Please need some advice!

[Former_Member]

Hello my Etsy friends! I need some advice/tips. As of now i sell only digital files for my artwork as posters or holiday cards, and plan to do more. But I am really thinking of buying a good printer and starting to sell prints as well. I wanted to know if anyone could give me some advice, i am doing some research as too what i have to do next if i will go ahead with this.

I know there are many things to do, such as research on papers, which papers are best for printing good quality posters? I will print them as big as 13x19.
Also in what range price should i sell them? (considering ink cost, paper cost, shipping cost)
Which printers are the best?
Also how do you send them, in what kind of package? A tube? are those affordable? where do you get them?

If someone where to be familiar in this topic i would be very appreciative of your help!!
Maybe there are some websites with articles on help with this? Please if anyone knows of it let me know,

Best wishes to all!

Pamela

[Former_Member]

Hi I am starting selling digital as well and am looking to doing some printing myself. So do you get lots of sales. What kind of art do you do. I am doing research on my target market and seeing what and how to appeal to them. I use bright colors and will use echo paper. Make sure your choice from paper to size fits with your market. I am targeting the teenage to college age women. I will be using echo paper. Oh I did some research the other day and found out that it is much cheaper to get a printer and print yourself as supposed to having them printed at a commercial shop. I hear a laser jet is a great choice because colors come out good compared to the actual color. You want to get a printer that can adjust to page size and not just the standard. I can send you the link to the great article I found if you need it. Oh by the way I have been sending convos to others here on the site asking for help and so far most people are kind and helpful. Just be kind and let them know you admire there work and find it inspiring. I love some of the work here and well hope this helps.

[Former_Member]

Hi Mireya, thank you so much for your input.
I haven't gotten a lot of sales yet. I opened my shop about 4 months ago, i got a lot of advice from people saying it takes a few months to take off and start with the sales.
I offer digital files of my original illustrations/paintings, which are very bright and alive colors as well! Also have a separate section on my shop offering graphic design services since i am a graphic designer. And would be good if i could print out not only posters but greeting cards as well, bookmarks, etc.

I have been recommended on many printers such as:
- Epson - Stylus Photo R2000 Network-Ready Wireless Photo Printer
or one that is a bit more expensive:
- Epson Photo R3000 printer, with ultra chrome pigment inks (inlcuding vivid magenta)
another one:
- Canon Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II printers and use a premium matte inkjet paper with high archival quality.

For papers many print in this paper: - Epson - Premium Presentation Matte Paper
or some use archival paper too.
These company offers a variety of them: http://www.redrivercatalog.com/

Yes it is so nice how people have been giving out advice, and i would gladly help out anyone else who would need my help in anything!
I am always supporting the Etsy community by giving compliments and likes to my fellow etsy friends.

Would greatly appreciate it if you could send me that article please

thank you very much! and best of luck
I am here if you need me for more tip exchanges or anything!

[Former_Member]

Hi Pamela!

I am going to start selling prints of my guestbook designs next week and I have been getting things prepared for that. I have a Canon Pro 9000 Mark II printer and I ordered paper from Red River the 96lb. Matte. I get it tomorrow so I will let you know how it works. I wanted the thickest one because people will be signing on it and I didn't want it to be something flimsy. I guess if it is something that is going to go in a frame and stay there it doesn't need to be as thick.

I know that customers feel like they are getting a higher quality product when the paper is thick so that's why I ordered it. I also ordered 24 inch mailing tubes that have the 2 inch hole from Uline.com They have good prices and for anything that is not 8x10 I figured I would use a tube. For the 8x10's I also got bubble envelopes and pads to make them stiff. I got these from Uline as well. I will let you know how everything prints after I do some testing this weekend!

Good luck with all you plans!

Monica

[Former_Member]

Hi monica i love what you do, very nice and original!

Thanks for your input, please do let me know how it goes! I did order a sample package paper from red river to actually feel them. Let me know how that one worked out for you, best of luck!

Pamela

[Former_Member]

Hey Pamela,

I think your business will really take off once you start selling prints. While there is a fair market for printable invites, I think it's much much harder to sell printable artwork.

Also, I agree with Monica.. go with thicker paper. Thin paper feels flimsy and cheap to a customer.

Best,
Lina

[Former_Member]

Thank you Lina! i am getting prepared for the transition :)

Best wishes

Pamela

[Former_Member]

I'm looking to buy a printer myself as entertaining prints for my artworks.
i'm currently having problem with choice between the epson R3000, and Canon mark 2..

It will be cool if you guys can provide some detailed review on your experience..

Hi pamela,
Just browsed throughn your site..Wow!..A.M.A.Z.I.N.G
If i had talents like yours i'll definately offer prints..you are making the right move.

Hi Monica,

I absolutely fell in love with your works..Lovin' it!.
But was wondering what the prints will look like, as i kinda like that 3D effect you give.
will that still work with prints?

Hi Lina,

I'm really impressed..140 sales since march!...How did you do it?

Always a pleasure spending time on Etsy, never boring.

Cheers!

[Former_Member]

Hi Pamela!

So of course the day that I get my red river paper in the mail my computer blue screens and is out of commission! I was able to print out a test page on my husbands computer and it is awesome! Super thick paper (I got the 96lb. Matte) The only problem that I encountered was that the 96lb. won't work with the tube mailers that I got! They crease because it's so thick. I ordered bubble mailers and the cardboard pads from Uline instead. That should work! I will start listing the prints in a day or two. I'm excited to see how it works out!

Hi Edward!

I have the Canon Pro Mark 2. No complaints yet and my prints have come out sell worthy. In regards to your question about how I am going to make the prints with the 3D effect, I can't scan them because all the places that I asked said it had to lay flat. Then I tried to take pictures of them. I'm a newbie photographer and they came out fine, but then I started thinking about all the different color combinations that people were going to ask for and that meant that I had to make one for each scenario which wouldn't work either. I decided for now to just go with a copy of the design itself even if it's not 3D until I figure out what how to do the originals. We will see if that is good enough. I tried to do color changes of the 3D pictures in photoshop and couldn't get it to look like the real thing!

Best of luck!

[Former_Member]

Hi Edward, thank you very much! I was seeing your art and its amazing! really nice congrats on the talents!

I was considering also those printer choices in my list, and also the "EPSON Stylus Photo R2000 printer" did you hear anything about that one? Its the same price as the "Canon Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II"

Monica! i just got my river paper samples, they send many many sample papers! im very happy they did. So you use the 96lb matte, you are happy with it?

I will buy my printer this weekend but still a bit indecisive!

Best of luck to you all! keep me posted if you have any new input please

thanks!

[Former_Member]

Oh and thought i should leave this compilation list i made with all of the input i got from all my etsy friends!:

PRINTING FROM OTHER SOURCES

http://iprintfromhome.com/
www.perfectposters.com

SHIPPING

http://www.royalmailers.com/
- Website for shipping supplies (mailing tubes for .80cents each)

http://www.uline.com/ - Ship my prints flat in a rigid cardboard mailer

www.packagingsupplies.com, www.clearbags.com - For the plastic sleeves

Materials

Where to buy paper:
- BH Photo video
- Red river paper http://www.redrivercatalog.com/

PRINTERS
• Canon Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II printers and use a premium matte inkjet paper with high archival quality.
• epson stylus r1900
• epson Photo R3000 printer, with ultra chrome pigment inks (including vivid magenta)
• Epson Stylus R2880
• EPSON Stylus Photo R2000 printer

PAPER:

- 100 lb. Mohawk, which is one of the best papers there is (most consistent), found through Kelly Paper
- Epson Ultra Chrome K3 Archival Pigment Inks
- Aurora Archival Natural Art Paper (ACID FREE LASTS LONGER)
(100% Cotton rag content, acid free, 13.5mil cardweight)
- Epson - Premium Presentation Matte Paper
- Heavy, high-quality glossy cardstock
- 192g Archival matte paper with Epson Archival pigment ink
- 80lb high-quality matte paper
- Heavyweight 190gsm matte cartridge paper
- Red River Polar White Matte in sizes 8x10 and 11x14
- High-quality premium heavy weight archival Epson matte paper
with archival Ultra Chrome inks.


Hope it helps!

[Former_Member]

I have a question about the shipping part.
What is your process for it?
Please share if you could

thanks!

[Former_Member]

I will send you the article. I printed it an need to find it to find the link.

[Former_Member]

I own the Epson R2000 and it is very good. Great quality for the price and ink is pretty consistent. It goes pretty large, but I don't think larger than 18" so if you want to do big posters it may not work.

I also get my paper from Red River Paper. Good price and great customer service. I use the 96 lb. polar matte stock for my prints.

For packing, I don't do posters but I do sell 8x10 art prints. I pack them in a cello bag with a cardboard insert to keep flat and protected in transit. The best pricing is at Uline.com, but the minimum quantities are very high. Clearbags.com offers good pricing, too, and the minimum order is much lower. Shipping can be costly so order as much as you can.

Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-prints-artwork-sell-etsy-1960796.html

[Former_Member]

Thank you Mireya! let me know when you have it

[Former_Member]

Oh there it is, thank you very much!

[Former_Member]

Hello sandy, thanks for the input!
The printer R2000 is the one i was planning on getting too, and it does come with size as big as 13 x 19! you should check that out.
I got my samples from red river paper and will test them all as soon as i get my new printer!
Thank you for the shipping tips and sites i will check them out def!

Best wishes !!

Pamela

[Former_Member]

Hi. Im new here and I have some questions to make. I am currently selling prints as well. I was wondering how long will it take to make your first sale? Im hopping to make one by end of this month. How long did you take to sell yours?

[Former_Member]

Hi Angeline, i dont sell prints yet, but am planning too soon.
Are you promoting your items?
I heard it might take up to 3 or 4 months to pick up for some people, i guess it depends how much you advertise them.

Best of luck!
By the way, which printer do you use? (if you own one)

[Former_Member]

Hi Pamela,

I dont have a printer at home. I get it printed at a printing company. The color quality is better and I would want my customers to get the best :)

[Former_Member]

Hi Monica,
Your Prints look quite Nice, even without the 3D effect..i like it.

Hi Pamela,
Thanks for you kind words about my art.
Saw that you've started selling prints too...Have you experienced any increase in sales?
The Prints look very good by the way..

Yes i did read some reviews about the Epson R2000, very nice printer too.
I chose to get the Epson R3000 over the R2000 due to some slight differences btw both printers.

They both produce fabulous prints museum standard.

I'm well excited about my new printer hope it gives me the return i'm expecting.

I still think Giclee Print is the right way to go as an Artist.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

[Former_Member]

I didn't start selling prints yet :(, still saving to get the printer.
I think im going for the epson 3000 too! since its an investment, might as well get the best one.

Thanks for your advice and tips!

[Former_Member]

Hi Ladies, so glad I came across this thread. Special thanks to Pamela for the summary of advice.

I was hoping to just try and sell digital art but am now wondering if I need to invest more time and energy into selling prints. I am mostly on the road so I try to keep all my businesses as virtual as possible.

If you don't mind, please take a look at my unique art and let me know your thoughts. I have much more to upload yet, but there is enough to get an idea.

I also do personal yantras and you can learn about them at www.soulyantra.com

[Former_Member]

So, I started with 8x10. I test printed on my Canon inkjet and found the quality more than acceptable and set $15 per print as my price. I got some paper samples from French Paper and Red River based on recommendations on Etsy, and decided I liked a natural paper from French and the 60lb polar matte from Red River.

Then, I started getting inquiries to do 11x14 prints. The printer I was using for 16x20 couldn't do 11x14 on a paper that I found acceptable enough to sell (they outsource everything larger than 11x14 so the bigger ones are nice and on Endura semi-gloss) or at a price that would bear the market, so I decided to spring for an Epson Stylus Photo R3000 printer. I had a bonus from work so I used some of that money for the printer. I chose that particular model because of its larger volume print cartridges.

Red River has a nice "per print cost" for several Epson and Canon printers:
http://www.redrivercatalog.com/cost-of-inkjet-printing.html

And then I factored in the cost of paper, packaging, shipping supplies, and set my price at $20. Since I can now offer archival-quality giclee prints with my acid-free paper and my pigment-based inks (since the Canon before was a dye-based ink) I felt that price was appropriate. And the quality is really incomparable. I use a filter on my prints when designing them that gives them some background texture, and you could barely see that on the Canon, but it's clear as day on the Epson.

I ship 8x10 flat in a clear bag (clearbags.com) with backing also purchased from that company, and in a rigid photo mailer (purchased a pack of 100 on Amazon). I buy shipping tubes for 11x14 and larger, on a order-by-order basis -- about $2-3 at UPS - but if I start getting more of those orders, I'm going to look into buying bulk from Uline or uShip. I'm also looking into getting rigid 11x14 flat mailers so I can package and send those like I do my 8x10, because it seems silly to put those in a tube. Smaller prints curl more when you roll them up for tube shipping.

Good luck to you!