So, you have a beautiful piece of art, design or a photo saved as a high resolution file on your computer, and you’d like to be able to produce a nice gift from it. All you need to do is print it! But what is the best option for you?
Start at home!
Inkjet Printers
Most modern inkjet printers can produce surprisingly good results. If you set the print quality to the highest (photo setting is good) and use some good quality paper, inkjet printing can be very detailed and accurate, especially with photographs.
You will perhaps need to experiment to get things such as the size right. You can adjust the percentage of your image in the ‘printer settings’ or ‘properties’ to make it bigger or smaller. If you plan to frame your artwork and already have a frame, I suggest you print the image at a size which will allow a little white space around all sides, so that it will give it a nice balance in the frame without looking cramped. You can always use scrap paper and print in black and white to save costs at this stage.
For your final print, use a good quality paper which is designed for inkjet printing. I like ‘linen’ and ‘hammer embossed’ papers which are often used for wedding stationery. They have a nice quality texture which adds to the effect. If you use a coloured paper it may affect the colour of your print so you may want to test it first. Inkjet ink will take on the finish of the paper, so will appear matte on matte paper and glossy on photo paper. On some shiny papers you will need to allow some time for drying but they do tend to print with a sharper detail.
Printing at home is a great way to add a further ‘handmade’ feeling to the creation of your unique gift – choosing your own frame and paper means you can personalise every element of the final piece.
I would certainly encourage you to try printing at home if you can. It is fun, rewarding and you can experiment over and over again with a whole variety of papers.
Professional fine art prints are produced using high quality lightfast inkjet inks and papers. These produce superior photographic images. This process is often referred to as ‘Giclée’.
Laser Printers
If you work in an office your employer may allow you to use the company’s laser printer for a small charge, or possibly for free if they are particularly generous! Alternatively, you can use a local copy centre like Kinko’s (US), Staples, or a local printing company who can also produce a laser print for you.
They print superior quality text. Laser ink is formed by heating a powder and the finished printed areas will have a subtly shiny appearance. Laser printers are cost effective for large scale printing (although the outlay for the toner is high, it lasts a very long time) and it is fast.
Most colour laser printer toners use pigment, which suggests a better fade resistance than the average inkjet print.
Online print services
Important notes – When uploading files online, be sure that if there is an option to upload ‘fast or ‘slow’, that you use the ‘slow’ setting – some fast uploads will reduce the size and quality of your file, resulting in a disappointingly poor quality blurry print.
Every website is different – you may need to crop, zoom or rotate in order to get the best fit of your design in the printed area. Make sure you check the preview or proof carefully before committing to buy.
Paper
If your home printer isn’t up to scratch, Poster prints can be very cost effective if you are looking for a decent sized print. Places such as Snapfish, Tesco (UK)/FedEx, Costco (US) only cost a few pounds/dollars.
Here is a customer photo of a poster print in a frame:
Photo prints can also be very cheap. Try printing design or artwork onto a matt finish – glossy finishes perhaps won’t give the appropriate effect. Photos however will look gorgeous on glossy paper!
Canvas, mugs and much more
If you have a slightly higher budget then why not get a canvas print. These can be really striking and make a real focal point in a room. They are also hard-wearing and easy to hang.
There are so many print choices online – mouse mats, cushion covers, tea towels, tote bags, canvases, mugs, t-shirts, i-phone cases, key rings; the list seems endless.
Review of US online store – Canvaspop.com
Canvas prices start from approx. $30 unframed, $49 framed*.
Very simple ordering and upload process. The advantage to using this service is that there is no need to worry about cropping or aspect ratios. The experienced designers will send you a proof and intelligently crop the image for you so your image looks great at no extra charge. Canvaspop will let you upload a jpeg yourself, but they will also accept a pdf file via email which I would recommend you do, in order to allow for the highest print quality.
The difference in ease of ordering, price, quality and customer service can differ a lot. I cannot recommend who will be the best for your personal requirements but here is a list of other suggestions to try – Walmart, Costco, Cafepress, Smartpress, Shutterfly, Staples and Kinkos.
Review of UK online store – Vistaprint.co.uk
Canvas prices start from approx. £20* but keep your eye out for regular sale prices.
The good thing about Vistaprint is that it will accept most file types including pdfs, which usually contain a much higher print quality than a jpeg.
What I like here is the upload process, it’s very easy, and includes a very flexible tool where you can crop, rotate, enlarge, and reduce your image until it is perfectly placed. The tool is accessible without the need to login so you can give it a try and get a visual example without committing to buy anything.
The difference in ease of ordering, price, quality and customer service can differ a lot. I cannot recommend who will be the best for your personal requirements but here is a list of other suggestions to try – Canvasdezign, Tescophoto, Snapfish, Cafepress and Orbitprint.
*prices correct at time of writing this blog.
Remember – All inks, printers and papers will add different variables to your final print!
Want to learn more about fine art quality (Giclée) printing? Click here.
alichappell 