PrintMaker Studio · A guide to fine art printing
The paper is the voice of your story.
The image is yours. We help you bring it into the world.
From choosing paper to preparing the file, evaluating a test print and planning the final presentation, we can guide the whole project with you.
Find your starting point ↓
Start with the work itself. Is it a quiet photograph for a home, a portfolio to hold, a reproduction of an original or a series for an exhibition? Those uses can lead to different choices even when the image file is identical.
Bring us your intended size, where the work will be seen and anything you already know about the frame. We can help you move from a broad idea to a paper shortlist, a test and a finished presentation. You do not need to settle every technical question first.
A useful project brief
“I have six colour photographs for a small exhibition. I’m imagining a 16 × 20 inch finished sheet, with a visible white border and a frame. I’d like help choosing the paper.”
That tells us much more than “print at the best quality.” We can discuss the image proportions, border, frame opening and proofing before a final size is agreed.
Divide the pixel dimensions by the intended image dimensions in inches to find pixels per inch (ppi). A 6000 × 4000 pixel image gives 300 ppi at 20 × 13⅓ inches, or 200 ppi at 30 × 20 inches. Both keep the original 3:2 proportions.
| Image file | Printed image | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 6000 × 4000 px | 20 × 13⅓ in | 300 ppi |
| 6000 × 4000 px | 30 × 20 in | 200 ppi |
Changing a resolution label without resampling does not add image detail. Resampling changes the pixel count; it should be a considered choice rather than a way to make every file say “300.” Printer dpi and image ppi describe different things.
Source: Adobe · Image size and resolution ↗We also look at focus, noise, compression and the way the image will be viewed. A large print seen across a room asks something different from a small print examined closely. A test strip at the proposed final scale helps you judge the actual result.
Allow for the proportions
An 8 × 12 image and an 8 × 10 sheet have different shapes. Filling the 8 × 10 means cropping; keeping the entire image means allowing space around it. Tell us whether the image, the sheet or an existing frame opening is the dimension that matters.
A printer profile describes a particular printer, ink and paper combination. A calibrated display and the appropriate profile help make the screen-to-print comparison more useful. Soft proofing previews output through a profile; it cannot show the physical texture or feel of a sheet.
Source: Adobe · Preparing a colour-printing workspace ↗Our studio uses a colour-managed workflow, custom paper profiles and controlled print-viewing light. We can review a file with you and help evaluate what changes, if any, would serve the printed image.
Send the best original you have
Our preferred starting point is a flattened TIFF with an embedded Adobe RGB (1998) profile; a good-quality JPEG is also acceptable. Keep your editable master separately. If your file is already sRGB or you are unsure of its profile, send it for review instead of guessing at a conversion.
Judge the test with a purpose
Look at the areas that matter to the image: shadow detail, delicate highlights, skin tones, a particular colour or the balance between texture and sharpness. Note the paper and the version of the file. Change one thing at a time so the next proof answers a clear question.
Consider the light where the finished work will hang as well as the studio viewing conditions. Tell us what you want the print to feel like; a technically consistent result and an expressive result are decisions we can work through together.
Start with two or three contrasting surfaces rather than trying every paper. For example, compare a photographic finish with a smooth matte paper, then add a more textured option if the image calls for it. Keep the image and size consistent while you compare.
Use the paper selection to explore photographic, matte, watercolour and printmaking papers, backlit media, and specialty materials. The pricing calculator helps you compare cost alongside the surface.
Paper weight describes mass per square metre, not a quality ranking. A heavier sheet is not automatically the right choice. Think about how the work will be handled, framed, mailed or collected, and ask us to compare physical samples.
For washi or a customer-supplied material, talk to us before ordering or preparing a whole edition. We need to assess suitability and the proposed result. A successful print on one paper does not establish the settings for another.
I’ve never made a fine art print. Where do I begin?
Bring us your image and tell us what you have in mind: where it will live, how large you imagine it and what you want it to feel like. We can help you choose a paper, assess the file, plan a test print and consider mounting or framing. You do not need to know the technical language to get started.
Can you guide the whole project?
Yes. PrintMaker Studio can guide your project from image preparation and paper selection through printing, mounting, framing and fulfilment. We’ll work through the choices with you and confirm the scope, pricing and timing before production. Tell us about the complete project early so each decision supports the next.
Can you help with an exhibition or a series of prints?
Yes. Share the number of works, proposed dimensions, presentation ideas and any installation or delivery deadline. Planning the series together helps us consider consistency, the relationship between images and how the work will be presented. A proof is a useful starting point before committing to a larger run.
How does paper change a photograph or artwork?
A paper’s surface, shade of white and texture influence how an image feels. A smooth photographic surface and a textured matte paper can give the same image very different presences. Start with the mood of the work, then compare physical samples and, when useful, test your image on a shortlist.
Photographic, matte or watercolour—where should I start?
Photographic papers offer surfaces such as luster, satin and gloss. Smooth matte papers provide a quieter, low-sheen presentation. Textured watercolour papers make the paper’s surface a more visible part of the work. These are starting points, not rules about which subjects belong on which paper. Explore our paper selection ↗
What does gsm mean? Is heavier paper always better?
Gsm means grams per square metre: the weight of a defined area of paper. It does not, on its own, tell you how thick, rigid or suitable a paper will be for your image. Consider the surface and the final presentation as well as the weight. We can help you compare the options in hand.
Can you print on washi or other specialty materials?
Ask us about washi and other custom materials. These are project-specific options rather than standard stocked choices. We’ll discuss suitability, sourcing and testing before confirming what is possible. A material you love may need a different approach to printing or finishing.
How large can I print my image?
The useful print size depends on the pixel dimensions, image detail, focus, editing and viewing distance. There is no single resolution number that guarantees a good print. Send the original file and your intended dimensions so we can assess it; a test strip can help judge detail at the final scale.
Should I change my file to 300 dpi?
Changing the resolution label alone does not create more image detail. What matters is how many pixels are available at the chosen print size. Avoid enlarging or repeatedly resaving the file simply to reach a number; let us review the best original you have first.
What should I send, and can you help prepare it?
Send the highest-quality original or edited master available and tell us your intended size. Avoid screenshots and files downloaded from social media when a better original exists. If you are unsure how to export your image, ask us before making changes. We can help with sizing, borders and more involved image preparation.
What does Photoshop and image preparation cost?
Basic preparation is $5 CAD per image and includes resizing and adding borders. Advanced work is $150 CAD per hour, billed in 15-minute increments ($37.50 per increment). Describe the changes you need so we can confirm the appropriate level of work.
How do I specify borders and the finished size?
Tell us both the image size and the overall paper size, or state clearly whether your dimensions include borders. For example, an 8 × 10 inch image with a 1 inch border on every side needs a 10 × 12 inch sheet. If you already have a frame or mat, share its opening dimensions before we print.
Why might my print look different from my screen?
A screen emits light; a paper print is seen by reflected light. Screen brightness, calibration, the chosen paper and the light where you view the print all affect the comparison. A calibrated screen and soft proof can help, but a physical test lets you judge the actual result.
What is soft proofing?
Soft proofing uses a printer-and-paper profile to preview a print’s colour behaviour on a suitably calibrated screen. It can help identify changes to investigate, but cannot reproduce the physical texture or sheen of paper. If you do not use a colour-managed workflow, we can guide you through proofing without making it a prerequisite.
Should I choose a test print or a test strip?
Choose an 8 × 10 inch test print to review the overall image at a smaller size. Choose a 5 × 24 inch test strip to inspect a selected part of the image at the intended final scale. Both are invoiced at the 8 × 10 inch price for the selected paper. Tell us what you want to evaluate—paper, colour, shadow detail or sharpness—so we can plan a useful test.
When is a test especially useful?
Consider a test when trying an unfamiliar paper, preparing a large print, building an edition or exhibition, or whenever you have concerns about the result. Review it under the lighting where the work will be seen when possible. We can help you evaluate the print and decide whether any adjustments are needed.
Try it before the final print
Two ways to look closer.
Both tests use the 8 × 10 inch price for your chosen paper.
Order the corresponding final print within 30 days and we’ll credit 50% of the test cost on your final invoice.
Explore papers and pricing ↗Should I mount my print or frame it?
It depends on how you want the work to look, where it will hang and how you want to handle it in the future. Mounting supports the print on a panel; framing adds another set of choices around borders, glazing and presentation. Discuss the finish before printing so the size and paper work with the plan.
What is Dibond mounting?
Dibond is an aluminium composite panel used to give a print a rigid, contemporary presentation. It is different from a solid aluminium panel. We offer Dibond mounting. Explore mounting ↗
Can you help with a frame I already own?
Yes—send us the frame dimensions and, if there is a mat, the exact opening size. A photograph of the frame and its back can help explain the arrangement. We’ll consider the image area, borders and fit before confirming the print dimensions.
Is a lightbox print made on ordinary paper?
We can make lightboxes using dedicated backlit media and other papers. The best choice depends on the image, the lighting and the effect you want to achieve. Share the project and any existing lightbox specifications so we can guide the paper choice and explore a test before committing to the finished piece. Explore lightboxes ↗
Can you pack and ship my prints to a collector?
We can discuss fulfilment as part of your project, including preparing the work, packing and arranging an agreed shipment. Share the size, quantity, finish, destination and preferred arrival date. Packing, shipping costs and timing are confirmed for the project. Plan fulfilment ↗
How much will my project cost?
Use the pricing calculator to explore print sizes, papers and available finishing choices. Custom framing, specialty materials and delivery may need a studio quote. If you are unsure which options to select, tell us about the project and we’ll help you plan it. Price your project ↗
What should I include when I contact you?
A brief description of the work, the best image file you have, approximate size and quantity, any framing or mounting ideas, and your deadline or destination. It is fine to leave decisions open. “Help me choose” is a useful starting point.
Full-service printmaking in Vancouver
You don’t have to have
it all figured out.
Tell us what you’re making. We’ll help you find the paper, process and presentation that feel right for your work.
For the curious
A little more about the craft.
This guide combines our studio approach with established printing principles. For a deeper look at paper characteristics and colour-managed printing, these manufacturer resources are useful starting points. Software screens in older guides may differ from current versions.
Canson Infinity · Choosing fine art paper ↗Epson · RGB Printing Guide (PDF) ↗Prefer to learn together? Join a Make Better Prints workshop ↗