See start to finish, the entire process for making prints from your artwork. Specific logistics like paper sizes, whether to do print or demand, platforms you can use are covered.
- 1 min. short (every step beginning to end)
- 1 min. short (ordering sample prints)
- 1 min. short (packing spree)
- 40 min. video
Suggestions for how to promote your prints on social media, and how to photograph your artwork images are explained in depth.
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Discussion by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artists Lauryn Welch and Mia Rozear.
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Video Walkthrough
- Decide whether you want to do print on demand, or create your prints in person.
- Print on demand takes the packaging and shipping out of your hands, but it is a LOT of work up front to get everything set up.
- Lots of print on demand sites will link directly to an online shop.
- For example, Printify links to Etsy shops so that the actual transaction happens on Etsy, not Printify.
- For print on demand, check the paper sizes they offer!
- If you don’t, often the size of your artwork won’t align with the paper sizes.
- Images can be cropped to match the paper size, but only to a point.
- Decide what surface you want: matte, semi-gloss, or gloss. This is often determined by the type of artwork you are printing.
- Order proofs, this is really important to be sure the prints are what you want!
- Note the packaging when you order proofs: is it sturdy? Don’t use a print provider with flimsy packaging.
- Postcards are really popular! Many people buy them and they are great if you are selling at an art fair.
- You can even sell misprint postcards, as long as you mark that clearly.
- Photographing your artwork is incredibly important to get good prints, don’t skimp on the work that is required.
- A DSLR camera is ideal, phones usually do not provide enough resolution to get a good print.
- Spend a lot of time editing your photos, there is no chance you can skip this process.
- Check the export settings and image requirements for making prints.
- When editing photos, look at the actual artwork and compare them.
- Zoom in and check all of your photos for bits of dust, etc. which may not be obvious at first.
- Promotion largely happens on social media.
- Skip the cheesy photos where your artwork is placed in a corporate living room, shoot your own!
- Consider seasonal print drops.
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