

 

 

Signed Only
This is a reproduction which has been signed by the artist without any numbers included. It is generally not limited and more can be printed at any time without affecting the integrity of the edition. This is often referred to as an "Open" edition or "Unlimited" edition.

 

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Unsigned/Unnumbered Reproduction
This is as the name indicates.

The print is neither signed by the artist or numbered. It can be reproduced again at any time and in any quantity.
Signed only and unsigned/unnumbered editions are less valuable than limited-edition reproductions.

 

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Unframed/Framed

Our website offers a "pre-selected" framing option from our designer experts on each print that we have in stock. All "custom" framing options will need to be handled directly with our art department by phone. Unless otherwise specified, all Bob Timberlake "original" paintings we list are already framed, thus included in price.

 

 

Decorator Prints
This is a term often given to unsigned and unnumbered prints done on inexpensive paper. These prints offer people an opportunity to display copies of beautiful art without the expense of higher-priced reproductions.

 

 

Posters
Think of a poster as a decorator print with wording in the border around it. Usually, a poster is done to advertise a special event such as an art exhibition. It is an informational piece with an art image. Posters are very popular and usually very affordable.

 

 

Time-limited Reproduction
A time-limited reproduction is the same basic thing as a standard limited-edition reproduction with one notable exception. On a time-limited reproduction the edition size is determined by the quantity of prints sold during a specific period of time rather than the artist deciding upon a specific number of prints to reproduce. An example of a time-limited release would be if we took orders from September 15th through November 8th. After November the 8th, we would count the number of prints sold and this would determine the size of the edition.

 

 

Edition Size
The edition size indicates how many reproductions (prints) were produced in the edition. There will be a certain amount of signed and numbered reproductions as well as a certain amount of artist proofs, printer's proofs and copyright proofs. When we normally refer to the size of an edition, however, we generally only need to say how many signed and numbered prints have been reproduced.

 

 

Sold-Out Reproduction
This is a reproduction which has been offered for sale and all of the reproductions have sold. There are no more to be had at the issue price.
 

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Issue Price
That price for which a reproduction sells when it is first offered for sale.

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Collector Price
The limited-edition reproduction market is unique in several respects. One of the most interesting
aspects is that the folks who initially purchase the reproductions don't always keep them. There
may be many reasons for selling the work, but one of the most common is that oftentimes when limited-edition reproductions sell out, the demand for them and price which collectors will pay for them goes up. The reproduction can be sold for a profit. Whatever this price may be is referred to as the collector price or value. It is also referred to in other terms such as secondary market value, collector value and collector market value. The demand for as opposed to the supply of the reproductions determines what they will sell for on the collector market. The value may continue to rise over time. Several collectors may buy the same print over time and each of them could make a profit when the print is sold. It is interesting to note that every reproduction which Bob Timberlake has released since he began painting professionally in 1970 has completely sold-out and the collector value those works has increased dramatically!
We encourage collectors to purchase the reproductions because they like them, not because of their potential monetary value. Be certain to never encourage the purchase of a reproduction on its potential monetary value alone.

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Collector Market
This refers to that group of people who collect reproductions.

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Automatic Purchaser
An automatic purchaser is someone who has committed to taking every print which an artist produces. They buy prints on an "automatic" basis.

Please note: As of 2020, due to the limit amounts of prints being signed, we no longer offer our "automatic purchase" program.

 

 

Pre-Sold Edition
When a limited-edition reproduction is sold-out prior to its release, it is referred to as "pre-sold". You get this when the quantity of collectors committing to buy each release exceeds the number of reproductions in the release. Over the years people contacted us to hold a print for them each time we release one. That is how Bob Timberlake's work has become "pre-sold".

 

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Certificate of Authenticity - COA
This is a certificate which we supply with each limited-edition reproduction. It gives certain details regarding the reproduction such as title, artist, edition size, dimensions, measurements, method of reproduction, etc.
For our purposes, it is our assurance to a collector that the work described in the certificate is an authentic Bob Timberlake reproduction.