Selling art prints online is one of the highest profit-margin strategies for art businesses. Time to turn those art prints into profit. This guide shows you exactly how to sell art prints online, from picking the right prints to getting paid.
No fancy business degree needed. Just learning how to choose the right prints, prepare them for sale, use print-on-demand or bulk print services, and effectively promote your art for a global audience.
Simple steps that work. They’ll have you selling your art prints online in no time.
Sell Digital Art Prints Today: 5 Quick Tips
- Start with your best 5 pieces (not everything you've ever made)
- Price prints at double your cost to make them
- Use print-on-demand first (less risk, less work)
- Post on social media daily with good photos
- Test one platform before trying five different ones
Selling Prints Online vs. Selling Original Art Online
First things first: determine what art prints you’re going to sell.
This choice shapes everything: your prices, your customers, and your marketing. Pick wrong, and you'll struggle to sell anything.
Two main paths here. Original pieces or copies of your work. Both can make money. But they target different buyers.
Think about your art style and how it overlaps with what people actually want to buy. Cute animal drawings sell better than abstract concepts. Landscapes beat weird experimental stuff.
Not fair? Maybe. But true.
Original Artwork vs. Reproductions
It's important to establish the different types of art and art prints you can sell online:
- Original art refers to unique, one-of-a-kind pieces created by the artist. This is the first and/or only version of art.
- Reproductions are copies of an original work of art.
- Open edition prints are online prints that can be reproduced and sold infinitely. Open edition prints are reproductions.
- Limited edition prints are art prints that have a finite inventory due to being autographed, using special printing materials, one-off sizes, or other unique characteristics. Think of limited edition prints as unique and special reproductions.
Original art costs more. Way more. But you can only sell each piece once.
Reproductions let you sell the same image over and over. Same work, ongoing income. Smart move for most artists and beginner e-commerce businesspeople.
Here's the thing about originals: they can be sold at higher prices per piece, but artists are likely to pocket less on each sale.
Plus, the time it takes to find a buyer and maintain inventory makes one-of-one originals a challenging fit for online marketplaces.
For artists selling their own work, limited edition prints split the difference. Print 100 copies, number them, and sign them. This creates scarcity, and people pay more for "limited" stuff.
Open editions mean unlimited copies. Lower prices but higher volume. Both work. Depends on your goals.
Digital Art Prints
Digital art prints are huge right now. Online art sales are projected to hit $12.1 billion by 2030. That's a lot of money changing hands.
Digital prints are the most popular. They’re easy to make. Easy to sell prints. Easy to deliver. Customer buys, you email the file. Done.
There are two primary ways to sell digital prints:
- You send the digitized file to the customer, and they print it
- You use a print-on-demand or bulk printing service and ship the art print to customers
You can sell the same digital file or professional print thousands of times. One design, endless profit potential.
Prepare Your Artwork for Sale
Good art isn't enough. You need good photos of your art.
Bad photos kill sales. Blurry images. Wrong colors. Dark lighting. People won't buy what they can't see clearly.
Professional photos make average art look amazing. Poor photos make great art look terrible.
Get this step right. Everything else depends on it.
Digitize Your Artwork
Time to turn your physical art into digital files. Two ways to do this.
Scan flat artwork. Use a quality scanner. Epson and Canon work well. Set resolution to 300 dpi minimum. Higher is better.
Photograph larger pieces. Or anything with texture. Use a camera with at least 12 megapixels. More detail means better prints.
Avoid glare and reflections. Move lights around. Try different angles. Take lots of photos. Pick the best ones.
Indoor lighting works better than outdoor lighting. More control. Fewer shadow problems.
Edit and Enhance Images
Raw photos need work. Colors look off. Brightness needs adjustment. Small flaws show up.
Adobe Photoshop fixes most problems. Adjust colors to match your original. Brighten dark areas. Remove dust spots.
Don't overdo it. Make it look like your real artwork. Not some perfect fantasy version.
High resolution matters. Low-res images look terrible when printed. Use 300 dpi for prints and higher for large formats.
Choose Print Materials
Different materials create different looks. Canvas adds texture. Paper stays flat. Metal gives modern vibes.
Canvas works great for paintings. Feels like the original. Durable. Easy to frame or mount canvas prints.
Matte paper reduces glare. Shows color depth well. Good for detailed artwork.
Glossy paper makes colors pop. Perfect for bright, vibrant art. It can reflect light, though.
Fine art paper costs more. Lasts longer. Serious buyers appreciate quality.
Test different materials. Order samples. See what works best for your art style.
Select a Print-on-Demand Service
Print on demand changes everything. No inventory. No upfront costs. No storage problems.
Customer orders. Company prints. Company ships. You get paid.
Print-on-demand services, especially white-label printing services, allow artists and sellers to tailor branding and customer experience to their unique visions.
For beginners, it's the smart choice. Profits are higher thanks to reduced overhead costs, inventory management, and task delegation.
No more packing and shipping headaches. Frees you up to invest your time into your art or building your business.
Evaluate Print-on-Demand Companies
Not all print companies are equal. Some deliver fast, others take weeks, and some have great quality. Others don't.
Check these things before picking:
- Product options. Do they print what you want to sell? Canvas? Metal? Posters? Greeting cards?
- Quality standards. Order samples. Check print quality. Color accuracy. Material feel.
- Shipping speed. Fast shipping keeps customers happy. Slow shipping creates complaints.
- Customer service. When things go wrong, do they fix problems quickly?
- Pricing. Higher costs mean lower profits. But cheap isn't always better.
Integrate with Your Online Store
Your print company needs to work with your website. Seamless connection means automatic orders.
Customer buys on your site. Order goes straight to printer. They handle everything else.
No manual work. No mistakes. No delayed orders.
Shopify connects with most print companies. Etsy has built-in options. Other platforms vary.
Check integration before choosing. Saves huge time later.
Set Up Your Online Art Store
Your own website beats third-party platforms. Better control. Higher profits. Professional look.
But it takes more work. More decisions. More learning. More financial investment.
Start simple. Add features later. Get something working first.
Choose an E-commerce Platform
Shopify leads the pack. Easy to use. Lots of features. Works with everything.
Costs money though. Monthly fees add up.
Etsy costs less upfront, has a built-in audience, and is good for beginners. But you're renting space, not owning it.
WordPress with WooCommerce gives full control. Harder to set up. More flexible once running.
Design Your Own Online Store
Keep it simple. Clean layout. Easy navigation. Fast loading.
Your art should be the star. Not fancy website effects.
Use consistent colors. Match your art style. Create a cohesive brand.
Mobile-friendly design matters. At least half of your customers shop on phones.
Add Product Listings
Great photos sell prints and original works online. Take multiple angles. Show details. Use good lighting.
Write simple descriptions. What is it? What size? What material? How much?
Tell the story behind the piece. People connect with stories. Makes art more valuable.
Price clearly. No hidden fees. Include shipping costs upfront.
Price Your Art Prints
Pricing kills more art businesses than bad art does.
Too high? Nobody buys. Too low? You work for free.
Find the sweet spot. Covers costs. Pays you fairly. Attracts customers.
Calculate Costs
Add up everything. Material costs. Printing fees. Shipping. Platform fees. Your time.
Double that number. That's your minimum price.
Sounds high? It's not. Covers unexpected costs. Gives you profit to reinvest.
Don't forget hidden costs. Website fees. Marketing expenses. Equipment wear.
Research Market Prices
Check what others charge. Similar art. Similar quality. Similar size.
Etsy shows lots of prices. Amazon has data. Google your art category plus "price."
Don't copy exactly. Use as a guide. Price based on your unique value.
Higher prices can increase sales. People think expensive means better quality.
Promote Your Art Prints
Great art in a hidden store makes no money. You need eyeballs on your work to sell artwork online.
Marketing feels weird for artists. Like selling out. Get over it.
Nobody discovers unknown artists anymore. You promote or you stay broke.
Utilize Social Media Platforms
Instagram loves art. Visual platform. Perfect match.
Post daily. Show your process. Share finished pieces. Tell stories.
Use hashtags. Research popular ones in your niche. Mix big and small tags.
Engage with other artists. Comment on their posts. Build relationships.
TikTok reaches younger buyers. Short videos work well. Behind-the-scenes content performs great.
Email Marketing Campaigns
Email beats social media for sales. You own the list. Nobody can take it away.
Collect emails from day one. Offer free downloads. Art tips. Exclusive previews.
Send weekly newsletters. New artwork. Process videos. Personal updates.
Don't just sell art online. Provide value. Entertainment. Education. Sales usually follow closely.
Collaborate with Influencers
Find influencers who match your style. Home décor bloggers. Art enthusiasts. Interior designers.
Send free prints. Ask for honest reviews. Some say no. Others love free art.
Micro-influencers work better than celebrities. More engagement. Cheaper. More authentic.
Manage Orders and Fulfillment
Selling art is only half the job. Delivering it completes the sale.
With holiday art print sales representing more than half of most art sellers' annual business, order management and fulfillment become doubly important as Q4 approaches.
Mess up fulfillment, and customers never return. Bad reviews spread fast.
Get this right from the start. Happy customers become repeat buyers.
Automate Order Processing
Manual order processing wastes time. Mistakes happen. Customers wait.
Automation fixes this. Order comes in. System processes it. Printer gets notified. Product ships.
You do nothing. Money appears in your account.
Use tools that connect everything. Shopify. WooCommerce. Etsy. All have automation options.
Quality Control
Check everything before it ships. Wrong colors. Damaged prints. Poor quality materials.
Your reputation depends on what customers receive. One bad print creates bad reviews.
Set quality standards. Test different printers. Check samples regularly.
Returns cost money. Prevention costs less.
Handle Customer Service
People have questions. Problems happen. Respond quickly and helpfully.
Most issues are simple. Wrong size ordered. Shipping delays. Color concerns.
Fix problems fast. Refund when needed. Turn complaints into compliments.
Good service creates loyal customers. They buy again. Recommend you to friends.
Expand Your Sales Channels
Don't rely on one platform. Spread your risk. Reach more customers.
Different platforms attract different buyers. Etsy draws crafty people. Amazon reaches mainstream shoppers.
More channels mean more sales. But also more work. Start with one. Add others gradually.
Sell on Online Marketplaces
Amazon has huge traffic. Millions of daily visitors. But lots of competition.
Etsy targets handmade buyers. Good for original art and limited edition prints. Lower competition in some niches.
Fine Art America focuses on art prints. Educated buyers. Higher prices are possible.
Saatchi Art attracts serious collectors. Higher-end market. More selective.
Participate in Art Fairs and Exhibitions
Digital marketing reaches many people. But in-person events create deeper connections.
People touch your work. Ask questions. See your personality. Builds trust.
Local art fairs cost less. Regional shows reach more people. National events offer prestige.
Bring business cards. Collect email addresses. Follow up after events.
License Your Artwork
Licensing multiplies your income. One piece earns money in multiple ways.
Companies pay to use your art. Greeting cards. Calendars. Fabric. Home décor.
You keep ownership. They pay royalties. Win-win situation.
Research licensing companies. Submit your best work. Negotiate fair terms.
Protect Your Artwork
Online art theft is real. People steal images. Use them without permission. Profit from your work.
Protection isn't perfect. But it discourages casual theft. Makes stealing harder.
Watermark Digital Images
Add your name or logo to the images. Make it visible but not ugly.
Watermarks don't stop determined thieves. But they prevent casual copying.
Position watermarks carefully. Protect the image. Don't ruin the view.
Register Copyrights
Legal protection costs money. But it's worth it for valuable pieces.
Copyright registration lets you sue thieves. Recover damages. Stop unauthorized use.
Consult a lawyer. Understand your rights. File properly.
Use Digital Rights Management (DRM) Tools
DRM prevents downloading and sharing. Not foolproof, but it adds protection.
Disable right-click saving. Use special viewers. Track who accesses files.
Balance protection with user experience. Too much security annoys customers.
Track and Analyze Performance
Numbers don't lie. Track everything. Sales. Traffic. Conversion rates.
What works? Do more of it. What fails? Stop doing it.
Data guides decisions. Feelings mislead. Trust the numbers.
Use Analytics Tools
Google Analytics shows website traffic. Where visitors come from. What they do.
Sales reports reveal trends. Best-selling pieces. Peak buying times. Customer behavior.
Social media analytics track engagement. Popular posts. Follower growth. Reach.
Adjust Marketing Strategies
Monthly reviews keep you on track. What worked? What didn't? Why?
Successful campaigns get more budget. Failed ones get cut or fixed.
Markets change. Trends shift. Adapt or fall behind.
Test new approaches. Small experiments. Measure results. Scale winners.
Start Selling Art Online Like a Pro
Ready to start selling? Pick your best 5 pieces. Choose one platform. Set up your first listing.
Don't overthink it. Perfect is the enemy of done. Start simple. Improve as you go.
Your art deserves to be seen. And you deserve to get paid for it.
Time to make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of art prints I can sell online?
You can sell original artwork, reproductions, open-edition prints, and limited-edition prints online. Each caters to different audiences and preferences. It's all about finding what resonates with your style and your buyers!
How do I prepare my artwork for sale?
To get your artwork ready for sale, start by digitizing it with a scanner or camera, then edit the images for enhancement. Don't forget to pick the right print materials to showcase your work!
What should I consider when choosing a print-on-demand service?
When choosing a print-on-demand service, focus on product selection, quality, shipping rates, and integration with your e-commerce platform. These factors will help ensure a smooth experience for you and your customers.
How can I promote my art prints effectively?
To promote your art prints effectively, leverage social media, email marketing, and influencer collaborations while connecting with local galleries and online platforms. This multi-faceted approach will help you reach a wider audience and boost your sales.
How can I protect my digital artwork from theft?
Consider using watermarks, registering copyrights, and implementing Digital Rights Management (DRM) tools to protect your digital artwork from theft. These steps can help ensure that your creations stay secure and are credited to you.