Signing a print

Hello everyone. I would like to give a friend an 11x14 print of a picture I took. They've picked out one they like and have offered to pay for it. First of, I will not take their money, I'm flattered they have asked for one and so I'd like to give it to them. They have asked me to sign it, which brings me to my question. What do you all use to sign a print that will not damage the paper? Do you sign the back of the photo or down in a corner? I'm going to use a pre-cut mat to frame it and it'll pretty much cover any signature on the front. I'm just wondering how most photographers are doing it. Thanks in advance for your input and any tips.

Mike.

Perhaps a Paint marker.

Like these ->
You probably want a medium tip.

https://www.walmart.ca …3D6QvKEAQYAiABE​gJi_fD_BwE

What to sign with depends on the paper which can range form super absorbent to plastic coated. If you can't get any info from the manufacturer (often available on their site) you might want to experiment first. If you want to be super finicky you could look for a pen that uses archival ink. As for where to sign that is something probably best discussed with the recipient.

Or use a tablet, create your signature as a file and put it on the print.

As you're using a matte, i would suggest using a very soft (2B) pencil and sign it in the bottom right hand corner. Could even number it (1/1) for added exclusivity

DagoImaging wrote in post #18606906
Or use a tablet, create your signature as a file and put it on the print.

This is what I did when someone asked me to one of my prints.

Or, if you want to personally sign, you can get one of these. These are the ones that the adult film stars use to sign their promos with. https://www.amazon.com …ALM0Y?tag=impro​vphotog-20

.........well.......so I'm told.....anyway.....

I sign prints on the front, lower right corner, using a fine point Sharpie marker.

Someone did some tests on ways to sign prints:

https://improvephotogr​aphy.com …ning-photographic-prints/

Another take:

https://www.martinbail​eyphotography.com …-art-prints-and-canvases/

either a Micron pen or similar ( i only know the microns) or as someone already mentioned that 2B pencil i use Staedeler if you need a brand...

https://www.pigmamicro​n.com/history

Print it on archival paper and leave a border around the print and sign on the lower right on the white border with a #6 pencil. That way if they want to display the signature they can if they cut or have the over mat cut to show the border with the signature. If not the signature is on the bottom of the actual print and they can cut a mat or have a mat cut to the actual bottom of the print covering the signature.