print·a·ble art
/ˈprɪntəbəl ɑːrt/ noun: affordable digital artwork designed to be downloaded and printed, often used for personal home decor, gifts, or creative projects.
Printable art, like the thousands of products you see on places like Etsy or Rebubble, is the perfect product for people looking for affordable, quality art. It doesn't matter if you need a standalone piece of art or you want a rotating set for each of the main seasons; printable art is versatile and easy to find! Perfect for those of us who can't choose from all the beautiful art out there!
What Is Printable Art?
Printable art is as simple as the name sounds. It is an artwork that can be easily printed by anyone, anywhere, at any time. It includes the same themes and styles as traditional art, and it can be used in a variety of ways, from home decor to making custom cards or stickers. Printable art is a modern version of art in the sense that it is a totally digital form of art that can be used to create physical reproductions in an endless array of formats.
Why Printable Art is Popular
It used to be that the only way to get art was to either buy a piece from an artist or commission one. But in today's digital world, you can easily find beautiful art online with little hassle.
Printable art has become widely popular for many reasons, but the most common include:
Convenience: People can access huge collections of digital printables from their homes using online marketplaces like Etsy at any time, anywhere.
Accessibility: Regardless of whether you know anything about art or you are curating a collection, printable art makes art accessible to everyone.
Affordability: Traditional art can be too expensive for some people, especially if you are looking for larger pieces or want to start a gallery wall. Printable art is generally more affordable and gives people a better selection to choose from.
Versatility: Digital downloads often come in many different sizes and art styles, which makes it easier to find a piece of art that fits frames you might already have or a specific-sized spot on your wall.
Eco-friendliness: Printable art is a more sustainable option than traditional art in that it needs no physical shipping or packaging to get to customers. Buyers can also choose to use more eco-friendly inks and papers for printing or repurpose frames, which all contribute to the sustainability of printable art.
Printable art takes away the stigma that often surrounds traditional art. Art created by someone in London can be enjoyed by someone who lives in Singapore, basically instantaneously, through printable art and digital downloads, which is a win-win for everyone!
How Printable Art is Made
Like any style of artwork, printable art has its own process, and this process will vary based on the artist and the piece they are trying to create. That said, there is a general guideline that is usually followed to create the hundreds of thousands of pieces of printable art you see online.
Creating the Artwork
Of course, the first step to creating printable art is to actually design and make the piece of art. Artists achieve this by using digital design programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Procreate to plan and draw their pieces. Some artists choose to create a traditional piece of artwork first, like a watercolor painting, and then scan that art to get a digital file they can use as a printable. It is all up to the individual artist and how they like to create their art; no one way is superior to another.
Preparing the Files
Once the art has been created, the artist must create the digital files that people can download. The most important part of this step of the process is that the files are in high resolution and that they will look good when printing. Most files are in 300DPI and come in either PDF, JPG, or PNG formats. A lot of digital download artists will provide their files in various sizes and formats to make printing easier for customers.
Selling Digital Downloads
After the files are set up correctly, artists will usually upload their work to online marketplaces like Etsy or Creative Market, or put their art on their own artist website. This lets customers download files right away and reduces the time between purchase and enjoying their brand-new printable art!
Copyright Concerns of Digital Downloads
While artists who create printable art and digital downloads want to share their art with the world, what they don't want is for their art to be stolen or used in a way they don't allow. Always check the licensing rights of using printable art (which are usually set for unlimited personal use). It's not fair to use a piece of art made by someone in a way they wouldn't want just because it's a digital product.
If you do find a product you love, but you plan on using it in a different way than the artist allows, ask! Most digital artists will work with you to create a license that meets your needs if you ask them about it first, rather than just assuming it's ok. And if you see someone online trying to pass off a piece of art as their own, always say something. Artists everywhere will thank you!
Popular Styles of Printable Art
Just like traditional art, printable art styles vary from concept to colors. There is no one right way or right style; it's all about personal taste, which is what makes printable art so fun!
Modern and Minimalist Printable Art Designs
Simple lines, neutral colors, and open spaces are what define minimalist printable art. Imagine the outline of a flower with a bright yellow circle behind it. Minimalism is a well-liked style for modern interior design because it goes with just about anything. Printable art in a modern style, like minimalism, allows for art pieces that work with the existing decor of a room, without taking over attention. This makes minimalist printable art perfect for spaces like modern apartments or simple living rooms.
Nature Themed Printable Art
Botanical and wildlife are major themes in both traditional art and printable art. This style celebrates the nature and flora that surround us every day, and includes images of flowers, landscapes, and animals. Botanical printable art is the perfect way to bring a little bit of the outside in! Natural printable art helps to bring peace and tranquility to any space, even if that nature may be far away.
Quote and Typography Printable Art Styles
Motivational and inspirational quotes are quite popular in today's modern interior design. Quote printable art designs usually include a creative design of text where the text itself is the main subject. Unique typographic styles, colors, and even illustrations can all be a part of printable art in this style. You will generally find typographic printable art in places like kitchens, home offices, and living rooms, where motivation and inspiration are welcomed.
Vintage Printable Art
Vintage printable art gives any space a timeless beauty and classical elegance. Classical drawings, mid-century designs, and even advertisements all fall under vintage art. If you could imagine the image being seen in a museum, it is most likely a vintage piece of art! The wonderful thing about vintage art is that you can get public domain images of vintage pieces by famous artists like Van Gogh for free because their copyrights have run their course. Vintage printable art is a fun and beautiful way to add a fancy flair to any interior space.
Abstract Printable Art
Abstract art emphasizes expression and emotion over exact copies of subjects. Abstract printable art uses a variety of colors and shapes to help tell a story. You will see flowing patterns and contrasting colors throughout abstract art, which can create some very eye-catching designs. Abstract printable art goes great in rooms where you want to create a dramatic visual or with home decor styles like maximalism or pop art.
Retro Printable Art
While retro printable art can be considered vintage art, the retro part of this theme set is apart from other vintage art. Retro tends to include things close to one's existing time, so for us, it would be something from about the 1960s onward. Retro printable art celebrates different decades and the styles of those decades to bring feelings of nostalgia to viewers. These types of printables are the perfect fit for retro-styled rooms or for people looking to add some nostalgia from their childhood to their home decor.
Custom Printable Art
There are many artists out there who are willing to make custom and one-of-a-kind items for people who need a very specific piece of printable art. Personalized sayings, dates, or specially drawn images all make this style of printable art just as unique as the person who is commissioning the artwork. Custom printable art pieces can become a treasured addition to any room as they provide a meaningful approach to home decor that other printable art just can't provide.
Where to Find Printable Art
One of the major benefits of printable art is that there are many avenues for you to find what you need online. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but all of them offer you beautiful printable art and affordable prices.
Online Marketplaces
When you talk about printable art and digital downloads, websites like Etsy or Society6 usually come to mind. Online marketplaces are some of the best and easiest places to find the printable art you are looking for. They offer a wide range of both artists and designs that are organized into categories to make browsing artwork simple and enjoyable.
Each online marketplace has its own unique advantages when purchasing printable art:
Etsy: Has a varied assortment of printable art products from one-of-a-kind masterpieces to personalized digital prints.
Creative Market: Showcases a collection of excellent graphics and boasts a wide selection of design materials.
Society6: Curates printable art collections by well-known artists for the discerning art collector.
Printable Artists Websites
If you are looking to support artists who create digital art and printables, then purchasing directly from their websites is the best option. While not as easily found as one of the major online marketplaces, if you are able to purchase printable art directly from an artist's website, you can enjoy some unique advantages.
Purchasing directly from an artist through their website can mean a lower price (because their website won't be taking a cut like marketplaces such as Etsy do). Sometimes artists will also offer unique designs or limited-edition prints only available on their website, so you can get a better selection of printables when you visit. But one of the best reasons to buy directly from an artist is that you are directly helping fund their business with no middleman to take a cut. And that is a win-win for everyone!
Art Subscription Services
By now, most people are used to subscription services. You probably have at least one streaming service, if not many! Some artists and marketplaces offer subscription services or membership plans to give users access to an endless supply of printable art. New digital art is released monthly or quarterly, giving members a consistent flow of printable art.
How to Print Printable Art
Printing your printable art on the proper paper can change the look of a standard print into something more luxurious. Even places like Office Depot and Vistaprint will allow you to print on higher-quality paper for a few dollars more. This can be a smart investment if you are looking to get the look of a higher quality print at an affordable price. Usually, people go for an 80-pound weighted paper or higher, depending on their needs. To give you some context, standard computer paper is 20-pound paper.
How to print art prints at home?
You don't have to get your printable art printed at a store or online marketplace if you have a good-quality printer at home. The process is fairly straightforward for printing art prints at home once you have found the art you need:
Pick the right paper: Go for the highest quality paper you can get in a matte or glossy finish to get the look you want.
Print in high resolution: Before you start printing, make sure to check your printer settings are set to the highest quality to get the best results.
Confirm file size: To print in high quality and avoid any blurriness, make sure your files are in 300DPI format.
Use the right color settings: Pick a color profile like RGB that will print accurate color tones.
Test print: Print a small sample of your image to confirm the colors and alignment are right before you print everything.
Let it dry: Avoid the urge to throw your new print into a frame! Let your prints dry completely before framing to prevent smudging; 24 hours is always a good go-to wait time.
Using Printable Art to Decorate Your Home
Finding printable art that fits the space you are looking to decorate is just the first part of using digital downloads to decorate your home. The next thing you need to do is frame it and find the best place to work it into your home decor!
Selecting a Frame for Printable Art
Framing is also an important thing to consider when selecting your printable art. Frames don't have to be expensive; there are plenty of beautiful options at thrift stores and yard sales, but the main point is to get a frame that matches your art and is made of quality materials. If you have a printable art piece in a minimalist style, choosing a simple frame can help match the aesthetic. On the other hand, if you have a beautiful Art Deco printable art piece, you can pair it with a fancy gilded frame. The options are endless, but spend a little time thinking about what frame would make your printable art pop!
Finding a Mat For Your Framed Printable Art
Not all printable art will require a mat when you are thinking about framing, but a mat can add a touch of elegance between your art and the frame. Whatever style and color you choose, you want to go with a mat that won't detract from your art, but complement it.
Think about using mats to establish a visual buffer and add a touch of elegance between the artwork and the frame. A basic print can become the center of attention in any space when it is displayed in a well-chosen frame made for printable art.
Finding The Perfect Place For Your Printable Art
The versatility of printable art is what makes it perfect for any home decor style and any living space. There are many strategies to include printable art into your existing home decor to give you a fresh look or improve your current interior design.
A pro tip for creating a gallery wall is to not only include artwork in framed format, but also consider adding plates, wall art, and other pieces that go with your printable art and the style you are going for.
Creating a Gallery Wall
Printable art is perfect for those people looking to create a dynamic and customized gallery wall. You can choose a variety of artworks that are similar in style, but vary in color and design to match your overall gallery wall theme. The process of creating the gallery wall of your dreams is fairly straightforward:
Decide where you want your gallery wall to be and how many pieces you will need to fill the space.
Choose a logical arrangement that could be symmetrical, small to large, or another style that suits your artwork.
Consider creating cutouts of all the frames you plan to use and pre-arranging them on the wall to ensure you get the look you want.
Print out all your artwork, hang it, and enjoy!
Seasonal Printable Art
Another clever way to use printable art in your home is to create sets that you can trade out for the different seasons or holidays. There are a ton of different seasonal printables you can create collections for, including:
Winter landscapes
Autumn foliage
Spring flowers
Christmas themes
Halloween themes
Printable artwork with a holiday theme helps make interior decorating fun and festive! You can even reuse the same space and frames for your art if you plan the same sizes for the different seasons.
You don't need to do major redesigning to have a home that stays current with the seasons; you just need printable art to help you!
Adding Printable Art Into Your Everyday
Beyond using printables for wall art, printable art can be used for all sorts of things you already use in your daily life!
Customized planners
Seasonal greeting cards
Calenders
DIY Wrapping Paper
Custom Notebooks
This is just a short list of the variety of printables and what they can be used for. You don't need to settle for boring notebooks or mass-produced cards to send to family during the holidays. Printable art is an affordable and easy way to add art to your everyday life. Make yourself smile and put a smile on your friends and family's faces as well with printables as beautiful as you are!