As an artist in the 21st century, it can be very beneficial to have a portfolio on the internet. Not only that, but even having digital copies of your artwork to sell to others!

In this post, I am going to teach you how to turn your artwork into digital prints, or even just digital artwork in general.

If you are using real artwork to turn digital…

First, you need to figure out your best way to get a clear image of it on your screen.

A lot of professional artists tend to use scanners. Others like to hire professional art photographers as well. It depends on what type of surface your artwork is on!

Artwork Scanners

An important thing to note about these scanners is that they are best used for flat artwork. If you are working on watercolor paper or any flat surface of paper similar, then an artwork scanner is for you!

If you are producing a lot of artwork in high demand and it is fairly small in size, I recommend purchasing a scanner. You can scan a lot of artwork on newer models of printers as well. However, they can get quite expensive, over $1000.

  1. Adjust Settings: Artists adjust scanner settings such as resolution, color mode (e.g., RGB or CMYK), and file format (e.g., TIFF or JPEG). Also, this is based on preferences and the intended use of the digital files. Choose settings that prioritize image quality and color accuracy.
  2. Review and Edit: After scanning, review the digital image to ensure it accurately represents the original artwork. You will want to have a good understanding of what you can digitally edit.

If you are producing a steady slower amount of artwork, I would recommend going to your local office supply, fedex print, etc. They can scan large format flat artwork for a pretty good price. It can run you less than $5 depending on the piece’s size and detail!

  1. Specialized Art Supply Stores: Some art supply stores may carry scanners suitable for digitizing artwork. Also, just stopping into these store regardless offer guidance on selecting the best scanner for your specific artistic needs.

Overall, the availability of artwork scanners depends on other factors. This is such as location, budget, and personal preferences. Whether purchasing online or in-store, artists can find a variety of options to suit their needs for scanning your artwork.

Art Photographers

If you are working on canvas or 3 dimensional material, photographing your work is the best option.

When hiring an art photographer, make sure to discuss your specific needs. This is including the intended use of the photographs and any licensing agreements. You need to make sure there will be no licensing issues with you then selling the photos of your artwork on prints or digitally in the future.

Secondly, make sure you are on the same page. You should show them pictures of what you are expecting from them. In addition, their turnaround times, what they are planning on editing to liven up colors, etc.

I would recommend hiring an art photographer when you are ready to shoot a lot of work. You are not going to want to pay a steep price for them if you dont have a lot of things for them to photograph! Remember that hiring a professional can be expensive.

Photographing Work Yourself

For most small artists, this is the best option. Many digital prints are photographed by the artist themself with a great setup at home. This is especially important if you are working, once again, on 3D material (like a canvas).

I have a detailed post about photographing your artwork, with what to do and what not to do linked here.

In most cases, you can even use your phone to take these images. If you have a fairly new model of an iPhone or Android, those pictures will come out great.

If you have a nicer camera as well, digital preferred, that is perfect. Also, follow the steps that I have in my blog post linked above to make sure you’re taking them correctly.

Cost and Quality Breakdown for Different Ways to Digitize Your Art:

Using a Scanner:

  • Cost: The initial cost of purchasing a high-quality flatbed scanner can range from $200 to $1000 or more. Also, this is depending on the features and specifications. However, once the scanner is acquired, there are no ongoing costs for digitizing artwork.
  • Quality: Scanners offer precise and controlled digitization of artwork. They are capturing fine details and colors accurately. High-end scanners provide excellent image quality with high optical resolution. This is ensuring faithful reproductions of the original artwork.

Scanning at an Office Supply Store

  • Cost: Going to an office supply store is certainly a more cheap option. This option would be best for anyone that is not planning on scanning artwork over dispersed periods of time. In other words, if you are only doing all the scans at once and thats it. It can be anywhere from $5-hundreds. It all depends on what you are scanning of course.
  • Quality: I would say that if you are working in smaller formatting, office supply stores are the way to go. FedEx does really good work for what youre getting. They can make sure that there isnt distortion, but the colors can sometimes be slightly off. You can always edit them later on.

Hiring a Pro Art Photographer:

  • Cost: Hiring a professional art photographer typically involves paying for their time, expertise, and equipment. Costs can vary widely depending on the photographer’s experience, location, and the scope of the project. On average, hiring a professional art photographer for a single session can range from $100 to $500 or more. This is not including additional fees for editing and post-processing.
  • Quality: Professional art photographers have specialized knowledge and equipment for capturing artwork. They can ensure accurate color reproduction, proper framing, and minimal distortion. This is resulting in high-quality digital images suitable for printing and reproduction.

Taking Photos Yourself

  • Cost: If an artist already owns a high-quality digital camera or smartphone with a capable camera, there may be minimal additional cost for taking photos themselves. However, investing in professional-grade photography equipment, such as DSLR cameras, lenses, and lighting, can be expensive upfront, with costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
  • Quality: The quality of photos taken by artists themselves can vary depending on their photography skills, equipment, and the environment in which the photos are taken. With proper lighting, composition, and camera settings, artists can achieve satisfactory results. However, achieving the same level of precision and color accuracy as a professional art photographer may require additional knowledge and experience.

If you are using digital artwork that you would like to print…

Digital artwork can be made on most platforms and formatted correctly. For example, I make posters on procreate and then sell them on etsy. However, there are just some key factors that you need to know universally for all softwares:

  1. Keep track of your sizing and measurements on the digital art. If you plan on selling it, you will need to make sure that you are creating work people can print easily after purchasing. This means it needs to be easy for them, aka in the right size immediately!
    • If you use procreate, I have a post about cropping on procreate as well that will help you greatly.
    • Here is a great format to use for your measurements on what to sell:
      • 4:5 Ratio 16”x20” JPG
        3:4 Ratio 18”x24” JPG
        2:3 Ratio 24’x36” JPG
  2. File Formats:
    • Save your artwork in a high-resolution format suitable for printing and digital display. Common formats include JPEG/JPG, PNG, TIFF, and PSD (Photoshop Document).
    • Consider saving layered PSD files if you want to retain the ability to edit individual elements of your artwork later.
  3. Resolution and Size:
    • Aim for a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for high-quality prints. This ensures crisp, detailed images suitable for large-scale printing.
    • Consider the intended use of your artwork when determining size. First, for digital display, higher resolutions may not be necessary. But for prints, larger sizes require higher resolutions to maintain quality.
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