PRINTABLES - THE CHEAT SHEET

Printables are a quickway to personalize your space with art. If you've ever had a photo from your phone, digital camera or computer printed, you're all set with the concept of printable art! 

With Printables, You can simply download the files and print at home, at your local print shop, or use an online service. To make sure your art looks beautiful and your life a little easier, I have compiled a few recommendations.

How does it work?

1. Purchase your art

2. You will be directed to a confirmation page with links to download each design you have purchased. You will also receive an email with different file sizes of the same artwork compressed in a .zip file. Please check your spam/junk folder if you are unable to find the email.

3. Once downloaded, you can then print out your files on your home or office printer, upload them to an online service, or email your files to a local print shop. All of my designs work well on a variety of print surfaces - paper, card stock, wood, canvas, etc.

What is a .zip file and how do I open it?

A .zip file is a collection of one or more files, which are compressed into a single file for easy transportation. To open the .zip file, double-click on it and let your computer show you the folders and files contained inside. In most operating systems, ZIP files are handled internally, without the need for any extra software. If you do however need an archive manager software or application, there are free options such as WinRAR, PeaZip, and iZIP. These applications also have a free version for iPhones and Androids, allowing you to unzip files from your cellphone.

What is an Aspect Ratio?

An aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image. In order to save you all the work of having to crop your files to fit your frame, my Printables come in different aspect ratios that match the most popular standard frame sizes.

I don't want you to worry about the math behind it, so here's a guide of 5 aspect ratios and their respective popular print sizes.. All you need to do is select the correct one to fit your frame.

For example, if you want to print your printable to fit a 12" x 16" frame, you need to choose the 3:4 aspect ratio file. Or, if you want your print to measure 10 x 15 cm, you need to use the 2:3 aspect ratio file. 

What kind of Paper should you print on?

This is really a personal choice, but I tend to prefer heavyweight matte paper for my art prints with a minimum weight of 230 gsm.

What kind of ink should you use?

For the most professional results, it is best to use pigment-based inks as they last much longer than dye inks. They are also waterproof and chemical free. All my shipped prints are printed on a beautiful and heavy matte paper, with high quality archival inks (pigment-based).

Where to print your art?

If you don't want to print your printables at home you can have them printed at your local print shop or some online printing service. In store printing service suggestions:

- In the U.S.: Staples, FedEx Kinko's, Walgreen's, Walmart, Target, Costco

- In Canada: Staples, Walmart, Costco

- In the U.K.: Boots

- In Australia: Officeworks and Harvey Norman
- In New Zealand: Harvey Norman

If you have any other questions about your printables, do not hesitate to contact me.