Gallery Quality on a Budget
Art prints are the bread and butter of any Artist Alley table. They have high margins and showcase your best work. But a blurry print can ruin your reputation.
Resolution & scaling
The number one rule: Do not upscale.
If you painted your art at 8.5x11 (300 DPI), you cannot print it as an 11x17 poster. It will look fuzzy. You can always print smaller, but never larger. Always paint on the largest canvas you intend to sell.
Paper Recommendations
For prints, the paper is the product. Flimsy paper feels cheap.
- 100lb Gloss Cover: The standard convention print. It is thick enough to stand up in a wire cube display without curling. The gloss finish makes colors vibrant and protects against fingerprints.
- 111lb Silk Cover: Ideal for softer, painterly styles (watercolor, gouache). It reduces glare under convention hall lights.
Sizing & Ratios
Stick to standard frame sizes. Your customers want to frame your art. If you sell a 9.5" x 13" print, they will have to buy a custom matte, which is annoying.
Standard Sizes: 11" x 17" (Tabloid), 12" x 18" (Arch B), 11" x 14".
Bleed on Prints: Yes, prints need bleed too! If your art goes to the edge, add 0.125" bleed. If you want a white border, include that border in your design file.