How do you sign your photography prints?

How do you sign your photography prints?

• I am starting to sell more of my photography prints and I was wondering how other artists signed theirs? Some of mine are digital prints and some are darkroom prints. For the digital prints, should I do a "watermark" style signature at the bottom right of the photo or should I sign it in pen after the print has been printed? If pen, what type of pen and color would be best? For darkroom prints, what color pen should I use? These are not being matted before being sold. Also, should I sign my work on the white border surronding the image or on the actual image? Thanks in advance!

• Answer:

  With prints that I sell I 'sign' them on the back with a copyright date and a code number on a label. I make sure I get acid and lignum free labels and the adhesive is archival quality and won't attack the print over time. I do it this way as I assume my clients won't want my name all over their artwork. I have been asked to sign unmatted prints then I use Indian Ink which I know won't react with anything, but I'm always wary of putting anything on the surface of a print, but so far I've had no problems with Indian Ink. On my matted Art prints I sign on the matte with a dip pen and Indian Ink, as I know this will stand the test of time. The pigment in Indian Ink is just graphite and is totally inert when dry. Chris