I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated!

March 10, 2008 8:36 PM

I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated!

Hello all,

I am looking to frame some of my digital artworks but I don't know anything about the procedure, nor any tips for selling my artwork via the net really, any info is greatly appreciated!

For years, I've created digital artwork that I've used for posters, promo material for bands/indie filmmakers and etc. Few of them have suggested that since I have a lot of artwork in a digital work, I should print them out, frame them and sell it via the web.

Almost all of my work is in digital graphic format 300DPI, mainly 8.5 x 11 prints. I'd like to hear some tips on what to do next. How much do frames for that size cost? I've tried to look it up in my area in Boston but none of them have the prices listed. Does anyone have any experience with this? How expensive is art framing and what are the best ways for a young artist out of college to go about doing this so I don't end up living in a box.

Much thanks!

posted by bostonhill to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Frame shops are universally overpriced. If you want to deal with a local company just pick one... they all probably render the same level of service at around the same price. For a quote you'll have to take a print by or at least call them. Frame shops seem to be behind the curve on making good use of the web.

I do 99% of my framing through American Frame. You have to measure carefully and build it yourself, but you can have a good sized piece custom framed for tens of dollars versus hundreds. Picture Frames.com is even cheaper, though I haven't ordered from them yet.

I've been very happy with the countless prints I've framed via American Frame, but there is no mistaking it for a high end frame job. For one, they ship plexi instead of glass, so they do have a "plasticie" look... but the cuts on the frames and mats are good and I've never had them screw up on an order.
posted by wfrgms at 9:16 PM on March 10, 2008

You can sell prints of your own work on etsy. There are also services which you can submit the digital files to and they will print the work and sell it for you:

Zazzle

Imagekind

I sell a lot of unframed art on paper online, so if you're looking to frame them and sell them online it's much easier to ship them unframed or just offer the framing as an additional option. Good luck!
posted by Melsky at 6:02 AM on March 11, 2008

For 8.5 x 11's you can find nice frames in the picture frame section of IKEA, Target or whatever. I sometimes like to get a frame that's much larger and mat it to hold the 8.5 x 11. No need to get too fancy. If someone really likes an image enough to want a frame shop type frame, they can always take it there themselves.

Also, for printing digital prints, you could see how you feel about using a photofinisher to print the work. Make a jpg and send bring it to the photo "lab" at Target or CVS and get a print for less than 5 dollars! I've printed some work for gallery shows like this and they often come out great.
posted by advicepig at 7:41 AM on March 11, 2008

I'm fond of AdoramaPix for having my digital images printed. They have a pretty nice image management system that'll store and organize up to (I think) 3GB of images for you, or it can slurp them off of flickr or other photo sites. The results are cheap and good enough that I didn't bother to replace my home photo printer when it broke. They cater to professional photographers, so there's reason to believe the quality is pretty high, but since it's mostly done by machines anyway, it's quite possible that printing at Target or CVS is just as good.

I sell unframed prints on etsy with moderate success. I'm too lazy to frame stuff myself for selling, and unframed is easier to mail, so I'd probably use Imagekind (as Melsky mentioned) to sell framed prints. I'm certain you'd make more money per print framing them yourself, though.

Any thoughts on how to advertise or otherwise drive sales? I tried google ads for a month and got a few thousand hits but no sales from google.
posted by moonmilk at 8:26 AM on March 11, 2008