Printing Your Printable Art (2024)

Printing Your Printable Art (1)

WHAT IS PRINTABLE ART?
Printable art (digitaldesign files) is a cost-efficient way to get high quality art instantly, without paying for shipping and waiting for days for your prints to arrive. You can print on a home desktop printer or upload to an online or local print service.If you've ever hada photo from your phone digital cameraprinted, you're all set with the concept of printable art!You'll have ultimate flexibility in selecting your own paper, whether it be matte, glossy, canvas, or some other surface!

WHAT SIZES CAN I PRINT MY ART?
Each product listing description contains the available JPG print dimensions for that design. All designsfrom Ollie + Hankarehigh-resolution 300 dpi JPG files in RGB color mode, which is astandard requirement from most professional print services.

WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND TAKING MY FILES FOR PRINTING?
If you're in the U.S. or Canada and uploading to an online service and you're not in a hurry, I recommend Finerworks.com or Persnicketyprints.com. Framebridge.com will also print your files and frame them for you as well. Locally in the U.S., Staples, Walgreens, FedEx Kinko's, Costco, Walmart, etc., will all print your files for you. If you should encounter any issues with using these services, pleaselet me knowand I'll help troubleshoot.

In store printing service suggestions:
- In the U.S.:
Staples, FedEx Kinko's, Walgreen's, Walmart, Target, Costco
- In Canada:Staples, Walmart, Costco
- In the U.K.:Boots
- In Australia:Officeworks
- In New Zealand:Harvey Norman

WHAT KIND OF PAPER DO YOU RECOMMEND?
This is really a personal choice, but I tend to prefer heavyweight matte paper for my art prints. Many office supply stores offer high quality heavyweight matte photo paper that will work well with your desktop printer. You can also usesatin, semi-gloss or glossy paper for your prints, which would work particularly well for full color photographic prints.


CAN I USE YOUR DESIGNS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES?
All of my designs are for personal use only, and should not be used for commercial purposes or free distribution.Online and personal sharing of these files isstrictly prohibited.


WHAT IS YOUR REFUND/RETURN POLICY?
If your digital files have not yet been downloaded or delivered, you are eligible for a full refund of your printable purchase. If you've ordered purchased prints and they arrive damaged, pleasecontact me and share a photo of the damage so that wemay get new prints out to you ASAP.

PRINTING AT HOME OR AT THE OFFICE:
I recommend using smooth cardstockor heavyweight photo paper for your prints - glossy, semi-gloss, satin or matte selections are matters of personal preference, but I tend to prefer matte paper for most of my prints, as it is less likely to contribute to glare and reflection when framed.

When printingyourfiles, be sure your printer's settings are set to print at "original size" or 100% toensure proper sizing. If there's a "quality" setting, select the highest available. In the paper selection option,select the appropriate option for your selected paper.

Color management:Please be sure your printer's color management/color correction isdisabledbefore printing, or you may end up with a color cast especially in white areas of your print. Here are some guidelines:

- Epson: Set Color Management to “None”, “Off” or “No Color Management”. Depending on the driver and version, you may need to select "ICM" before seeing any of these choices. Also make sure that the "print preview" option is NOT checked, or you may end up with a magenta cast to your print.

- Canon: the naming of the control may not always be consistent, but it will generally be “Off” or “None”

- HP: Set color management to “Application Managed Color”. Depending on the driver and version, you may need to select ICM before seeing this choice.

PRINTING AT STAPLES STORES(U.S. and Canada customers):
I've been really pleased with the quality ofStaples prints, where you can get very inexpensive same day prints if ordering before 2 PM (with a small rush fee).

For same-day/in-store 4x6", 5x7", 8x10" or 8.5x11" prints on matte paper:

  • Select Staples' "copy and print services - color" option.
  • Select the110lb. white cover/card stockoption for best results.
  • When picking up your order, be sure to review your prints - if there are any print issues, the staff should be happy to reprint your order foryou.
  • Make sure the "fit content to paper" checkbox is UNCHECKED if you're uploading a file with a print size of less than 8.5"x11"

For same-day/in-store 11x14", 16x20" and 20x30" on semi-gloss photo paper:

  • Select Staples' "photo enlargements" option.
  • Choose your print size
  • The utility will automatically resize and crop your uploaded file to fit the dimensions of the paper. If your file print size doesn't match the paper size, choose the first file print size that's larger than the paper size (it's better to reduce images than to enlarge, in general).

For larger same-day/in-store prints - printed on 12x18", 18x24" or 24x36" matte paper (you can trim to your desired size afterward):

  • Select Staples' "Oversized Color Prints" option.
  • On the media tab, select your paper size (select the paper size closest to your final print size). I recommend any of the sizes in the "White Standard HWT" option.
  • UNCHECK the "fit content to paper" option unless the paper size is the same as your desired final print size and you don't intend to trim the paper.

To print larger sizes:

  • SelectSame Day posteroption.
  • Their available sizes are rather limited - 12x18", 18x24" and 24x36". Your file will automatically be resized and cropped to fit these dimensions. You'll be shown a preview image. so you can decide if this is acceptable.
  • I recommend going with their super heavyweight 140 lb. matte finish option, orthe semi-gloss 140 lb.medium sheen option for best results.


PRINTING AT FEDEX KINKO'S STORES(U.S. and Canada customers):

FedEx Kinko's is another great option for fast, same-day prints.
To print 8x10" or 8.5x11" files at FedEx Kinko's:

  • First upload your file using theirprint utility on their website.
  • Once uploaded, you will probablyreceive a message stating "this file contains a non-standard print size," so you'll want to click the "review options" button. Select "Letter - 8.5x11" for your print size. This will enlargethe 8x10 image slightly since FedEx automatically prints to fillthe page.
  • Then, continue on to your print options.The only thing you have to do here is select your paper. Under "Paper Selection," choose "Card and Cover Stocks" and then "Ultra Bright White (Card)" for best results.

To print 11x14" files:

  • Select "Tabloid - 11x17" for the print size.
  • Selectthe 80lb. laser paper option (this is the heaviest weight they currently offer in this size).

To print larger sizes (16x20" and above):

  • Select theposter printing option. The available sizes are 16x20, 18x24, 22x28, 24x36, and 36x48.
  • Again, the software will automatically scale your file to fit the page size. The results are really nice and usually available the same day as you place your order.


PRINTING AT WALGREENS (U.S. customers):

Walgreensis my favorite location for same-day pickup of prints/posters in11x14, 12x18, 16x20, 20x30 and 24x36 sizes.

  • Their paper texture for posters is a nice satin - not quite matte, but not slippery smooth/gloss either.
  • Walgreens often has coupons for photo printing, so check the site before purchasing online. My local Walgreens here in New Hampshire has my posters ready within 30 minutes of ordering!
  • Their 8x10 prints also look great, though the only paper option is glossy paper for same-day pickup.
Printing Your Printable Art (2024)

FAQs

What is the best print settings for art prints? ›

print resolution. Note: screen resolution is 72 ppi and printing resolution is best done at 300 dpi. You'll notice that you don't need as much resolution to show a sharp clear image on a screen as you do when printing on paper. Just so you don't get too confused most people use dpi to refer to both pixels and dots.

How do you print your own artwork? ›

To turn your art into physical prints, first digitize your artwork using a high-quality scanner or camera. Edit the digital image for color accuracy and resolution, preferably 300 dpi for fine prints. Then, choose a reliable print-on-demand service or a professional printing company to produce the prints.

What is the best format for printable art? ›

TIFF files are an excellent choice for almost every printing session. It creates high-resolution files with very clear images in both black and white and color.

How to get free printable art? ›

Where to Find Free Printable Wall Art
  1. Pixabay. Pixabay offers millions of images you can download and use for free. ...
  2. Library of Congress. The Library of Congress has a digital collection of images that are free to use. ...
  3. NASA. ...
  4. National Gallery of Art. ...
  5. Biodiversity Heritage Library. ...
  6. Old Book Illustrations. ...
  7. Unsplash. ...
  8. Morguefile.
Mar 25, 2021

What is the best printing method for art prints? ›

Fine art prints are best produced using high-resolution digital photography and then printed using offset lithographic printing techniques combined with the Pantone color system to get the most faithful reproduction and the most durable results possible.

What resolution should I print my artwork? ›

For most artwork, 300 dpi is preferred. Most printers produce excellent output from images set at 300 ppi. You can use 150 dpi for large prints because the difference in print quality is not very noticeable on large pieces when you look at the prints from a distance.

What are the 4 basic methods for making an art print? ›

Traditional printmaking techniques include woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography, while modern artists have expanded available techniques to include screenprinting.

What kind of paper should you use for art prints? ›

One of my favourite papers for fine art prints is the German Hahnemuhle Etching Paper. This paper is made from 100% cotton rag and has a beautiful texture that gives your prints a unique look and feel. It also has a high archival quality, meaning your prints will last for generations without fading or discolouring.

How do I take pictures of my art for prints? ›

ADDITIONAL ARTWORK PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS:
  1. Use bright, indirect natural lighting.
  2. Natural light fluorescent bulbs can also be a good choice.
  3. Avoid deep shadows and dappling effects.
  4. Position the lights and the artwork carefully before taking the photo. ...
  5. Soften the glare and intensity by diffusing the light source.
May 13, 2020

What is the most popular printable art size? ›

Typically, the most popular of these print sizes (and thus the most sellable) are 10” x 8”, 10”x14”, and 12” x 12” – although this all depends on the customer or artist.

What is the best size to make art prints? ›

12 Profitable art print sizes
  1. 5x7 inches. Advantages: This size is perfect for capturing intimate moments, like portraits or detailed close-ups. ...
  2. 6x8 inches. ...
  3. 8x10 inches. ...
  4. 8x12 inches. ...
  5. 10x10 inches. ...
  6. 11x14 inches. ...
  7. 18x24 inches. ...
  8. 20x20 inches.
Oct 15, 2023

Is JPEG or PNG better for printing? ›

PNG's high-resolution images offer superior color depth and can deliver high-quality prints on home or industrial printers. Meanwhile, lossy compression could make JPG photos become blurry or lose color when they're printed.

Is printable art profitable? ›

Selling printable wall art on Etsy can be profitable, but it depends on various factors such as the demand for the type of art, the quality of the designs, the pricing strategy, and the competition in the market.

How to print your own art? ›

How to digitise your artwork
  1. Firstly, use a good quality scanner to capture a digital copy of your art. If the piece is too large to fit on the scanner in one go, try using one that has a flip lid so you can scan it in sections. ...
  2. Fix & edit your scanned image. ...
  3. Set a high resolution for printing.

Why do people buy printable art? ›

1) It's cheaper! Printable Art costs only a couple of dollars, compared to 30+ dollars for a physical product. Sure, if you don't print it at home, you have to add a couple more dollars, but it's still cheaper, so perfect for DIY people that operate on a budget! 2) You don't need to wait for shipping!

What are the best image settings for print? ›

The industry standard for printing small or regular-size images is 300 DPI. It offers a good balance between image quality and file size. However, if you want large prints (like posters and banners), 600 DPI will give you high detail and quality.

What is the best ratio for art prints? ›

An ideal pick for artwork and portraits, the 4:5 aspect ratio brings a slightly more square shape, complementing the natural symmetry and proportions of objects and faces.

What is the best thickness for art prints? ›

210-300gsm is generally the weight for a more premium fine art paper. It is a little more like card with a tactile feel but still has a bend to it. 310-400gsm is a much thicker, card-like paper.

How do I get the highest quality print? ›

How To Get Better Print Quality
  1. Make Sure You're Using the Best Software. The software you use can make a difference! ...
  2. Check Your Monitor. ...
  3. Understand Your Printing Languages. ...
  4. Check Your Operating System. ...
  5. Poke Around in Your Print Settings. ...
  6. Rethink Your Paper Stock. ...
  7. Consult a Print Expert.
Aug 24, 2023

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