Customfield as Product Variant?

[Hawker]

If I was selling prints, and these could be signed or not, does this mean I have to make two child products, one for the signed version of the print and one for the un-signed version of the print?

If I do not have to make separate child products for the print (signed or not), then is adding a signed/unsigned Customfield to the 'Print' product sufficient?
Many thanks an advance for your VM3 advice.

[PRO]

thats up to YOU!

Do you need to keeo stock? etc, then you have to do a child product.

If not, you just need an option

[Hawker]

Thank you PRO! That's very helpful. 
If I don't need to keep stock, then is the String custom field the one to use in this case?
I understand that 'String' offers Parent 'versions', without having to link to Child products. Is this correct? If so, where in the customer invoice/order does the String information show?

[Jumbo!]

Take a look at this extension, "VP Advanced Custom Field" - https://www.virtueplanet.com/extensions/vp-advanced-custom-field

Create and maintain stockable multi-variants for your products without maintaining child products. Show product variants with colour, image or just as text. Display them as radio button, checkbox, dropdown list or just as a button. Show help information, set them a required and much more.

Disclaimer: I am the developer of this extension.

[Hawker]

I re-phrased the question with an explanatory image, in this thread:
http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=142886.0