So, you’re an artist and you’re getting the age-old questions: “How did you publish your books?” and, almost as frequently, “How do you make prints of your art?”. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been meaning to answer that second question for a while now. Well, today is the day we finally dive into the world of art prints and explore exactly How To Make Prints Of Paintings that you can be proud to sell.
Obtaining a High-Quality Image of Your Original Painting
The first crucial step in learning how to make prints of paintings is capturing your artwork in high quality. You can’t create stunning prints from a subpar image. Artists often consider professional scanning services or high-resolution photography. While professional scanning offers top-notch quality, it can be expensive. Photography, on the other hand, can be unreliable if not done correctly, with issues arising from inconsistent lighting and lens distortion.
I opted for a middle-ground approach: scanning my artwork myself. Initially, I used an all-in-one Canon inkjet printer/scanner combo. Something similar to this model served me well for a couple of years. Despite being a bit slow and occasionally temperamental, it was a budget-friendly starting point.
However, I encountered a challenge when I created a mixed media painting featuring fluorescent orange paint. To my dismay, the scanned image rendered the vibrant orange as gray. After some research, I discovered that standard scanners often struggle to accurately capture fluorescent colors.
This led me to invest in a dedicated scanner, the Epson Perfection v600. Years later, it remains my go-to scanner and I’m extremely satisfied with its performance. It’s noticeably faster, delivers exceptional image quality, and boasts seamless compatibility with various computers.
While the Epson scanner is pricier than the Canon and lacks printing or copying functionalities, it excels at its primary task: producing high-quality scans quickly. If you already own a device like the Canon, it’s perfectly adequate until you feel the need for an upgrade. However, if you’re choosing between the two and don’t require a printer, the Epson is a worthwhile investment for superior scan quality when you make prints of paintings.
Producing Your Art Prints: Options and Considerations
Once you have a high-resolution digital image, the next step in how to make prints of paintings is deciding how to produce the physical prints. Initially, I attempted to print my own art prints using the Canon inkjet printer mentioned earlier, printing on cardstock-like paper.
This DIY approach was fraught with frustration and proved to be a drain on both supplies and finances. High-quality art paper was expensive, and achieving accurate colors and print quality often required multiple attempts, quickly depleting ink cartridges – a costly affair with an inkjet printer.
Realizing the limitations of home printing, I decided to explore outsourcing print production. Local print shops primarily focused on bulk orders, which was unsuitable for my need for print-on-demand services and beyond my budget at the time. My online search led me to RedBubble.
RedBubble offers excellent product quality, and their prints are truly impressive. However, the artist’s profit margin is quite slim. I would recommend RedBubble primarily if profit isn’t a major concern, or if you have a high volume of sales where small profits per print accumulate significantly.
One aspect I appreciated about RedBubble was their card offerings. They provide cello-wrapped cards with envelopes, available individually or in bulk. However, the inability to customize the RedBubble shop link printed on the back of the cards was a drawback for me. I am still searching for a cost-effective way to produce high-quality cards and welcome any recommendations!
After RedBubble, I briefly considered Fine Art America before transitioning my print production to iPrintfromHome, which I continue to use today. iPrintfromHome delivers high-quality prints on various surfaces, including fine art paper, and they include a white border. Crucially for a busy artist, they offer drop-shipping to your customers. This means when someone buys a print from my online shop, I can order it through iPrintfromHome, and they handle both printing and shipping directly to the customer. This hands-off approach is a huge benefit. Customers have consistently praised their shipping packaging as being exceptionally well-done.
I also utilize iPrintfromHome for bulk print orders for craft fairs and art exhibitions. The print quality remains consistently excellent, and bulk orders offer cost savings. The packaging for these bulk orders is also remarkably robust.
While iPrintfromHome largely meets my needs, there are a couple of features I wish they offered, such as matting and cello-wrapping for prints, as well as card printing services. Additionally, they currently don’t offer international shipping, which requires me to handle re-shipping for orders outside the US and Canada – a minor inconvenience. However, these are minor drawbacks compared to the overall quality and service.
A notable positive aspect of IPFH is the personalized feel of their service. Their social media interaction is engaging, their customer service is responsive and helpful, and they even send a small anniversary card each year to mark your account creation date. This human touch is something I truly value.
Of course, there are numerous other avenues for producing art prints. However, this combination of scanning and print-on-demand services with iPrintfromHome works best for my budget, workflow, and desire for control over my art production process.
Finding a Sustainable and Affordable Approach for You
Ultimately, the key to successfully how to make prints of paintings lies in finding a production method that is both affordable and sustainable for your individual art practice.
If your chosen methods become overwhelming or excessively expensive, you are less likely to consistently produce prints. While limiting print production is a valid artistic choice (as exemplified by one of my favorite artists, Micki Wilde, who focuses solely on original paintings), the decision should be yours. You don’t have to conform to industry norms or perceived expectations of “real artists.” Choose a method that aligns with your needs and allows you to confidently and enjoyably offer prints of your paintings.
If you’re an artist who creates prints, what methods do you use? Do you have any recommendations or insights to share? Please contribute your advice in the comments below! And if you are considering making prints of your art and have unanswered questions, please ask them in the comments, and I’ll do my best to provide answers.
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