Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with printing and DIY

What image size do I need to print a 4'x4' photograph?

ageispolis — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:14:22 -0800

DIY Photo Art Question: I would like to have a photograph or image professionally printed onto canvas or good print-quality paper, about 4' x 4'. What do I need to know? The image will be framed and hung in a stairwell. I'd like to one of my own photos (maybe tweak it with photoshop first), or else find one for free or for cheap online.

(1) What is the minimum resolution that I am looking at here (again, the image will likely be 4-5 feet wide and 4 foot tall)? Is there any other quality issues that I should be aware of (I am a newbie with image files)?

(2) Does anyone know of any websites that sells these kinds of photographs or images? Or offers them for free?

Thanks.

Mount a small object in front cover of hardback book? Please/

waxbanks — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:09:35 -0800

How can I insert a small mirror or peephole into the front cover of a handmade hardcover book? What kind of material is appropriate for the cover? Will cardboard/cloth do? What about leather? Is there a tutorial anywhere to show how this is done? Hi all -

I'd like to make a short blank book as a Christmas gift. I know how to cut/sew/glue the signatures and assemble a basic hardcover. I don't know how to...

1) ...use leather, rather than cloth/paper, to wrap the front and back covers;

2) ...insert into the front cover a small mirror, gear, or (ideally) fisheye peephole. I wanna make this book not only by hand but awesome.

3) THERE IS NO THREE.

OK, craft MeFites: help me, help me, help me please!!! Thanks lovers.

DIY printing job for postcards

ism — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:49:21 -0800

I want to print a series of postcards, and my aim is to have them at least look kinda hand-made. (I don't really want to go through the whole process of learning screenprinting.) There are several dozen images, and I want to print a dozen or two of each. Is there a cool way to do this myself? Barring that, is there a certain type of paper/ink/process I can seek out from a printer to give them a sort of DIY look? The images are low-resolution and I think if they had a reduced color or alternative/cheap ink they would look rad.

Additionally, is there a shop you'd recommend in Chicago?

(These are funny/artsy images to be used on postcards to send to friends, for gifts, and possibly for sale in craft stores.)

How to put pretty art on t-shirts at home the EZ way.

GleepGlop — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:51:02 -0800

I want to put artwork on t-shirts at home. I can probably print out iron-ons on my printer, but I don't know how breathable those things are. Any other options? I want to do this at home because I want to be able to churn out t-shirts at a reasonable cost because I wear them out quickly. I know I can use spreadshirt.com or something to have shirts printed and sent to me but it is too costly.
I am basically thinking that I download artwork I like in all of its multicolour glory (rules out screen-printing?), print it out onto iron-on paper and iron it on. Do they make breathable iron-ons? What is my best option given my parameters?

DIY portfolio printing - Best paper?

rog — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:39:54 -0800

Printer paper - I'm printing my portfolio for application to art college. Hoping to DIY so I'm looking for high quality, A3, dual-sided, matte paper for use with a Canon Pixma IX 4000 printer. I think. I need to submit my portfolio to a number of art colleges and, because it consists mostly of photos of 3D work, I thought I'd try and print it myself. A typical page would consist of some text and several photos. Some of the pages will be all photo, full bleed, some will be just text. It's kinda hard to describe exactly the look and feel I'm going for but if you have any Phaidon published books at home that should give you an idea.

I've never done this kind of dual-sided printing before and I'm worried about show-through (especially with large colour photos). I'm also concerned about keeping the page weight down below that of the typical photo paper so that the book's not too clunky. I guess there's a compromise point there somewhere. Cost is an issue but given the importance of the project I'm happy to pay extra for the good stuff.

The choice of papers out there is making my head spin a bit so if you've attempted something like this before and have any advice regarding brands, weights and finishes I'd really appreciate it.