Guide to Printing Digital Downloads
My top recommendations for gorgeous art prints
Above: my Amsterdam sketch on natural moab paper with a deckled edge from Giclee Today.
I’m glad you’re here! In this post, I’m sharing how to level up the printable art that you may download from Etsy, the open domain, or elsewhere to bring life and character to your space. If you want your prints to be very high quality and look authentic, keep reading :). I’m giving you advice from my perspective as an artist and former graphic designer.
Above: My Paris painting printed on natural moab paper with a deckled edge from Giclee Today.
Image Quality
If you want your prints to turn out beautiful, they have to have good image quality. There’s honestly no way around it. To check for quality on Etsy, read through the reviews before you download something. Most often if the artwork being sold has pixelation, someone will write about it in the reviews.
Also, if you’re browsing the open domain art collections, keep in mind that most of them have been scanned at low resolution. So if you download something, be sure to check the properties of the image to see what the resolution is. Anything less than 300 ppi/dpi is low resolution for printing. To check an image’s resolution on Mac, go to Finder, right-click on the image, select “Get Info” and then open “More Info.” On Windows, go to File Explorer, right click on the image, select “Properties” and then select the “Details” tab. Look at horizontal/vertical resolution.
If you do want to use open domain art, you may want to print it small to make any pixelation less obvious. You can technically increase resolution through Adobe Photoshop, but it most likely will still not be a clear, crisp image.
Choose linen, canvas, uncoated, or natural paper options
Seascape painting printed at 5x7 on linen paper from Staples.
“Imagine what the original work of art would have been created on”
2. Paper Options
There are countless paper options when ordering prints, but the key thing to remember is to imagine what the original work of art would have been created on. It most likely was on canvas, a textured paper, or smooth uncoated paper. Try to find those options or close to it. If you can’t find a canvas option, there may be a linen option which is essentially what canvas is. You’ll often come across the terms “fine art” or “giclee” which are great options. It’s most likely a paper that has archival qualities so that the inks last for a long time.
My favorite thing to add to a print is a deckled edge, especially if it’s a drawing or if I add a border. It truly gives the print that authentic look and I love to show it off.
You’ll want to avoid finishes like glossy which may also be described as “coated.” Glosses are applied on top of the image to give it a sheen and it doesn’t produce a print that could pass as the original (if that’s what you’re going for). Even matte paper can be coated too, so keep that in mind.
If you want your print to have a little age to it, I suggest using a natural colored paper vs. white. I always go for natural moab at my print shop.
Paris drawing printed on natural moab paper with a deckled edge from Giclee Today.
3. Print Shops
Feel free to explore all the places online and locally, of course, so that you can find the pricing and quality that works best for you. Each print shop has a little bit different language, sizing options, and knowledge. The place that I print all of my fine art prints at is Giclee Today online.
You’ll notice that different shops will have different color outcomes because each printer (as in the machine) is unique depending on the temperature of the room or how the ink is flowing.
Can you use a place like Staples, Kinkos, etc? Technically, yes. My seascape painting (above) was printed on linen paper from Staples. You may get a more consistent outcome with a place that specializes in printing artwork.
I’ve heard great things from these places:
Candela
Picture Salon
Mpix
Giclee Today (my print shop)
Thank you for checking out my tips for printing digital downloads! I hope this is beneficial to you as you decorate your home on a budget but still have gorgeous art!
If you’re new here, I’m Sara and am the artist at Nelson Art & Design Co. I primarily create European scenes that have a vintage and romantic feel. Take a look around and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions!
