How to sell your first art print online

The first time I tried to sell an art print I made every mistake in the book. I uploaded a 1500-pixel file for an A3 listing, the print came back visibly soft, and I had to reprint it at my own cost before sending it to the buyer. What I needed was a clear setup checklist before I ever uploaded anything — not a lesson learned from a bad delivery.

This guide is that checklist. It is written for artists using Procreate, Photoshop, Affinity, or any raster drawing app who want to sell physical or digital prints on platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, or directly through a print lab.

Step 1: Choose your print size before you draw anything

The most common mistake is creating artwork first and worrying about print size later. If you start too small, you cannot upscale the file to print quality without making it blurry. Start with the output size in mind and build the canvas accordingly.

Common print sizes and their minimum pixel requirements at 300 DPI:

• 4 × 6 in — 1200 × 1800 px
• 5 × 7 in — 1500 × 2100 px
• 8 × 10 in — 2400 × 3000 px
• A4 (8.27 × 11.69 in) — 2480 × 3508 px
• A3 (11.69 × 16.54 in) — 3508 × 4960 px

Use the Canvas Size Finder to get the exact dimensions for your target platform before opening a new document.

Step 2: Set DPI correctly from the start

DPI (dots per inch) tells your printer how tightly to pack pixels onto paper. For art prints viewed at close range, 300 DPI is the standard. For large wall posters viewed from a metre or more, 150 DPI is acceptable.

Set the DPI in your new canvas dialog before drawing. Changing it later does not add resolution — it only reinterprets the existing pixels, which makes the print size smaller rather than the image sharper.

Run a quick check using the Pixels to Print Size Calculator before you export to confirm your file meets the target size at your chosen DPI.

Step 3: Export in the right format and colour mode

For digital printable downloads (where the buyer prints themselves): export as a high-quality PDF or TIFF in RGB colour. Most home printers handle RGB well, and PDF preserves sharp edges on text and linework.

For files you are sending to a print lab or uploading to Redbubble / Society6: check the lab's own spec page. Most accept TIFF or high-quality JPEG in either RGB or CMYK depending on their process. Some labs convert RGB for you; others expect CMYK input.

Read the full colour mode breakdown in the CMYK vs RGB guide if you are unsure which to use.

Step 4: Add bleed if you are using a commercial printer

Bleed is extra artwork extending 3 mm beyond the trim edge on all four sides. When a print is cut to size, the cutter removes this strip. Without bleed, a slight misalignment leaves a thin white border at the edge of your print.

If you are selling digital downloads for buyers to print at home, bleed is optional — most home printers leave a white border anyway. If you are using a print lab for physical fulfilment, always add 3 mm bleed and check the lab's safe zone guidelines before finalising artwork.

Step 5: Price your print correctly

Pricing is where many first-time sellers undercharge. Account for every cost before setting a number: production cost, platform fees, payment processing, shipping (if physical), and your time.

If you are selling on Etsy, use the Etsy Profit Calculator to model your exact take-home after Etsy's 6.5% transaction fee, $0.20 listing fee, and 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee. A common rule of thumb: multiply total production and shipping cost by 3× as a starting price floor, then adjust based on comparable listings.

Quick pre-upload checklist

• ✓ Canvas created at the correct pixel dimensions for the target print size
• ✓ DPI set to 300 (or 150 for large-format wall art) from the beginning
• ✓ Pixel count verified using the Pixels to Print Size calculator
• ✓ Colour mode matches lab requirements (RGB or CMYK)
• ✓ Bleed added if sending to a commercial print lab
• ✓ Pricing calculated after fees and costs