Pictorem
Giclee Today
The Print Space
So after seeing many artists and photographers selling their products on social media, you’ve decided to start selling your art and making some money from it. You’ve got the talent, the art, the passion, but… you don’t know where to start when it comes to printing, packaging, and shipping.
And honestly, who does? Even professional artists and photographers don’t receive formal training in matters of printing, logistics, packaging, and shipping, and if you go the wrong route you might end up with bad-quality prints, lost packages, and very unhappy customers.
Thankfully, several companies offer print and logistic solutions for your art business needs, even offering drop shipping services that take the stress away from you and allow you to focus on creating and interacting with your customers instead.
In this guide, we’re going to learn all the essentials of dropshipping services, from selecting the right provider to understanding cost implications. We’ll also list some of the top dropshipping companies and services for art prints that offer the best quality prints, and the best prices, and that will help your art business grow.
Let’s get started!
How Dropshipping Works (Specifically For Art Prints)
Dropshipping is a retail method where a store doesn’t keep the items it sells in stock but purchases these items from a third party instead, which manages manufacturing, logistics, storage, and shipping directly to the customer.
This is not the best business model for most products, since quality control and customer service standards tend to be lost in the process handled by the third party. Additionally, the saturated dropshipping market often results in numerous stores selling identical products, or over-inflating the prices which is not good for the market and the customers.
For art prints, however, dropshipping represents a huge relief in terms of time, cost, and logistics for both artists and customers. Selling prints on your own involves substantial investments in professional printing equipment, ink, paper, storage, packaging supplies, and shipping costs.
This can amount to a considerable financial commitment, which may be justified for those who have experience with the printmaking process, as well as established business artists with a sizable customer base. However, for newcomers or those unfamiliar with the intricacies of printer color profiles, paper types, inks, dyes, and the complex logistics of packaging and shipping, dropshipping represents a much easier and much less stressful option.
The dropshipping process is quite simple, actually, and can be broken down into a few steps:
- First, create a piece of art, of course. This could be a painting, a photo, a digital design, or any other form of art. Scan, take a photo, retouch, or upload your art to the internet.
- Then, do your research and partner with a print-on-demand service that fits your standards and specializes in creating high-quality art prints. Make sure to order a few samples to check the print quality, printing medium availability, and the cost of the logistics.
- Once you’ve done that, you should create a website or register on a platform where you can list the print for sale, including images and descriptions of the piece. Make sure this platform supports dropshipping.
- Marketing plays an important part in this part of the process since your website or store needs traffic to get sales. Make sure to promote your work with your friends and family, in your local community, or through social media.
- Then, we wait. When a customer orders an art print, the order is automatically sent to the print-on-demand service, and upon receiving the order, the print-on-demand service prints the artwork onto the chosen medium (like canvas, paper, etc.) using professional printing methods. This step ensures that the art print is of high quality and resembles the original artwork as closely as possible.
- The print-on-demand service then packages and ships the art print directly to the customer on your behalf. This process might include some of your branding, like custom packaging or a note, a coupon, etc, to make the experience more personal.
- Then, the print-on-demand service takes a pre-agreed slice of the price for printing and shipping, which is typically less than what the customer paid. The difference between these amounts is your profit.
How to Choose the Best Dropshipping Service for Art Prints
Print Quality
One of the first factors to consider when choosing a dropshipping service or company is the print quality they offer. High-resolution, accurate prints are a must, especially if you’re selling photo prints or reproductions of your art. In order to ensure the print quality meets your standards, you must check the printing technology they use and their color management practices. You can also look up reviews, and testimonials, and order a few samples in different printing mediums to see for the color fidelity and print quality in different sizes.
Printing Mediums and Sizes
The type of material used for the art print is the printing medium. Printing companies offer a wide variety of printing mediums, like archival paper, acrylic, canvas, metal, etc. and they can drastically change how your art looks and feels. Among the most popular mediums we can find:
- Giclée: A fine art digital printing process combining pigment-based inks with high-quality archival quality paper.
- Fine Art Paper (Archival Paper): High-quality, acid-free paper that ensures longevity; ideal for detailed and vibrant prints.
- Glossy Paper: Shiny surface that enhances color and sharpness, often used for high-resolution photographs.
- Matte Paper: Non-reflective surface, great for reducing glare and softening images.
- Satin Paper: Similar to luster, with a slightly smoother finish and lower reflectivity.
- Watercolor Paper: Textured paper ideal for reproducing watercolor artworks.
- Canvas: Offers a textured, artistic feel, commonly used for painting reproductions and gallery displays.
- Metal (Aluminum): Provides a modern look with vibrant colors and sharp details; durable and water-resistant.
- Acrylic: Features a glossy finish with excellent depth of color; heavy and typically more expensive.
- Wood: Offers a natural and rustic look, with the wood grain influencing the image’s appearance.
- HD Metal Prints: High-definition metal prints that offer exceptional detail and durability.
Most companies offer sample packs for you to choose the mediums that suit your art the best, however, if you’re looking for a certain type of print (like canvas print, giclee, metal, or acrylic), then make sure the company you order from specializes in that printing method.
Now, another issue you might find when choosing a dropshipping company for your art prints is the lack of size customization options. While some standard sizes might work for some of your designs, they won’t fit them all, so if you work with non-standard proportions, make sure the company you choose offers custom print sizes too.
Shipping and Handling
Another key factor that will definitely impact your business is the way your prints are packaged and handled and the shipping times.
Some companies will ship your prints rolled up, while others will ship them flat and well-protected. Some might use environmentally friendly packaging and others will use plastic and foam. Some have fast shipping or even express delivery, while others take much longer.
Companies change their packaging methods from time to time, so the only way to really know how your prints will get to your customers is by ordering a sample and experiencing the “unboxing” yourself.
If you want to sell your prints globally, you must check beforehand whether the company or service you choose offers that option, how long it takes, and how expensive the shipping fees are.
Platform Integration
Before choosing a definite dropshipping service or company, always and I mean ALWAYS, make sure it integrates with your online marketplace or e-commerce platform. Many services offer plugins or integrations with the most popular platforms. Also make sure the stock in your online store syncs with the dropshipping service stock, that way, once something is out of stock, it shows it that way on your store.
Additionally, a dropshipping service that makes your and your customer’s life easier is always good. Choose a service that will keep you informed every step of the way, from email confirmations to tracking info, and delivery status.
Cost and Pricing
In dropshipping, there are various costs that can affect (or reduce) your profit margins, which you should always carefully consider, especially if you’re just starting. There are platform fees (monthly subscriptions or charges per transaction), the cost of the product, shipping, and white labeling costs. Add to this the cost of your e-commerce platform, domain price, hosting, or marketplace fees, plus the possible costs associated with returns and refunds.
Make sure to thoroughly review the pricing, policies, and terms and conditions of your chosen service beforehand so all these charges don’t take you by surprise later on.
The 5 Best Dropshipping Companies for Art Prints
- Best Dropshipping Company for Art Prints Overall — Pictorem
- Best Drop Shipping Company for Giclee Prints — Giclee Today
- Best Dropshipping Company for Fine Art Prints — Finer Works
- Best Professional-Quality Dropshipping Company for Art Prints — The Print Space
- Best Dropshipping Company for Art Prints and Other Items — Art of Where
1. Best Dropshipping Company for Art Prints Overall — Pictorem
Selection Criteria
- Printing Mediums and Sizes: Fine Art Paper / Giclee / Canvas / Metal / Acrylic, Standard Sizes (Up to 54×54 Inches), Custom Sizes (Up to 96×54 Inches).
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- Shipping and Handling: 4 days producing, does not include delivery time.
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- Platform Integration: Fedex, UPS, USPS, DHL.
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- Cost and Pricing: $40 to $874 per product and size.
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About Pictorem
Pictorem is a well-established printing company known for offering a variety of the highest-quality custom printing services. Pictorem specializes in transforming art and photographs into gallery-quality prints, offering a wide variety of printing mediums, finishes, framing options, and sizes which makes them the to-go choice of many different artists and photographers.
The Drop-Shipping program that Pictorem offers is what makes them the winner of this guide, with Pictorem Pro you don’t have to pay an additional fee or anything but only pay for the production costs, and you get discounts in shipping based on the volume of your orders.
You can also order their sample kit to better choose the medium for your prints for about $10, shipping included.
Pros
- Diverse product range
- High-quality prints
- Custom size options
Cons
- Higher price point
- Longer production times
2. Best Drop Shipping Company for Giclee Prints — Giclee Today
Selection Criteria
- Printing Mediums and Sizes: Fine Art Paper / Giclee / Canvas, Standard Sizes (Up to 36 x 36 Inches), Custom Sizes (Up to 40×60 Inches).
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- Shipping and Handling: 2 to 4 days producing, 1 to 2 days shipping estimate.
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- Platform Integration: None Yet.
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- Cost and Pricing: $3.71 to $383.35 per product and size.
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About Giclee Today
If what you’re looking for is a company that specializes in high-quality Giclee Prints, then Giclee Today is the perfect choice for you. Known for their high-quality, archival-grade art and photography prints, and range of materials, they print using top-quality cotton canvas and paper, meeting the standards set by the Fine Art Trade Guild for pH and lightfastness.
On the downside, Giclee Today doesn’t have any integration with e-commerce and marketplaces, despite being an official manufacturing partner of Etsy, which means you’ll have to manually introduce and track each order.
Pros
- Specialist in Giclee
- Competitive Pricing
- Fast turnaround
Cons
- Lack of e-commerce platform integration
- Manual input required
3. Best Dropshipping Company for Fine Art Prints — Finer Works
Selection Criteria
- Printing Mediums and Sizes: Canvas / Fine Art Paper / Giclee / Metal, Standard Sizes (Up to 30×40 Inches), Custom Sizes (Up to 40×60 Inches).
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- Shipping and Handling: Current average production time: 1-3 business days.
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- Platform Integration: Artzip, Geo Galleries, Order Desk, Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace.
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- Cost and Pricing: $4 to $49.5 per product and size.
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About Finer Works
FinerWorks is a fine art and photo printing color lab that specializes in a variety of printing services, initially established in the early 2000s as an online canvas printing company, FinerWorks has expanded its services to include printing on fine art paper, HD metal prints, wood prints, HD face-mounted acrylics, and more.
One of the key services of FinerWorks is giclee printing, and are well-known for using high archival standards in their printing process, ensuring that the prints last for decades, which makes them the perfect option for artists and photographers who need high-quality reproductions of their work.
Their dropshipping service is free of charge to all customers and can be selected at checkout, it automatically applies if you have a business registered within your account and have uploaded a logo.
Pros
- Fine art specialization
- Museum-quality materials
- Extensive customization
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Longer processing time
4. Best Professional-Quality Dropshipping Company for Art Prints — The Print Space
Selection Criteria
- Printing Mediums and Sizes: Fine Art Paper / Giclee, Standard Sizes (Up to 20×30 Inches), Custom Sizes (Up to 50 x 75 Inches).
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- Shipping and Handling: 10 days producing, 2 – 3 days shipping estimate.
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- Platform Integration: Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace, WooCommerce, Wix.
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- Cost and Pricing: $4.76 to $377.16 per product and size.
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About The Print Space
ThePrintSpace is a highly regarded company due to the quality of its prints. Known for delivering prints with a professional finish and colors that are true to what is seen on a calibrated monitor, this company also ensures your prints reach your customers perfectly safe and in an environmentally friendly package, giving you the option to add your own branding, and a certificate of authenticity or a digital signature if needed.
Their Dropshipping service integrates nicely with platforms like Squarespace, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Shopify, allowing you to sell globally.
One of the strongest points of The Print Space besides quality is the quick order fulfillment, which takes only 5 days at most
Pros
- Professional-grade quality
- Eco-friendly practices
- Excellent color accuracy
Cons
- Higher cost
- Limited product variety
5. Best Dropshipping Company for Art Prints and Other Items — Art of Where
Selection Criteria
- Printing Mediums and Sizes: Poster / Fine Art Paper / Digital Print, Standard Sizes (up to 20×24 Inches), Custom Sizes (Up to 32×24 Inches).
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- Shipping and Handling: Starting at 5 days + 3 days per 6 items, Production time Estimate 6 days.
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- Platform Integration: Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace, Big Cartel.
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- Cost and Pricing: $6.50 to $32 per product and size.
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About Art of Where
Art of Where is a production studio that specializes in creating high-quality custom garments and accessories with printed artwork. Their product range is quite extensive, including tops, bottoms, dresses, robes, underwear, accessories, bags, totes, home decor, stationery, and various fabrics.
While the focus of the company is not “art prints”, they have proven to be one of the best alternatives in the market for art prints that also offer dropshipping. Their wide range of products is a nice plus to have, especially for those looking to expand their inventory.
The integration of Art of Where with ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Big Cartel is an excellent perk, offering seamless product addition and order management, however, we must mention that the mockup quality is not the best, especially for garments and clothing.
Pros
- Wide product assortment
- Good print quality
Cons
- Limited custom branding
