As a photographer, artist or graphic designer, one major chunk of your income is made by selling prints of original works.
A lot of artists rely on professional printing services for optimal results, however, depending on the number of prints you are having made on a monthly basis, it might be wise to consider investing in your own professional tools to start making your prints at home.
Not only is this the more economical route it will also allow you to print your work to your own professional standard. If you’re thinking about making your own art prints at home, here are a few things you should take into account.
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Consider the Size of Your Original Work
As you set about creating an original piece from which to make a print from, consider the size of it. While professional printing services have industry-sized scanners and printers, chances are you are working with regular a home-printing model, so you need to be sure that you stick to a size that will not decrease the quality of the print when blowing the image up, for example. A good size standard to follow is 10 x 14. Following this size, you can rest assured you will always achieve the highest quality even if you blow the image up.
Scan Your Artwork
Once you have finished your original pieces, start scanning them on the highest resolution possible for the best quality. Make sure your artwork is completely dry before placing it in the scanner to avoid unfortunate mishaps and smudging. Position the piece in the scanner the way you’re looking to print it to save time on repositioning and rotating the image later on in the process.
Put Your Photoshop Skills to Good Use
We trust your original artwork looks perfect as is, but once you’ve scanned it, it might require a few little extra touches to get the best printed look. The easiest program to use for small and big fixes as such is, of course, Photoshop. Yes, it can look like overwhelmingly complicated software but with the help of a few YouTube tutorials you’ll be good to go. Basic photoshop skills will allow you to adjust the colours and remove any minor glitches easily and effectively, ensuring top results.
If you’re experienced with Photoshop, you’ll have endless possibilities at your disposal. You could create different styles of the same artwork by changing up backgrounds, colour codes and even the feel of each line. For example, if your original piece was drawn in pencil, you can use Photoshop to recreate the image to look as if it was made with brushstrokes. In doing so, you will be broadening your stock, therefore increasing your possibility of selling more.
Start Printing
For quality prints you’re going to need a quality colour printer. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent brands available at economic prices, so you don’t have to worry about investing in a refrigerator-sized model that likens the one at your local print shop. To ensure a professional print, it is vital to adjust your printer settings. If you’re not sure how to go about this, follow this guide offered by Epson.
The Perfect Finish
Although most prints may appear to dry quickly, printed media should be left on a clean surface for a minimum of twenty-four hours to ensure the chemical reaction and the outgassing process to do its thing. Handle your print carefully when you remove it from the printing tray, cover it with a sheet of interleaving paper and give it the night to reach its full potential. Once dried, apply a lacquer-based coating spray for an optimal finish.
