Are you in a hurry and don't want to wait around for that UPS person to deliver your fine art prints? You want that thing hanging there by the end of the evening. Then printing at home or at a local print shop might be your best option.
Whether you're printing a single poster or an entire series, it's important to ensure that your prints are of the highest quality and accurately represent the artwork. Here are some tips for printing art work at home or at your local print shop:
Invest in the right paper
When printing artwork at home, it's generally recommended to use a heavy weight paper, typically between 120 and 200 gsm (grams per square meter). This will give your prints a professional look and feel and help prevent them from feeling flimsy or flapping in the wind.
Heavy weight paper is also less likely to curl or wrinkle during the printing process, which can help ensure that your prints come out looking crisp and smooth. Additionally, heavy weight paper is more durable and less prone to tearing or damage than lighter weight paper.
In general, it's a good idea to choose a paper that is specifically designed for printing fine art. This type of paper is often referred to as "archival grade" and is made to resist fading and discoloration over time. Archival grade paper is typically made from high-quality materials such as cotton or alpha cellulose, and is acid-free to help prevent yellowing or deterioration.
Use the right printer settings
Most printers have multiple quality settings to choose from, such as "draft," "standard," and "high quality." For printing artwork, it's generally best to choose the highest quality setting available. This will ensure that your prints have a high level of detail and sharpness, and will also help prevent banding or other printing errors.
If your printer uses ink cartridges, it's best to use pigment-based inks rather than dye-based inks. Pigment-based inks are more fade-resistant and will give your prints a longer lifespan. They are also generally more expensive than dye-based inks, but the investment is worth it for the added quality and durability.
Depending on your printer, you may be able to adjust the color settings to match the colors in your artwork more closely. Some printers have a "color matching" or "ICC profile" option that allows you to select a specific color space or profile. This can help ensure that the colors in your prints are as close as possible to the colors in your original artwork.
Before committing to printing a large quantity of prints, it's a good idea to do a test run and print a single page. This will allow you to see how the printer handles the artwork and make any necessary adjustments to the settings.
Consider printing at a local print shop
If you don't have access to a high-quality printer at home or if you're printing a large quantity of prints, consider taking your artwork to a local print shop. They will have the equipment and expertise to produce high-quality prints that meet your exact specifications.
Hope these recommendations will help you achieve the highest quality prints possible. If you're ready to take the next step, we invite you to check out the digital print files available in our online store. These files are set up in a clear and precise way, using high-resolution images and carefully calibrated color settings, to ensure that the end result will be a beautiful, high-quality print.
Happy printing!
