Help with printing and framing your artwork

From download to wall

A digital print only becomes artwork once it is on paper and on display. Our files are designed to make that step simple. Every purchase includes a print-ready PDF and a high-resolution JPEG, prepared at 300 DPI in standard A5 and A4 sizes, so they fit ordinary UK frames without awkward trimming. This page gathers the practical advice we most often give, and our full step-by-step printing guide goes into more detail.

Three ways to print

At home

A good-quality inkjet printer can produce lovely results, especially on matt photo paper or heavier art paper. Use the JPEG or the PDF without bleed, set your printer to its highest quality, and make sure the paper type in the print settings matches the paper in the tray. Print at actual size rather than fit to page so the proportions stay true.

At a local print shop

High-street printers and copy shops can print on thicker, more archival papers than most home printers allow. Take the PDF on a USB stick or send it by email, and ask whether they would like the version with 3 mm bleed and crop marks. Bleed extends the image slightly beyond the trim line, so there are no white slivers at the edges after cutting.

Through a print-on-demand service

If you want fine-art paper, framing and delivery in one order, we recommend Prodigi, a UK-based print-on-demand company. You upload your file, choose the paper and frame, and the finished piece is delivered to your door or straight to the person you are giving it to.

Choosing paper

• Matt paper reduces glare and suits most of our styles, especially iconography, folk art and abstract pieces.
• Satin or lustre paper gives a little more depth to rich, dark pieces such as Baroque scenes.
• Heavier weights of around 200 gsm and above feel more substantial and are less likely to ripple in a frame.
• Archival or fine-art papers are worth the extra cost for gifts and church displays you hope will last for years.

Framing your print

A5 and A4 are standard sizes, so ready-made frames are easy to find in homeware shops and online.

Using a mount

A mount, the card border inside the frame, gives artwork room to breathe. A common approach is to print at A5 and display it in an A4 frame with a mount cut for A5, or to print at A4 and use a larger frame with a matching mount.

Glazing and placement

Glass or acrylic protects prints from dust and fingers. Hang artwork away from direct sunlight and damp walls, which helps colours stay fresh, particularly in church halls and kitchens.

A note about colour

Every screen and every printer shows colour a little differently, so a print may not match exactly what you saw on your phone or monitor. Paper makes a difference too: matt paper tends to look softer than gloss. If colour accuracy matters, a professional print shop or print-on-demand service will usually give the most consistent result. You will find more on this in our frequently asked questions.

Still stuck?

If a file will not open, prints at the wrong size or looks very different from what you expected, let us know through our contact page with your order email and a short description of the problem. We are glad to help you get a result you are happy with.