How to Make Prints of Your Art

Creating art prints of your art has several advantages, including:

Art prints make art more accessible to a wider audience. Original artworks are often expensive due to their unique nature and the time and skill involved in their creation. Art prints, however, can be produced at a fraction of the cost, allowing art lovers of various budgets to own and enjoy a piece of your art.

Art prints provide a steady and scalable source of income. While selling original pieces might yield higher individual sales, art prints offer the opportunity for continuous revenue. As an artist, you can continue to earn from a single piece of artwork indefinitely, as long as there is demand.

The process of making art prints opens up opportunities for creative experimentation. You can explore various printing techniques, materials, and formats, offering new avenues for artistic expression and innovation. For example, you might create posters, framed art prints, or even merchandise like phone cases and fridge magnets. 

Here’s how to create art prints:

You will need to digitize your art before making prints. This involves scanning or photographing.

Flatbed scanners are your best bet as they are made for this kind of work. They provide a stable, flat surface that ensures even and accurate scanning across the entire artwork. Handheld scanners, on the other hand, often struggle with art production. Their design makes it hard to keep them steady, leading to uneven scans.

Your phone might have a scanner app, but it’s not the best tool for copying your art. The small camera lens and limited control over settings, restrict you from getting the same crisp, clear image that a flatbed scanner provides.

Before you scan, clean your artwork. Use a soft brush to get rid of any dust or bits that might show up. You want a clean scan to start with.

Turn on your scanner and set it to the right DPI. DPI means “dots per inch.” It’s how detailed your scan will be. For standard art prints, 300 DPI works well. If you’re making big prints or want extra detail, go for 600 DPI or more. A higher DPI means sharper images, but the file size will be bigger.

After scanning, save your file as a PNG or TIFF. These formats keep all the details without compressing the image. Do not use JPEG as it can lose some of the fine details in your art.

Sometimes your art won’t fit on a scanner. Maybe it’s bigger than the usual 8.5 x 11 inches, or it has a bumpy surface. In these cases, taking a photo is your best option. But not just any photo will do. You need the right setup to get a good shot of your artwork.

You want soft, even light that doesn’t create glare or shadows. This helps show off your art’s true colors and details. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady. Make sure your camera is lined up straight with your artwork to avoid any angles that might compromise your piece.

For top-notch art prints, a DSLR or mirrorless camera is your best choice. These cameras offer more control over settings like aperture and shutter speed, letting you fine-tune your shot. 

No pro camera? No problem. Modern smartphones often come with high-quality cameras that can take sharp, clear photos that work well for most arts. The most important thing is to use the best camera you have access to.

Once you have a digital version of your artwork, edit it to match the original as closely as possible.

Start by using a color-calibrated monitor for accurate on-screen colors. Use Adobe RGB when you are working on your file. It gives you more colors to play with, so your art looks its best on screen.

Enhance the brightness and contrast to achieve the desired visual impact, and use sharpening tools to accentuate fine details. Remove any blemishes or imperfections using the healing brush or clone stamp tools.

Finally, crop and resize the image to fit the desired print dimensions, maintaining the aspect ratio to avoid distortion. Save the file in a high-quality format like TIFF or PNG.

Printers use a different set of colors called CMYK. Soft proofing in your software will show you how the colors will shift when converted to CMYK. When you're ready to print, convert your artwork to the CMYK profile. Adjust the colors as needed to ensure they match your original as closely as possible. 

How you print matters a lot. You’ve got a few choices, and each one has its strengths: 

Inkjet printers are great for making prints at home or if you’re just starting out. These printers deliver high-quality art prints with vibrant colors and fine details.

Giclée is a fancy name for a special kind of inkjet printing. Giclée prints use the best printers, special inks that last a long time, and high-quality paper. Colors come out true to your original art, and all the little details show up clearly.

You want paper that won’t yellow or break down over time. Look for words like “archival” and “acid-free” when picking paper. Then think about the finish: Glossy paper makes the colors pop and works great for photos. Matte paper gives a softer look that’s perfect for paintings and drawings. There are also in-between options like luster and satin that can work for all kinds of art.

Before printing in bulk, always print a test proof to ensure the final product meets your expectations. Compare the test print with your original artwork to ensure accuracy in color and detail. Look for discrepancies such as color mismatches, or loss of detail, and note areas that need adjustment. 

To avoid costly mistakes, make further edits in your software if needed and print additional proofs until you are satisfied with the results. 

Once you are happy with the test proof, you can proceed to print multiple copies. If you don’t have a high-quality printer, consider using a local print shop or an online printing service. Contact them in advance to understand their specifications and recommendations for the best results.

To determine the right price for your art prints, consider factors like production costs, time investment, your reputation, print edition size, framing options, economic conditions, and market trends. 

There are a few ways to price your prints. You could use:

Once you’ve set your prices, it’s time to tell people about your prints. Leverage social media to share images and engage with your followers. Use email marketing to update subscribers on new art prints and special offers. 

Making a catalog of your prints can help people see all your work in one place. Engage with art communities, and consider partnerships and influencer collaborations to expand reach and enhance visibility. 

Making art prints of your work is an excellent way to share your creativity with a larger audience while preserving your original pieces. Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, the world of art prints offers exciting opportunities to expand your reach and grow your artistic career.