You've downloaded your file. Here's how to make sure it ends up on your wall looking exactly as it should.
Buying a digital art print is one of the most satisfying ways to get original artwork into your home quickly and affordably. But the moment between downloading the file and actually holding a finished print in your hands can feel a little uncertain if you haven't done it before. What size do you print? Which paper? What if your printer can't handle it?
This guide covers everything you need to know — whether you're printing at home on your own printer or taking the file to a local print shop.
What's in your download
When you purchase a digital download from this site, you'll receive a high-resolution PNG file — typically at 300dpi, which is the standard resolution for professional print quality. The file is sized to print cleanly at large format, which means it will also print beautifully at smaller sizes without any loss of quality.
You'll receive both A-size European formats (A4, A3, A2) and US standard formats (8x10", 11x14", 16x20, 18x24") so wherever you are in the world you're covered.
Option 1 — Printing at home
Home printing works well for smaller sizes if you have a decent inkjet printer. Here's how to get the best results:
Use the right paper.
Standard copy paper will work in a pinch but the colours will look flat and the print will feel flimsy. For artwork, use a heavier paper — photo paper or matte presentation paper in the 60–80lb range (US) or 180–200gsm (UK/Europe) makes an enormous difference. Both are widely available from Amazon, office supply stores and most big-box retailers for just a few dollars or pounds per pack.
Print at the highest quality setting.
In your printer dialogue box, select "Best" or "High quality" rather than "Normal" or "Draft." This tells the printer to use more ink and finer detail.
Select the correct paper size.
Before printing, check that your document size and your printer paper size match — always check the print preview first to avoid any unwanted cropping.
Colour settings.
If your print looks washed out or the colours feel off, try selecting "Vivid" or "Photo" colour mode in your printer settings. A quick test print on plain paper before committing to your good paper is always worth it.
Borderless printing.
Most modern inkjet printers support borderless printing — this means the image runs to the edge of the paper with no white margin. Enable this in your printer settings if you want a clean edge-to-edge result.
Option 2 — Your local print shop
For larger sizes, or if you want a truly professional finish, a local print or copy shop is the way to go — and it's more affordable than most people expect.
In the US:
FedEx Office, Staples, UPS Store and Office Depot all offer poster printing services. Many cities also have excellent independent print shops that produce better quality at lower prices. Walgreens and CVS photo centres handle smaller sizes cheaply and quickly.
In the UK:
Ryman, Staples, Snappy Snaps and most independent print shops offer the same service. Many supermarkets with photo printing can also handle A3 poster prints at low cost.
Simply take your downloaded file on a USB stick or email it to the shop.
Ask for:
- Poster print at your chosen size — 11x14" or 16x20" in the US, A3 or A2 in the UK/Europe
- Satin or gloss paper — satin gives a slightly softer finish that suits most artwork beautifully, gloss is more vivid but can show fingerprints
- Full colour, edge to edge if you don't want a white border
Expect to pay around $8–20 in the US or £5–15 in the UK depending on size and paper choice. For the price of a coffee you can have a professionally finished print ready to frame
Framing your print
Once you have your print, the right frame makes all the difference.
In the US: Standard sizes like 8x10", 11x14" and 16x20" are widely available at Target, Walmart, HomeGoods, Amazon and most home stores. IKEA's Ribba and Hovsta ranges are deservedly popular on both sides of the Atlantic — clean, simple and very affordable.
In the UK: The same IKEA frames work beautifully, alongside options from Dunelm, John Lewis and most high street home stores.
If your print has a white border, a simple clip frame or frameless mount looks very clean. If it runs to the edge, a frame with a white mat inside gives it gallery presentation without much effort or cost. Either way, avoid frames with a plastic front — glass or acrylic gives a much richer, more professional result.
A note on print sizing
One of the great advantages of a digital download is that you choose the size. The same file that prints at 8x10" on your home printer will also print at 24x36" at a professional print shop. If you're unsure what size will work in your space, cut a piece of newspaper or plain paper to the size you're considering and hold it against the wall. It sounds basic but it's remarkably effective at settling the question.
Metric and imperial — a quick reference
For anyone switching between US and international sizing:
- A4 ≈ 8x11" — desktop and letter size
- A3 ≈ 11x17" — tabloid size
- A2 ≈ 16x24" — medium poster
- A1 ≈ 24x33" — large format poster
Still not sure?
If you have any questions about your specific download, file format or printer setup, get in touch via the Contact page. It's important that your print ends up looking exactly as it should.
And if you'd prefer to skip the printing entirely, every design is also available as a professionally printed and delivered copy through Redbubble — just follow the links on each collection page.
Browse the collections and download your first print →
or if you can get this digital download Summer Diner here.
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