Summary:
- Creating and ordering art prints are a great way for artists to be able to sell and distribute copies of their artwork.
- To prepare your art prints for printing, convert your physical or digital artwork using either hi-res photography or exporting it in your graphic design software, download it as a print-friendly PDF and choose your customizations like paper type and size.
- When you’re ready to bring your art prints to life, submit your print-friendly design files to Little Rock for professional printing.
For artists to share their one-of-a-kind artwork, they have to rely on art prints that can be sold and distributed to others. Art prints are created through a digital transfer process that can be printed and reproduced—whether it’s converting physical art into a high-quality digital upload or exporting a hi-res version of digital artwork.
Check out our step-by-step guide to ordering and printing the best art prints for your personal and business needs.
Step 1: Prep Your Art For Printing
Converting Physical Media to Digital
Before you submit your art for printing, you’ll want to prep your physical artwork by digitally transferring it using high-resolution photography. Using a hi-res camera, including your iPhone or Android, will result in a hi-res image, meaning 300 PPI (pixels per inch) or 300 DPI (dots per inch) on a printing press, for a sharp, crisp image.
To take the best photo, make sure you have ample lighting in your home or studio. Get a clear photo of your artwork and then save the JPEG file to your computer.
Exporting Digital Artwork for Print
If you’re submitting digital artwork for printing, the process is just as easy. Once you’re done with your digital artwork in the graphic design program you’re using, convert your JPEG file to a print-friendly PDF. Be sure to add crop marks and bleeds and export with CMYK colours for the highest quality.
Step 2: Upload Your Artwork to Canva
Use a free editing tool like Canva to modify and convert your file to a print-friendly PDF before submitting your art print for professional printing. To prep your photo in Canva, simply:
- Enter the dimensions of your art print into the custom size search bar and click “Create new design”.
- Upload the JPEG of your art by selecting “Upload media”.
- Drag the corners of your art to fill the white space of your design board.
- Name your file and click “Download”.
- Select “PDF print” for the highest quality.
- Select “crop marks and bleeds” and download.
- Save to your desktop.
Need to design other print materials in Canva? Check out some of our print-ready Canva templates to get started.
Step 3: Determine How Many Copies You Need to PrinT
The reason you are printing your artwork will likely dictate how many copies you want to print. Are you printing an individual art piece for yourself or a loved one? Are you printing copies to sell at an art market or through an online marketplace like Etsy?
Determine the minimum amount of prints you need and the maximum quantity you think you can reasonably sell, then order the largest quantity within that range that you are comfortable placing. Generally higher volume print runs mean a lower cost per print.
If you are selling your art prints, consider other print materials you may want to order at the same time. These might include business cards to slip in with art print purchases or tent cards and banner stands to have set up if you are selling in-person at a market. Don’t forget to consider packaging like cellophane, tissue paper, or poster tubes to send your beautiful art prints home safely with their new owner.
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Step 4: Select Your Customized Print Options
Once you’ve prepared your artwork as a digital file, it’s time to decide what customizations you want for your art prints including paper options, print sizes, and more.
Paper Types
There are a variety of paper options for your art prints, it all depends on the thickness and finish you’re looking for—from thin cardstock to thick uncoated paper. Here are the different paper options we offer at Little Rock:
- 100# Text: A little thinner than cardstock but our thickest paper in a “text” weight.
- 8 PT Cover: Same as 11PT Cover but as a thin cardstock that’s more budget-friendly.
- 11PT Cover: Postcard thickness, medium cardstock.
- 15PT Cover: Same as 11PT Cover but slightly thicker like a business card.
- 19PT Cover: Our thickest coated paper option, great for dark backgrounds and premium art prints.
- 13PT Uncoated Cover: Medium-thick cardstock, great for designs with a lot of white in the background.
- 16PT Uncoated Cover: Same type of paper as a business card, great option for an art print with thicker paper.
- 22PT Uncoated Cover: This is the thickest paper option in our shop, great for really premium designs with light or white backgrounds. Not recommended for darker or black backgrounds.
If you’re not sure which paper option is best, we highly recommend ordering a free paper sample kit. You’ll receive a comprehensive selection of paper types, stickers, posters, and banners so you can make an informed decision before placing your order.
Size Options
Next, you’ll need to decide what size you want your art prints to be. You’ll choose your finished size and your flat size.
Finished size is simply choosing whether you’re going with a standard art print (size 12×18” or smaller) or an oversized art print (larger than 12×18” up to 13×25”, typically used for flyers and posters). Flat size is the actual dimensions that you want to print. Our default is set to 8.5×11” but you can adjust to whatever size you need. Other common sizes are 8×10”, 16×20”, and 24×36” since these sizes fit most frames available in stores.
The last customization you’ll make is whether you want the art print single or double-sided, which is a good option for a flyer—you’ll be able to get more details into one print product.
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Step 5: Choose Little Rock For Professional Printing
Hiring a professional printer is the best way to ensure you get the highest quality art prints possible. Here are a few reasons why choosing Little Rock is the way to go:
- We use top-of-the-line equipment and methods to ensure maximum detail and the finest possible result when creating prints of your originals.
- We offer an incredible range of paper and size options, plus a free sample kit so you can find something that fits your needs.
- There are no order minimums and you can order multiple art print designs (within the same paper type) in the same order. We also offer a free single proof of your art print before you place a larger order.
- We have flexible delivery and pickup timelines so that your art prints are ready when you need them.
When you’re ready to place your order, we’ll be ready to get to work creating your art prints. If you have any questions about your order or any of our other printing services, contact the Little Rock Printing experts.
