Photo credit to the commissioner; shared here with permission.
Sketchblog post for this artwork here.
Ever wondered where those gorgeous prints you see in artist alley conventions are printed? Or do you have commissioned artwork you’d like printed for your personal use, but wondered where to print them? I was always curious about this – and a few years ago, I learned a little more about it!
These are adapted from two email replies I wrote a while ago for previous commissioners, who wished to print the art I painted for them afterward. I’d been considered formatting those emails into a post for this blog, because I found the info helpful both for myself, and to to share when occasionally people ask printing-related questions. Now’s as good a time as ever!
As I wrote these both over a year ago now, if you notice any out-of-date info, please feel free to comment or let me know somewhere. I’d be more than happy to keep this post updated!
Printers in the US
For the US, I recommend these two printers. :D To my understanding, these are among the most popular used by artists for artist alley conventions.
Fireball Printing
- Site link: FireballPrinting.com
- I’ve used this printer before. Their quality is excellent. Their prints are archival quality (they should not fade or yellow over time).’
- Only note is, factor in the lighting for where you plan to display your print. Their prints have lovely depth and richness of color, but they might need proper lighting to show their full vibrancy. In dimmer lighting conditions, the print might appear too dark.
- Their extensive options can be a little confusing:
- Posters & Brochures is the most likely option you’d want to use for your print , as they offer a range of standard sizes.
- If you wanted a larger size not mentioned in those options, then you’d want to go with Large Format.
- Fireball Printing does allow printing R18 art.
Catprint
- Site link: CatPrint.com
- This is a popular printer because they have a few unique, fancier options – such as gold foil or holographic prints.
- Here’s their link for Art Prints.
- Their biggest downside is their standard art prints are not archival quality (they might fade or yellow over time).
- They do also offer archival-quality options, but they might only be for larger prints. They classify them as Posters.
- I haven’t used this printer, but I’ve heard many good things about them. People seem happy to print with them.
- They offer free hard copy proofs, which lets you see how your print looks before committing to the final print. This might be a good option to consider, especially if your painting has some darker tones in the background. Being able to preview a physical proof, before ordering the final print, may provide peace-of-mind it won’t print too dark (and gives you the option of adjusting the file before printing the final).
- Info page about hard copy proofs.
- Catprint does not allow printing R18 art.
The original for this section was written July 10, 2024, and I did some formatting for the blog here today. I checked that links still work, but keep the date in mind for when this was written, compared to when you’re reading this. It’s possible some of what I wrote here is out-of-date, since it’s a year later now. On the other hand, I’ve known these two printers have been among the most popular ones used for artist alley conventions for years, and my impression is they are fairly stable platforms given their longevity.
Photo credit to the commissioner; shared here with permission.
Sketchblog post for this artwork here.
Printers in the EU
For the EU, I asked a few people, and was recommended these two printers!
Mixam Print
- Site link: Mixam Print UK
- The person who recommended them to me has used them in the past, and was happy with them. They said to feel free to reach out to the website’s support team if you need help or questions about their prints.
- Update 12/4/2025: I’ve heard Mixam’s quality has become a little less reliable in recent years, compared to the stellar quality they were previously known for. People advise planning ample shipping time to review proofs or additional orders, as their defective rate seems to have increased.
- Mixam also has a US site, but because of the previous bullet about wavering print quality, the two in the “Printers in the US” section might be better, depending on your location.
Négatif
- Site link: Négatif
- This print shop is located in Paris. I am unsure if they are a retail store only, or if they also have an online store. You will probably be able tell more easily than I can, because it looks like their site might be French-only. :p (This was originally written for a French-speaking commissioner.)
- The person who recommended this printer to me said they are very high quality, but implied they might be more expensive.
The original for this section was written July 25, 2022, with some formatting edits today. Again, keep in mind the date the info here was written compared to when you are reading this, in case anything has become out-of-date.
Local Printers (Any Region)
- If you have access to a local printer, this is always a recommended option!
- Local means you have the added benefit of being able to receive customer support in-person. You can also immediately see the proof quality, and speak directly with someone who will help you with any adjustments needed for your print.
- In the US, a few local printers I’ve heard people use are:
- FedEx Office Stores
- Office Depot
- The main issue I hear about stores like FedEx/Office Depot is the quality can sometimes vary significantly – even at the same store – depending on who is working on a particular day. I’ve heard experiences ranging from surprisingly wonderful to shockingly disappointing. I would guess the quality, on average, is generally satisfactory. But, it might depend on your use-case scenario.
- Michaels (the craft store!)
- I only recently learned Michael’s does prints! I haven’t used them personally, but the person who mentioned them to me was very pleased with their print quality. And that the cost was reasonable, though not inexpensive.
- With Michael’s, you also have the added benefit of having their framing department in-store. Frames can be essential depending on how you wish to display your print – don’t overlook them!
- It’s possible my info is out-of-date, but I always heard praise for their framing departments (I’m not sure how much this might vary from store-to-store).
- I’m unfortunately unfamiliar with specific local EU printers – check your area, or if you know one, let me know and I’ll add them here!
That’s the summary! I hope it might be helpful to someone. If you have feedback or suggestions for this post (or questions about printing), again feel free to comment or let me know wherever you see me active. Happy to keep it updated!
A hearty thanks to Bou & Dali for taking these wonderful photographs, and for their permission to share them here with you!
Updated December 5, 2025: Added the “Local Printers” section after receiving helpful feedback!