TrekO Help Center

✅ Best Practice Summary

The highest-quality method is to keep your master artwork untouched and use a transparent signature overlay.

• Do NOT print → sign → rescan the full artwork (it reduces clarity and color fidelity).
• DO create a high-resolution, transparent signature overlay (PNG) and place it as a layer.
• For physical limited editions, hand sign and hand number each print (ex: 21/100).
• For NFTs, choose whether your NFT is 1-of-1, editioned, or paired to each physical print.

🧾 1) Preserve Your Digital Master

Your master file is the archival source. Keep it clean and full resolution.

• Keep a layered working file (PSD/TIFF recommended).
• Keep full resolution (do not downsize for signing).
• Export print/NFT versions as separate output files.

✍️ 2) Transparent Signature Overlay (Recommended)

This method gives you a real handwritten signature while preserving maximum image clarity.

Step A — Sign on paper:

• Use archival ink (white/metallic for dark artwork, black for light artwork).
• Sign on clean white paper. Let it dry fully.

Step B — Scan the signature only:

• Scan at 600–1200 DPI.
• Save as PNG or TIFF (avoid JPEG during cleanup).

Step C — Remove the background:

• In Photoshop / Affinity / Photopea, remove the white paper background.
• Export the cleaned signature as transparent PNG.

Step D — Apply it to your artwork:

• Place the PNG signature as a separate layer.
• Position in the lower margin (recommended) or designed signature area.
• Export a signed print-ready file (and optionally an NFT-ready version).

Tip: Keep your signature overlay as its own asset so your style stays consistent across releases.

🔢 3) Physical Limited Edition Numbering

For collector trust, physical limited editions should be hand signed and hand numbered.

• Standard format: 21/100 (print number / total edition).
• Recommended: add title + year near the signature (optional).
• Do not exceed your declared edition count.

If you sell 100 physical editions, ideally you print them as a controlled run and hand sign/number each one.

🧬 4) NFT Pairing Options

Choose an NFT structure that matches what you are selling to avoid confusion and protect your brand.

Option A — One NFT referencing the physical edition:

• Mint one NFT (1-of-1) and describe the physical edition in the listing text.

Option B — 100 NFTs matched to 100 physical prints:

• Mint 100 NFTs, each representing a specific physical number (ex: NFT #21 = Print 21/100).
• Metadata should include the edition number and whether physical delivery is included.

Option C — Digital-only edition, separate from physical:

• Create NFT editions that do not promise a physical print (clearly label it).

Important: Be consistent. If you say “limited to 100,” do not create multiple versions with different counts.

🧾 TrekO Recommended Workflow

Use this standard workflow to keep quality high and collector trust strong.

• Finalize master artwork file (archival source).
• Create transparent signature overlay PNG (handwritten signature).
• Export print-ready signed file.
• Print limited run and hand sign + hand number each print.
• Mint NFT(s) using your chosen edition structure.
• Store masters and overlays safely for future verification.