Artwork

How to turn your art into products: 6 pro tips to consider

Ashton

June 5, 2024 8 Mins Read

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How to turn your art into products: 6 pro tips to consider

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Turning artwork into physical products can bring a whole new audience to your creative designs and ideas. But how do you go about turning something on paper or canvas into a mug or a t-shirt, and ensuring a high-quality finished result?

For this piece, I speak to two artist-illustrators with experience in creating projects from their artwork, and the studio manager of a printing company to give you some advice and help you avoid pitfalls along the way. If you’d like specific advice on producing t-shirts check out our pro tips for t-shirt designs, or read on for more general insight. Or see how to sell your work online for tips on the next step.

When it comes to preparing artwork for print, though, Neil feels Photoshop is the way to go. “I utilise Photoshop for final touches,” he explains. “One of the key aspects of my process involves playing with textures and colours in Photoshop to add depth and richness to my designs. Whether it’s enhancing the vibrancy of hues or adding intricate textures to evoke nostalgia, Photoshop serves as a versatile tool in bringing my vision to life.”

Online operations such as Red Bubble and Society 6 are often a starting point for artists looking to sell their designs. You can upload artwork and can see it mocked up on a range of products from phone cases to home décor. Neil has found that these platforms “provide valuable insight into how artwork translates onto various merchandise, offering a glimpse into the potential customisation required for optimal results.”

Artists can choose from editing options, set prices, and then hit publish on your shop/area of their website. While you market the designs, the fulfilment side is handled in-house. For Neil, this is a definite plus point. “These services handle the printing and shipping processes on-demand, meaning there’s no need for an initial expensive outlay or the hassle of managing inventory,” he says.

If you want to scale up your business then a printing company that sends products to you to sell could be the way to go. Positives include access to high-quality machinery, choices of finish and materials to suit your budget, and free design tools. Key to the success of this method is the team behind the scenes using their expertise to make it happen. This is where Jess and her team at Instantprint, or a similar service, come in.

It can be worth shopping locally and building a relationship with small businesses. Sarah tried this for printing her paper packs and found the benefits outweighed the additional costs. “They may not be the cheapest but it’s been invaluable to visit them in person, discuss design specs and technicalities, and of course collect them ourselves too so we’re not paying for shipping,” she says.

Neil has sold his posters, mugs, and other products in a variety of set-ups and says research into each avenue is key. “Participating in markets and pop-up shops can be viable avenues for selling artwork, although they require careful consideration to ensure they align with the target market and yield a satisfactory return on investment,” he says. “Additionally, exploring opportunities with individual makers shops or pop-up clubs can offer a middle ground between online and brick and mortar sales.”