Artist Alley - Prints

Today we're continuing on with some artist alley tips! Prints are one of the most basic and common things to sell at a convention, and it's a great place to start for first timers. So let's talk about what you need to know to sell prints!
FOLLOW MY WORK
✩ Patreon - / fireflyraye
✩ Etsy Shop - www.etsy.com/shop/thatcutecrap
✩ Instagram - / fireflyraye
✩ Twitter - / fireflyrayeart
✩ Facebook - / thatcutecrap
✩ DeviantArt - firefly-raye.deviantart.com
✩ Tumblr - / fireflyrayeart
CREDITS
✩ Intro/outro track provided by DJ Roborob - / djroborob
TOOLS USED
✩ Software used to edit - Adobe Premiere Pro CS6

[@swandrawn]

Awesome explanation about prints, and I can second everything you mention here! Glossy prints are indeed amazing at exhibiting way more vibrant colors and richer dark colors which I use for most character illustrations, but I print all my pixel art on matte paper because I don't have to worry about those eeeeeeny weenie details getting lost due to the glare from lights. So I highly encourage artists to test out prints on different types of paper and also with different color profiles, like Adobe 1998 vs sRGB if you're working in RGB, to see what works. You might surprise yourself!

[@FireflyRaye]

That's an excellent point about details getting lost on glossier prints. And I definitely second testing out prints on your own if you can! It's useful knowledge to have in case you need to discuss with printers in the future.

[@jayw9619]

That’s so interesting to hear about the print sizes! I am still very new, I’ve only been to one con before, but I noticed that small sizes are definitely WAY more popular compared to the large A3 sizes! I sold 10 A3s and 150+ A6s at con ... A3 is a lot more profitable but people seem to like small things! Then again, I may be making a mistake by selling the same print in all sizes (A6-A3).

[@FireflyRaye]

I've noticed the same too! I usually sell way more small prints, but larger prints are more profitable, so for me it ends up being about the same in the end. I think there's nothing wrong with selling a variety of sizes, I would only reconsider it if you start running out of space on your table :)

[@kilaninani]

I personally prefer small prints unless the art is insanely detailed. Especially because its a pain to carry the big ones home.

[@aexlee7255]

Aw shit, I should’ve gotten some A6 then, I only have A5 and A4. I’ll do that at the next con I guess 😢

[@kxrachii]

I've been watching your artist alley videos!! I'm planning on selling again in a local convention and these are so helpful, thank you so much for making these videos!

[@letter1048]

Prints explanations were amazing, thank you so much ! I'm going to a convention next year , but still! You helped me a lot :) thank you so much !

[@harukatsune]

my goodness raye i'm loving all of your videos. THANK U FOR MAKING THESE!!!! ♥♥♥

[@FireflyRaye]

ahhhh haruka thank you for being so sweet!!

[@elzizgor]

I love your style! I so cohesive and bubbly and abondant !!! And you help and simplicity are VERY appreciated, you got a new suscriber! 😉👍

[@kwiyetwon9479]

thank you for the tips and information on this topic...

[@sunflowersonthemoon4729]

I've decided very last minute to join an artist alley (my first time!) and these video's are super helpfull, thank you!

[@MegGassler]

This was a great video! I'm doing my first booth in December here in Las Vegas and wasn't sure what to do! Thanks for all the great info! :)

[@thisistherun4015]

Great insight, sounds like gloss suits me best. Thank you!

[@xyntea]

I just discovered your channel and your content is really helpful. I'm so happy you've found you !

[@FireflyRaye]

Aww thank you! I'm glad I can help! :)

[@obara7366]

This info is a godsend! Thank you so much!

[@JorgeMurillo777]

This is exactly the video I was looking for, very helpful thank you ans subbed

[@ace-iw8jm]

Not really related, but what’s your favorite part of conventions, and may you talk about past experiences? You don’t have to because sometimes there’s a possibility of personal things, but I really hope you do! Lover your videos!

[@FireflyRaye]

Ohh that's an interesting idea for a future video! Thank you! :)

[@wuducreations550]

You're smart and helpful thanks!

[@catonmars6191]

Thanks this is helpful

[@Shinkami_Chuu]

Another tip is to order/print multiple smaller illustrations on a large sheet (A3 for exemple) and then cut them out individually yourself, with an x-acto knife and a metal ruler or a guillotine cutter or trimmer. This will save you money since it unites several orders and designs into one. You could even have the same design several times on the same bigger sheet to get more units of that design.

[@Flopysock]

Keep up the great Content!

[@deshibasara9150]

Great video!

[@XlovexOxpeaceX]

Hi Raye! I just found your channel and I've been binge watching your videos you're so pretty and your art style is so cute omg thank you for your help!! Is there any chance you could make a video about clothing / and what are good suppliers to use in the future? Have a good day :)

[@mr.juniorer]

Great video! I'm going to be attending my first convention where I'm selling my art in August 2021! I'm so excited and nervous about it, but I know it'll be fun in the end! I was thinking of printing at least 5 prints per illustration, so that makes me happy that I was thinking in the right direction!

[@elijahmorgan6063]

I looked through about 8videos before I found yours. Your videos had all the info I was looking for! Great stuff! I plan to be selling my self published comics and posters in 2020. (Lord willing if I finish my comic😂) great stuff, hope to meet you one day at a con! Best of luck! 🥰

[@FireflyRaye]

I'm so glad you found my video to be helpful! I wish you the best with your comic! :D

[@meganschultz8533]

This is extremely helpful. Thank your for the tips. I'm prepping for my first con this September and I'm really nervous with it being 7ish months away. Being in a budget and getting the time in between to even start my business is extremely stressful. Is there any helpful tips for relaxing and not being so nervous. ?

[@jessicatbeauty15]

Do you have any suggestions for specific shops to print at? I’m starting my fist artist alley soon and I’m not sure what place is best

[@FireflyRaye]

While I mostly print my illustrations on my own printer, I have in the past gotten specialty prints done through CatPrint. They do a wonderful job!

[@Saiite]

@@FireflyRaye Thank your for the informative vids! What kind of printer do you use? Any reason you prefer doing it yourself?

[@turdnugget]

Super helpful video! I've only printed my art a few times at Staples but the colors always comes out gross and dark. I tried to find a better place for printing but it keeps coming out super saturated. Did you ever struggle with this problem? I heard I had to calibrate my monitor but I've already done this so many times I don't know what to do.

[@FireflyRaye]

I've definitely had this struggle before, haha. There's a lot of factors to consider, but one thing that helps is to make sure I'm always working in CMYK mode if I plan on printing the illustration. I'm not sure what kind of art program you use, but in Adobe Photoshop in the menu there's an option for Image > Mode > CYMK Color (I'm sure other art programs have a similar option). RGB Color looks great for the web, but prints very poorly because a lot of the colors are not "print safe" (mostly lime greens and periwinkle purples). There are other "print modes" as well, and this kind of requires just testing out on your own printer and seeing what works. This is an excellent question, and I would definitely like to cover it in more detail in a future video.

[@onlymagical]

I have questions about when you sell your print like standard or the bigger poster size, what to use to give it to the buyer, a paper envelope might not protect the print? which one would be a good website or place to get supplies so the buyer can carry it around? also same question what if you sell print online what would be something good to use to mail them out?

[@brooklynngold8031]

This vid was super helpful ahh but was wonder where u got the display for ur small prints? >

[@redpumpkin9392]

What kind of printer do you use? And what kind of paper, also where can you buy plastic sleeves for art prints? How much would these things cost?

[@kermit-uc3ek]

Super helpful! Next year I will be selling in my city convention’s artist alley, where can I buy something like your metal stand for prints?

[@FireflyRaye]

I got my stand on amazon! amazon.com/gp/product/B008YXV87O

[@TerraCorvusEntertainment]

Hey there. Thank you for the video. I do have a question about packaging art prints. All videos I can find are about preparing them for shipping, and I am not sure if that method always works out so well for cons, aspecaly for bigger sizes. Also, where to get packaging materials and should I provide my customers with bags and should I also prize those, since I would also pay to get them?

[@chea_98]

I love your work thank you for taking the time to explain. What is the holder called that holding your smaller art prints?

[@FireflyRaye]

Thank you for your kind words! The holder is a tabletop tiered shelf / stand, and the one I have in this video is collapsible / foldable. I believe this is the specific one I got: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YXV87O/

[@AdarableKitten]

Do i still need to sign my prints even when my signature is on the art itself?? I always sign my artworks, so this has been something many have not talked about. if its already signed on the art itself, do i still have to sign it in person?

[@origamistars1992]

What do you need to sell at a con? Do you need a permit?

[@skywanker31415927]

Hi! Question: how many different prints would you say a "starter set" should have? I'm not talking about how many of each, but how many different illustrations should I start with. Thanks!

[@FireflyRaye]

Great question! I would say between 5 - 10 different illustrations would be a good starting number. And then try to add at least 2 for every new convention you go to. That way you slowly build up a good selection.

[@MariaC-yw5fd]

Hi!! Thank u for so many helpful videos for artist alley info

[@TerranceGordon]

When printing artwork it should be at least 300 dpi. Most modern printers are decent at converting RGB to CMYK, but ideally if you are printing you would want it to be CMYK (however, unless you have a high end color accurate monitor, there will almost always be slight variations between what you see on screen and the printed piece). As for your canvas size and whether to make it the exact dimensions or bigger, it depends on how you intend to print it. There are two main types of prints: borderless and bordered. If you want to have borderless prints you should make you canvas size a little larger to account for bleed. Prints that are bordered shrink the image down so that the whole image fits but leaves a white border (unless the paper itself isn't white, the border will be whatever color the paper is) an example is at 1:40. If you decide to print with an online service or print shop they most likely give and option for borderless and give you info on how much bleed your canvas should have. Good luck on your art printing journey!

[@FireflyRaye]

Terrance Gordon gave you perfect advice!

[@Nyax50Lopez]

Does anyone know how to fix a printer setting to go to regular paper to glossy photo option Mine is just freaking out when I change an option to print on glossy paper like come on

[@randomfandoms8994]

Its a very low chance you’ll see this but i plan on doing an artist alley after my different series ideas get enough attention so maybe i can sell art of my characters. I was also thinking of maybe putting up some papers at my booth with my different characters and where you could find more about them. Is this a good idea or no?

[@codydog03170]

Hey were did you get your post card rack? Great video thanks!

[@FireflyRaye]

I got in on amazon! amazon.com/gp/product/B008YXV87O

[@codydog03170]

FireflyRaye thanks!

[@rubytu3sday651]

What kind of paper should be used? I'm looking at a website that prints and it gives paper weight options as well as cardstock or text paper. What kind of paper would you use or suggest for your kind of art?

[@mimikyu_]

Cardstock is a popular option with artists. Theres light cardstock and heavy, i like the light one, but the heavy one can feel more premium and less bendy. Id recommend ordering 1 sample each to see which is best for you.

[@rubytu3sday651]

@@mimikyu_ cool! thank you so much :)

[@maskedfoxx7173]

Something very important to realize when deciding how to price your prints is you should NOT be trying to price it like an original piece. I've definitely seen artists that are heavily traditional not realize that the value of a print is significantly less than the original and price a 5x7 at $40-50 because they're so used to traditional art being sold for a high price. A print is NOT the same as the original. Even embellished, a 5x7 would probably go for $15 at the most, I think. Just ask yourself, "Would I buy from another artist at the same price?" and if you answer is 'no that's way too much' then maybe you should reevaluate how you price things.

[@FireflyRaye]

Very good point, I agree! Thank you for sharing!

[@Lemonrollcake]

This depends on the quality of paper and print. It would be crazy to sell quality art prints at the same prize as flimsy printer paper prints with quickly fading colors.

[@maskedfoxx7173]

@@Lemonrollcake Very true. Completely forgot about that

[@Baka.senpai.]

Do you have any printing companies you recommend?

[@FireflyRaye]

I print the majority of my prints myself, but some specialty prints I like to have made through CatPrint.