A limited edition of N is one product. For each size, that product has a Print-only variant plus one variant per pre-made frame colour you offered (Black, White, Oak). By default they all draw from the same edition of N — so a copy is a copy, whether it ships framed or unframed.
This means selling one framed copy also reduces the available count for the print and for the other frame colours of that size.
Why this needs syncing
Shopify has no built-in way to share stock across the variants of a product. Left alone, an "edition of 50" would let up to 50 prints plus 50 of each frame colour sell — far more than 50 copies.
To prevent that, the system runs a sibling-inventory sync behind the scenes. When a paid order comes in:
- It identifies the variant that sold.
- It finds that variant's siblings — every other variant of the same physical print size in the same product (the print and all frame colours).
- It decrements each sibling's available count by the quantity sold.
Refunds run the same logic in reverse, adding the quantity back to every sibling. Decrements are clamped so a sibling can't be pushed below zero.
Siblings are matched on the actual print dimensions, not the size label, so different format labels for the same physical size still link correctly.
The "Link framed and unframed editions" toggle
On the Set Editions card there's a Link framed and unframed editions toggle. It's on by default.
- On — one shared edition ladder per size. Selling unframed #5 also burns #5 for framed. Print and frames are the same numbered edition.
- Off — framed and unframed run independent ladders. Each can issue #1, #2, #3 on its own.
Turn it off only when you genuinely want the framed and unframed runs counted as separate editions.
Edition numbers on the print
The edition number is printed in the border. It can render as a fraction (1/100) or as text (1 of 100), depending on the numbering style set for the print.
Reliability
- Each sale is counted once, even if your store notifies us more than once.
- There can be a brief gap between a sale completing and the count updating. Edition counts are reconciled automatically, so they settle to the right values.
Related
- To set an edition cap, see How to set edition sizes.
- For how each frame colour becomes its own variant, see About frame colour variants.