Printing for Illustrators
Giclée art prints that keep every line sharp and every colour true
Archival illustration prints for portfolios, shops, art fairs and limited editions, printed by a specialist studio since 2002.
Illustration Prints That Look Like Your Screen
Illustration asks a lot of a printer. Fine line work must stay crisp, flat areas of colour must print evenly with no banding, and the bright, saturated palettes that look so good on screen need a printer with a wide colour range to reproduce them.
Our Canon imagePROGRAF Pro printers use 12 archival pigment inks, giving a far wider colour range than standard four colour printing. Combined with smooth cotton papers and a calibrated workflow, your digital and traditional illustrations come out looking exactly as you intended.
Prints for Every Kind of Illustrator
- Digital illustrators selling prints online or at conventions
- Children’s book illustrators creating prints of spreads and characters
- Botanical and natural history illustrators who need fine detail and subtle colour
- Printmakers and ink artists reproducing hand drawn work
- Students and graduates preparing portfolios and degree show work
Whether you need a single portfolio print or stock for a fair, every order is printed to the same archival standard. Learn more about selling your work in our guide to giclée printing for artists.
Choosing Paper for Illustration Prints
Smooth Cotton Papers
Best for digital illustration, line art and graphic work. Smooth cotton rag holds very fine detail and gives deep, rich colour.
Textured Etching Papers
Ideal for watercolour, gouache, pencil and ink work, where a gentle texture echoes the original paper.
Pearl and Matt Papers
Great value options for open edition prints and stock for fairs and online shops.
See every option and price in our paper range and full giclée price list.
Limited Editions and Selling Prints
Because every print is made from the same colour managed file, print number 1 and print number 50 match perfectly. That consistency makes giclée the natural choice for signed and numbered limited editions. Our limited edition giclée prints guide explains edition sizes, signing, numbering and certificates.
Want your prints ready to sell? Add a conservation mount through our print and mount option, so customers can frame them straight away.
Illustration Printing FAQ
What is the best paper for printing illustrations?
For crisp line work and bright digital colour, a smooth cotton paper such as Hahnemühle Photo Rag or Origin Expression Smooth Cotton is the most popular choice. If your work has a hand drawn or painterly feel, a textured etching paper adds character. Our papers page compares each option.
Can I sell giclée prints of my illustrations?
Yes. Giclée prints are the standard for selling illustration prints because they are archival and look premium. Many illustrators sell open editions alongside signed and numbered limited editions.
What file should I send for illustration printing?
Send a flattened file at the final print size with at least 150 PPI, ideally 300 PPI for fine line work. We accept JPEG, PNG, TIFF and HEIC up to 50MB. Work in RGB rather than CMYK for the widest colour range on giclée printers.
Do you offer discounts for printing in bulk for fairs and shops?
Yes. Volume discounts start at 15% off for 3 or more prints and rise to 25% off for 50 or more, which suits stock for art fairs, markets, conventions and online shops.
Explore More
Find out more about our giclée printing services, our giclée printing London service, and the areas we cover. Planning a numbered run? Read our limited edition giclée prints guide and our advice on preparing artwork files for giclée printing.
Looking for something broader? See our fine art printing services.