Improving Repeat Sales for Artists
January 16, 2022
If you are drop shipping your orders, there are things you can do to improve your seller to buyer relationship. Many times, online sales are built around how a seller treats their buyers, especially with first time buyers. With selling artwork and photography online, creating repeat buyers as collectors of your work should be a goal. Below we will share 3 of the methods at FinerWorks we see has been extremely effective.
Glazing: Not Only Glass in the Frame
January 7, 2022
Why custom framing smokes ready made frames. Working at a few custom frame shops, I have often heard the gasp statement of “the frame is more than the art”. As an confessed art addict of works on canvas and various papers from $20-$2,000, I can tell you why I choose custom framing over say a chain store ready made frame.
Giclee Printing – What to Expect
January 2, 2022
Giclee printing is all the rage today and likely will be for some time until some other sort of digital printing technology takes is place. One of the reasons for its popularity is the word itself “giclee” which gives the print a sort of exotic connotation. Even photographers are starting to move their fine art photography the giclee printing method. Below I list some of the things to expect with a giclee print if you are considering having them made for your art reproductions or photography.
Getting Ready for Printing in 2022
December 27, 2021
It was in 2020 that we like many others faced the unknown. While we were able to get past it, 2021 posed some interesting and unique challenges. The obvious ones were getting supplies needed to fulfill orders. The other was price increases we experienced and continue to feel. Below I have discussed some of the biggest areas impacted in 2021 at FinerWorks and what we plan to do in 2022.
Poll Results: Best Way for Artists to Sell Prints
November 21, 2021
Last year (2020) we first sent out this survey because a lot of artists, wonder what the best way is to sell their prints. This year (2021) we wanted to see if there was much of a change in the answers we received. Obvious COVID did change many people’s purchasing methods in 2020 but with many buyers and sellers resuming a pre-pandemic pattern, we wanted to see if this was reflected with the artists who use our services.
How to Charge More for Prints
October 19, 2021
Increasing the value can help you charge more for your prints. Doing so requires finding ways to make your print worth more and creating an emotional attachment to the buyer with the print.
Etsy’s New Tracking Requirement
August 14, 2021
If you are an Etsy seller and having FinerWorks fulfill you orders, make sure you are aware of some changes that started up a few days ago on the Etsy platform. Starting August 11, 2021, Etsy implemented a policy that requires its sellers to provide shipment tracking information for any U.S. destination orders that are $10 or more, in order to be able to change the status to “complete” within their Etsy dashboard.
New Texturized Prints
July 18, 2021
We now offer texturized prints which match the contours of your image when you order your image to be printed at FinerWorks. Currently this is available only with Dibond Metal prints however we expect this to soon be available with canvas prints as well.
Epson Enhanced Matte Paper to Replace Strathmore
July 16, 2021
As of today, FinerWorks will no longer be offering the Strathmore Hot Press smooth cotton based paper due to it being discontinued by the manufacturer. Instead, we will be replacing it with the popular EPSON Enhanced Matte Paper.
Your Prints Up Close
July 2, 2021
I remember back in the mid to late 90s being exposed to the photographic quality inkjet prints were producing around then. A co-worker of mine who photographed little league sports photography on the side and sold the prints he made to the parents. He had invested in a HP printer which produced remarkable 8×10 photo prints for that time. When he showed me the print quality I was enamored and decided I wanted to get my hands on a good quality inkjet printer so that I could make prints of my digital artwork.
Metal Prints vs Dibond® Prints
June 15, 2021
If you are printing your fine art and photos on metal, you are likely having your prints done on Chromaluxe® aluminum panels since they are the most widely used type of metal offered by print labs that specialize in that kind of printing. There are some less popular alternatives to these panels, but they are limited and usually not as good a quality.
Packaging Your Fine Art Prints – Part 2
March 26, 2021
In part 1 on the topic of packaging your artwork, we focused on some best practices when shipping only a few prints at most by using either rigid flat mailers or shipping tubes. Now in part 2 of packaging your prints we explore shipping larger bulkier items such as stretched and mounted canvas or framed prints. Because these orders contain print on demand products which are bigger and rigid, packaging them correctly and affordably is the biggest challenge but it an be done. Let us look at a number of best practices when doing so.
Packaging Your Unframed Fine Art & Photo Prints – Part 1
March 17, 2021
A lot of our customers choose to ship their prints themselves, especially if they are taking advantage of built in volume discounts on prints. It is not uncommon for them when they are first getting started to ask for advice or tips relating to best practices when package unframed prints.
Adding Custom Frames to Your Virtual Inventory
March 13, 2021
For quite some time you have had the ability to include framed and matted prints in your virtual inventory which are saved products in your FinerWorks account. But what about just frames or frames with matting by themselves?
Fixing Prints Which Curl
February 23, 2021
Since my last article where I talk provide tips on shipping prints either flat or in a tube, I had a few questions relating to flattening out prints when shipping prints in tubes. I wrote this post a few years ago however I thought it would be a good idea to re-share as well as update it with some more details.
What to Charge Your Customers for Shipping
February 6, 2021
Many of our customers who have us fulfill and drop ship orders to their customers have at some point had decide how they were going to go about determining what to charge their customers for shipping. This decision is an important one since what you charge your customers for shipping rates can encourage or discourage your customers from completing their purchase.
November 10 Live Meeting – Preparing Images for Specific Products
November 11, 2020
Thank you everyone that participated in our Zoom & Facebook live seminar last night on Tuesday, November 10. We had a slight hiccup which disrupted the presentation, but the good news is we were able to continue to record after we resolved the problem and post an edited version of the full presentation.
Hahnemühle’s Eco Friendly Papers
October 1, 2020
Hahnemühle’s new Natural Line of papers provide a eco-friendlier format as giclee fine art and photo papers. These papers are produced from unique raw materials: bamboo, hemp and agave. All three of these plants require minimal maintenance, grow quickly and are free of pesticides when grown. Their rapid growth also means more cellulose can be produced on the same cropland than those that use other raw materials. They also require much less water, meaning they use fewer growing resources achieving a more environmentally friendly status.
Using Social Media to Promote Your Art
September 10, 2020
We had a fun time learning about using the various social media platforms. Melissa Hernandez, FinerWorks own social media marketing specialist discusses how artists and photographers can use social media to boost their sales and promote their artwork.
Is Color Correction Right for You?
August 19, 2020
Is color correction right for your image files? Within our print ordering app, you have the option to select this service to improve the output of the colors in a print from an image file. It is a two-tiered process in which a printer technician applies a color corrective algorithm and then makes additional manual adjustments. The first part is done with what you might come across with some of the robust tools that Adobe Photoshop offers. If the first level appears to harm the output then this may be undone and the image goes straight to the second tier for manual adjustments. There further manual adjustments are made to the image by the technician to adjust tones and contrast levels as needed.
Giclee Print Preparation with Photoshop
August 18, 2020
From our last Zoom and Facebook live session, FinerWorks goes over preparing your image files to print with FinerWorks in PhotoShop. Below are the time stamp and topics:
Edit a Shipping Address
June 24, 2020
If you need to update the address an order is shipping to, after you place your order, you now may be able to do so. We continue to receive an unprecedented number of new users to our site in a season normally known for its slower period. As part of the process to upgrade and improve so we can better accommodate the greater volume and get back to a normal turnaround time, this was one of many things we have been working on.
A Tidal Wave of Online Art Sales
May 30, 2020
Recently I spoke with a lady that felt like she had been hit by a tidal wave in the past few weeks. Her normal printer still had not re-opened and she had a backlog of hundreds of orders from her Shopify site to fulfill. Some printers she had contacted said they had a 3 to 4-week turnaround time on average right now, not including shipping and others could not give her a definite answer as to when they could start. I told her we ourselves as a printer of fine art were quite a bit busier than normal but since these were relatively simple orders to process, we should still be able to get them all out quicker then some of the others.
Funny Comments and Questions
May 18, 2020
We have the BEST customers ever. But sometimes trying to answer an email or message can leave us scratching our heads and asking ourselves how do we answer that person tactfully and not appear rude or condescending. These are some of the more recent ones I could recall and locate from within the past few years.
Six Rules for Printing Your Fine Art
May 17, 2020
In recent months we have met many artists and fine art photographers new to printing their work. Every day more and more come to FinerWorks with inquiries as they begin the process of producing and selling their prints. To help those new to all of this, I have come up with a list of rules for printing your fine art.
The 4 Levels of Canvas Prints
May 11, 2020
Over the past 2 decades that we have been producing canvas prints, we have seen quite an evolution in the process and what is available to people. This evolution has been both in the form of materials used to create the canvas print as well as what the market finds as acceptable. Just like many types of products, there are varying levels from low to high end.
Poll Results: Best Way to Advertise Art
May 4, 2020
Over the past two decades I have had a front row seat when it comes to observing how people promote and sell their artwork. I have also said that when it comes to promoting your artwork, you are also promoting yourself as an artist. Interesting to me is how the methods have changed. Today, in 2020 the top method was not even in existence 20 years ago and barely there almost 10 years ago when it first started.
10 Tips for Selling Prints on Etsy
March 24, 2020
In the past 6 years, the number of Etsy store owners that have come to FinerWorks to fulfill their print orders have steadily increased. In recent weeks this number has increase dramatically, with many of the artists that have used us for their regular art show prints, asking questions about selling on Etsy.
Diary of an Etsy Shop: How to Tell your Customer “No”
March 24, 2020
One of the perks of using FinerWorks for my print order-fulfillment is that I practically have zero overhead. Print-on-demand fulfillment means that I can sell something online without having to keep a physical inventory of products on hand.
How Artists Can Treat the Crisis
March 18, 2020
We have been asked how we think the news of viruses and possible recession will affect our customers and how it has impacted FinerWorks when it comes to the fulfillment of your prints. Sometimes some of the staff may need to take an extra day off here and there to take care of their kids due to the extended “spring break”. Nothing much has required major changes in FinerWorks’ operations that would affect the ability to produce and ship your prints.
Designing Your Print for Selling
March 13, 2020
Are you thinking about how to best prepare your prints for being successfully sold? You might be surprised at how often enough consideration is not given or maybe you have not thought much about this yet. Either way, below are some tips to help your prints sell more successfully that you may or may not have thought about.
Selling Custom Frames & Mats on Etsy or Shopify
February 25, 2020
Join the growing number of users submitting their orders through our Shopify app and Etsy app who are selling custom made frames as standalone products. If you are selling prints, especially ones with odd sizes, you might be missing up a golden opportunity to sell your buyers a frame later on.
3 Reminders if Connecting Etsy or Shopify
February 24, 2020
Shopify is by far the biggest platform integrated with FinerWorks so that artists and photographers able to submit their orders from their web site sales. Etsy follows second. Here a few reminders to those that might have run into problems and not sure why.
Printing White with Giclee
February 14, 2020
White is not considered a color when printing fine art or photographs using the giclee or most digital photo printing process. An area in your image which is meant to be white will actually show in the print as an absence of any dyes or inks. That is because digital printers used for photo and fine art printing do not include any white color.
Choosing a Paper for Your Art Prints
February 13, 2020
“I need to print some of my work but don’t know what paper to choose.” This is a common question people have when first embarking on giclee printing. You tool may be asking yourself this if are planning on using FinerWorks to print your images for the first time.
Monthly FinerWorks Gift Card Drawing
December 31, 2019
Over the next few month we are giving away a $50 gift cards to our reviewers at the end of that month. Simply take a moment to rate us on FinerWorks Facebook and/or Google page.
3 Important Tips for Borderless Prints and Cards
November 23, 2019
I think one of the reasons that FinerWorks attracts the initial interest of photographers who are used to working with their local photo lab is the idea of bordered prints. Artists doing reproductions on their work tend to prefer bordered prints as well however there are times when borderless are opted for or even the only option such as with our cards or artboard mounted prints. Borderless prints, sometimes referred to as full-bleed prints are defined as prints in which there is no white space surrounding the area of the image that is printed. An 11×14 borderless print after it is cut would have a measured sheet size of 11×14 while a bordered 11×14 with a 1“ border would have a final cut sheet size of 13×16 since it would have an additional 1” on each side. While borderless prints might not be for you in every situation there are times when these might be preferred or even necessary. Because of this I have outlined what I think are 3 important things to consider if you intend to order anything borderless versus a bordered print.
POST – Our New Online Setup Tool
November 4, 2019
POST is our new setup tool for creating and ordering prints. POST (short for Print Online Setup Tool) is a web browser based print configuration wizard to make printing and framing your artwork at FinerWorks both quicker and more intuitive.
Etsy Order Integration: Everything you need to know to get started
October 24, 2019
The Easy Guide to Importing Etsy Orders for Fulfillment If you sell on Etsy and need a quick and simply way to submit your fine art print orders for fulfillment, you may want to consider importing orders instead of entering them manually. For someone who has never imported their orders to FinerWorks, this can seem …
Continue reading “Etsy Order Integration: Everything you need to know to get started”
Make Your Print Mock-ups Stand Out with Paper Texture
October 13, 2019
Do you sell fine art prints on one of our textured papers or canvas? If so, this Freebie might be right up your alley. Good product shots are imperative to selling art-prints online. But there is a LOT of competition out there for the likes of us. If you do a bit of browsing on Etsy or Amazon Handmade, its plain to see that for art-print sellers, professional looking mock-ups are easy to come by, paid for or not.
Giclee Prints on Belgian Linen
September 25, 2019
Starting in the month of October, you will be able to print your artwork or your photographs at FinerWorks.com on Belgian Linen™. This will only be available in October as a special media item for online ordering or for special offline production runs*.
Free Shipping and Etsy
September 14, 2019
If you don’t know about Etsy’s push for sellers to remove shipping costs with their Free Shipping Guarantee then you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Like many other sellers, you may feel a little bit left out in the cold with the recent decision to favor and/or feature listings that shipped free.
Are C-prints on the Same Path as Film?
September 11, 2019
In many cases, the giclee print (an inkjet style print) has become the new standard and I wonder about the viability of the C-print long term. Artists have quickly embraced inkjet technology and over the past decade photography has seen a major shift toward from C-prints inkjet. While, C-prints still have a few advantages left over inkjet, those are starting to wane.
What’s New is September
September 5, 2019
As FinerWorks continues to grow in both the world of photography and fine art printing we are always looking toward the horizon and always looking to try something new. Sometimes this means adding new products you can print to.
Benefits of Card Printing for Artists & Photographers
August 12, 2019
Folded cards and flat cards make are incredibly sell-able at art shows without cheapening your existing inventory. Are you taking advantage of the benefits of producing your art on cards might be able to offer you?
How Many Pixels Do I Need
August 1, 2019
One of the common questions asked of us at FinerWorks.com is, “How many pixels do I need for printing photos?” This is an important question if you are photographing your artwork so you can print it or you want to produce large photo prints.
Printer Resolution vs Digital Image Resolution
July 29, 2019
Resolution in printing and resolution with digital files are two very different things. In other words it is not a one to one ratio.
How to Create a Good Artist Bio
July 20, 2019
Do you tend to get writer’s block when it comes to writing about yourself? As an artist it is important to promote oneself. If you are using such services at Facebook or you sell your artwork online, providing information as to who you are as an artist, is important. Collectors who want your work want to know something about you. It turns a piece into more than the piece itself. It gives it some soul.
Your Geo Galleries Prep Work
July 16, 2019
Setting up your pages on Geo Galleries. Here are some items for your to-do list before launch.
Getting images ready for print; naming your gallery; setting up payment; getting your story and story behind your art together.
You Can Now Join Geo Galleries
July 14, 2019
Artists and photographers who are FinerWorks customers can now connect their FinerWorks account to Geo Galleries.
How Earnings Work at Geo Galleries
July 7, 2019
Many artists want to know how earnings and payouts will work if they partner with Geo Galleries. If you are an artist considering joining Geo Galleries, understand Net Sales are what you make from the sale of a print or product which your image printed on it. This is based in part by the retail price offered to the buyer on the Geo Galleries website. Payouts are sent on a regular schedule and are the accumulation of your net sales for that payout cycle.
Print on Textured Papers
July 1, 2019
Give your art some depth with texture. Textured prints on fine art papers provide some additional dimension and value. No matter if it artwork or photography, small or large print those that receive their prints will appreciate the features a textured paper provides. Here are some of our favorite choices to…
Getting Images Prepared for Geo Galleries
June 25, 2019
The launch of Geo Galleries is just a few weeks away so Melissa Hernandez, the lead curator has asked me to share a few tips as it pertains to your images if you plan on being a participating artist.
Sign Up for Geo Galleries
June 17, 2019
As an artist that uses the FinerWorks.com gallery, we would like to offer you the opportunity to be represented by an international gallery! In the coming weeks, you will be given the opportunity to transfer your existing FinerWorks galleries to a curated service, Geo Galleries where buyers can browse and purchase your art as prints.
Creating That Perfect Photo Print
May 28, 2019
In today’s digital age for a lot of new photographers, printing photos is relatively novel and sometimes even rare. For photographers whose talents date back to the darkroom era, it was all about the prints. In between somewhere are those that may print on special occasions for that image which really means something to them, or they are providing a print to someone. No matter where you are in the range of printing your photos, there are some ways to make your photo print stands out.
Why Aren’t You Accepting International Orders for Your Art?
May 3, 2019
Are you accepting international orders? If not, why aren’t you? When we refer to international orders, we of course mean orders shipping outside of the U.S. since we are based in the United States. Many artists and photographers do them thinking it is too complicated or too expensive to ship. If that describes you, you may be missing out on a golden opportunity if you use FinerWorks as your fulfillment partner for your prints. Starting last week, we adopted a new program called UPS i-parcel that should make things easier and less costly. Using us to fulfill your orders (drop ship) means it is even easier.
Integrating Your Sites with Virtual Inventory
April 28, 2019
Are you creating a virtual inventory of your print products? If you want to integrate your online store with FinerWorks you will need to create a virtual inventory. If you are transferring your orders through an app (not thought our shopping cart), the virtual inventory is the “glue” that binds your order submissions with our fulfillment center. It tells us what to produce and ship.
Photo Rag® Metallic – Winner of the 2019 TIPA Award
April 23, 2019
Looking for a paper for your photo prints that will make them stand out in a unique way? Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Metallic is one of these papers that photographers will love. Photographers are not the only ones. TIPA, the Technical Image Press Association just awarded this paper as one of the best in 2019.
Connect Your Web Orders with FinerWorks Using Order Desk
April 8, 2019
Every day we field calls and email asking if we have an app or tie-in with carts and sites like WooCommerce, Shopify, Etsy, Amazon and more. This is because these people using these services want a streamlined method to send us the orders they receive.
3 Reasons to Add a Border to Your Paper Prints
April 1, 2019
Having a border added to your print is recommended and provides some benefits that you may not have considered. One of the advantages giclee printing has to offer over your standard photo print is the accessibility to inclusions of extra borders.
Selecting Borders or Adding Your Own Margins
April 1, 2019
Sometimes artists like to add their own margins within an image and wonder how it will affect the sizing of their print. Other times they choose a border from our order form and want to know if it will be printed on the inside or outside of the image. I go into detail to explain what happens when you embed a margin versus choosing a border from our order form.
Free 8×10 Giclee Print on Strathmore Pure Cotton
March 26, 2019
Mohawk, the brand behind Strathmore’s Pure cotton fine art paper is donating a free custom 8×10 print that can be ordered exclusively though FinerWorks. This will be available for a limited time only until we go through the rolls of paper Mohawk, generously provided.
How to Create a Deckled or Torn Edge Look for Your Prints
March 22, 2019
Deckle or torn edges are an option for artists and occasionally photographers who print their images on fine art papers. Some just like the effect while others, like it because it gives a giclee print the look of a print produced on a handmade paper. We offer this style of print as something you can order with your fine art paper prints however occasionally people tell us they had envisioned something different. Because of that we want to break down what exactly this looks like and how you can do it yourself if you choose.
Similar But Different Papers for Your Prints
February 25, 2019
We have 4 papers that all appear very similar, some with very minor differences that are not visibly noticeable. In order of popularity these are Hahnemühle Photo Rag, Moab Entrada Rag, Sunset Cotton Etching, and the Strathmore Hot Press Smooth. Unless the papers are clearly labeled you may not be able to tell the difference. For finer art and photography printing these papers all produce stunning detailed imagery which truly show off what giclee printing has evolved into. But while all these papers produce fantastic looking prints, they are different.
Web Api 3.0 is Here
February 13, 2019
If you want to connect your site or application to FinerWorks (i.e., automatically send us orders to process) you or your website developer will want to look at the latest build of our API. The api, short for application programming interface, provides a way to do this.
Picture Framing Tips for Photographers
January 14, 2019
When I meet photographers and they find out that FinerWorks has its own full-service framing center I frequently hear them say how they have photos they want to put into a frame, but they really don’t know how or where to start. The first thing I tell them is some photographers will opt for the frames they can get at the local art supply store, but if it is something special, they want to give to someone, or even to a high-end client, they should be careful of corner cutting.
WooCommerce Integration & Batch Submission
December 24, 2018
Learn how to setup your WooCommerce site so that you can batch submit your orders to FinerWorks. This is incredibly useful when you have multiple orders you want FinerWorks to process and ship to multiple destinations.
An Easy Way Earn More from Your Art Sales
October 28, 2018
How would you like to stumble upon a formula that reliably will increase how much you make in your art-based business selling prints or even original artwork? There is a method that a lot of businesses, especially those selling online use, but remarkably many others fail utilize. And it is very simple. It does not require you to raise any prices of existing listings or work harder promoting yourself. Of course, you can do that as well if you like which will likely help, but let’s see how you can do this without raising prices or working much harder.
What You Should Know About Metallic Prints
October 13, 2018
Some people are after a shimmering metallic look with their printed images. Prints with a metallic look are characterized by having almost a 3D quality to them. When the right looking image is used, a metallic print will accentuate every detail, color and tone.
How Shipping Art Can Help You Raise Prices
October 7, 2018
One of the most frequent questions I hear from artists and photographers is “how much” they should charge for their prints. The short answer of course is “it depends”. There is plenty of online advice on how to decide this, including on our own blog. What is not asked as much is how can I raise prices without harming my sales.
Art to Aid Victims of Hurricane Florence
October 1, 2018
Quick Paper Advice for Photographers
September 20, 2018
Printing is generally the same thing in the age of digital prints no matter if it is artwork or photographs. It all comes down to image pixels being turned into an image which is printed on a surface, usually paper. The properties of the paper are where many photographers, especially newer ones, have questions if they want something that best shows their work. To help them choose I ask photographers to look at three main characteristics of a paper which have an effect on how their image is printed.
Is a Single Website Enough for Artists?
September 12, 2018
Is having one website enough? Most of us know there are many ways to showcase your art or photos and sell them as a tangible product. This ranges from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if you use social media. There are also shared online market places like Etsy. All these are good, but it is the actual website that you own that provides you the greatest potential and flexibility. But there may be a good reason to think about creating a second website.
Kodak Prints Now Shipping from Our Headquarters in San Antonio, TX
August 28, 2018
Over the summer our Kodak prints have garnered more and more attention by users at FinerWorks. This has led us to make some big changes from a new bulk ordering system as well as moving the production location. The bulk ordering tool for Kodak prints was implemented last month in July 2018 and this final week in August we made the strategic move to bring the Kodak print production home to San Antonio. Now all Kodak prints are shipped from our main production facility. These changes came about as a result of several things.
Are You Using the Virtual Inventory?
August 26, 2018
Under used and overlooked is the virtual inventory system that we have at FinerWorks. When you sign up for an account you have access to a valuable time saving tool which allows you to store frequently ordered prints and products so that you don’t have to upload your files and setup your prints each time you want to order them.
New Bulk Rates on More Products You Print
August 18, 2018
You may already know that you can lower your cost per print when ordering multiple copies of the same print on canvas, metal prints. cards and giclee prints (photo and art prints on fine art papers). We now have new automatic bulk rates for many other products from ceramic tiles to maple wood prints.
Batch Kodak Prints Tool
July 18, 2018
If you have a bundle of vacation photos or other images you want to make into prints on Kodak professional papers, we brought back an updated version of the batch ordering tool for Kodak prints. The batch setup tool allows you to add multiple prints to your shopping cart, all from one screen. Below is a walk-through of what this looks like.
Dropbox Integration
July 9, 2018
Dropbox is now integrated with FinerWorks. Uploading files to FinerWorks can be a pain if you prefer to keep then on a cloud storage service like Dropbox rather than on your computer or mobile device. Many of our customers who use Dropbox have asked us to make this easier so they can upload those files to FinerWorks direct from Dropbox.
Free Giclee Print When Framed and Matted
June 28, 2018
Print on two our our most popular papers, Archival Matte Paper or Satin Luster and get the prints free when ordered with framing and matting. For a limited tine only.
Does the New Sales Tax Ruling Affect Etsy Sellers?
June 24, 2018
Many of FinerWorks color lab customers are artists and photographers who use our drop shipping and order fulfillment services to have metal, canvas and framed fine art giclee prints made and shipped to their customers. Many have Etsy shops or sell on their own website. One of the pains though is dealing with sales tax. You have to register your business to get a Tax ID number and file either monthly or quarterly sales tax that you collect. But what if your customer is not located in the same State as your business. Do you have to charge sales tax to that customer and if so, how much?
Don’t Let Your Prints Fade Away
June 24, 2018
Don’t let your prints fade away. Fading, discoloration and even damage of any colored surface can be a problem if proper care and precautions are not taken. This is not just true with prints but any surface with an image even if it is archival. The rate of fading and discoloration depends on the media the image is on and the pigments or properties that make of the colors. Since we are more concerned here with prints, whether it be a photo or art reproduction, there are two main influences we should look at: external and internal.
Search, Find and Print Stock Images
June 17, 2018
We just launched a new feature at FinerWorks which allows anyone to take advantage of a vast library of stock imagery. It is called, for lack of originality now, Find Print Art. We partnered with Shutterstock, one of the leading providers of stock imagery and have integrated a section on the FinerWorks website that allows anyone to search and find images for just about any topic and theme you can imagine.
How Slower Art Sales Can Pay Off
June 13, 2018
Summer time can be a slower period for artists. If you are one of those artists whose sales begin to decline, don’t look at it as a negative. Instead use it to your advantage.
Limited Edition vs Open Edition Prints
May 29, 2018
Does FinerWorks print limited or open edition giclee prints for artists and photographers? Both may be the obvious answer. This is one of those questions that pops up on occasion but when we start to get into the conversation with the customer it’s not uncommon that they do not know the difference or what they may be asking.
Photo Gloss Baryta Wins TIPA Award
May 27, 2018
Most photographers will tell you their choice of paper, based on everything from the surface, weight and other physical properties play a crucial role in the choice for papers. Photo Gloss Baryta is one of these papers that we find high end photographers love. Photographers are not the only fans. TIPA, the Technical Image Press Association just awarded this paper as one of the best.
Premium Giclee, A Natural Coarse Art Paper
May 21, 2018
Of all our fine art papers, the Premium Giclee Finer Art paper is the most widely selected of our papers with a prominent texture. The main reason people love this paper so much is that texture, but there is more to it than the texture alone. With its white matte orange peel surface embossing, the catches the light and can be seen with even some of the most detailed images
Hanging Artwork Tips
May 16, 2018
You would think that being in the business I am in, within my home the walls would be covered with artwork from framed prints to gallery wrapped canvas art. Actually only recently, after old little girl got older and enter Kindergarten did this start to change. Now pictures are beginning to show up on our walls, albeit generally photos of our daughter or pictures she painted, but the walls are beginning to be populated. As I started adding these pictures of her or her framed art I have developed a few tips I would like to share.
New Dibond® Mounting for Your Prints
May 11, 2018
Dibond® is now available for mounting your prints. Dibond® is a rigid, durable aluminum composite material combines two thin layers of aluminum with a solid polyethylene core.
Pixelated, Out of Focus or Ghosted Prints
May 5, 2018
There are 3 concepts to know and each one means something totally different. There is pixilation, out of focus and ghosting. Sometimes when a customer tells us their prints are blurry we must ascertain which of these they are referring to since they all can are caused by different things.
Best Practices for Matting Prints
May 2, 2018
There is a lot of emphasis on choosing a frame for your art and photo prints but sometimes overlooked is the importance of matting. Not only does the mat help highlight the artwork, it also acts as protection so the glass or acrylic does not come in direct contact with the print.
Getting the Best Wood Print Possible
April 14, 2018
How do you know if your image will look good on wood or not? All the images we initially tested and made into our new wood prints have looked fantastic! But we have seen some images really stand out above others. It has nothing to do with the image quality of the artwork or the photography. It has to do with the tones in the image. Fortunately we have invested a lot of time in testing the process which allows me to share with you what we have learned. If that is not enough, our print setup tool attempts to simulate a wood print before you order it so you can get a bit of a preview to help you decide.
Takeaways from a Working Artist Panel Discussion
April 4, 2018
The Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, TX is one of the city’s treasured gems that is nestled downtown. Originally known as the Ursuline Convent and Academy when it opened in 1851, Southwest School of Art has provided back to the community in the form of these discussion panel, events, a bachelor of fine arts program and community classes since 1965.
Convert Pixels to Inches
April 4, 2018
Ready to order a print but need help converting pixels to inches? Just enter your image file’s pixel dimensions into the Pixel to Inches Calculator along with your desired resolution. If you are do not know your image’s pixel dimensions, scroll down and we’ll show you how to find it!
Black Wrought Iron Trivets Now Available
March 27, 2018
Black wrought iron trivets, sometimes called pot holders are the perfect custom decor piece for any kitchen to display your artwork or photography. We offer a variety of shapes and sizes.
Bayou City Art Festival Working Artists
March 27, 2018
A look at three clients working the 2018 Bayou City Art Festival in Houston, TX as well as some take aways on ways to cultivate collectors at the tent.
Ways to Diversify Your Art Business
March 27, 2018
Diversifying your art business is a way to generate more income. If you are only following one path with your art, then you need to read this. See some examples but come up with your own ideas as well.
Matting Photo Prints for Standard Size Frames
March 21, 2018
One area for frustration with photographers is the framing of photo prints. If you have tried to frame one of your pictures recently and you use a digital SLR camera you may know what I am talking about, especially if you have to crop out some of the image to fit the display you have in mind.
Merchandising Your Artwork
March 21, 2018
Merchandising your artwork is one of the best way to make money off your photos or artwork. The term simply means offering your imagery as part of a product such as printed on the surface of a coffee mug, mouse pad, puzzle or more. Just walk into any Hallmark or other brick and mortar gift shop and you will see a lot of examples of merchandised artwork.
How to Choose a Paper Type
March 13, 2018
An artist asked, “What kind of paper should I choose? I am just getting into printing and don’t know what type of paper to select. Can you help me?” Of all the questions we get, I have to put this at the top. As a giclee printing company, FinerWorks has carefully researched what people like and what people expect in a paper. As you can imagine, this has resulted in us offering quite the array of fine art papers, all designed to provide exceptional image quality for both the artist having reproductions made and for photographers requiring something special for their client or next competition.
Sales Tips from an Art Slinger
March 13, 2018
I have been professionally selling art for the last five years from booths to a 7,000 square foot gallery floor. The mentors I have come with 20 years of selling art at booths and 10 years at selling art in the gallery of luxury cruise ships. For over 12 years, I have been in broadcast advertising sales. Here are some tips I use to move art.
Why Print Big
March 13, 2018
I met master photographer Elizabeth Homan last week who was speaking at a photographer event we regularly sponsor. She made a statement that when she shoots her portraits she likes to shoot the people small in the frame. She does this because it encourages her clients to order bigger prints from her. It got me to thinking about the frequency artists and photographers order big prints from us and why they do so.
Should I Offer Free Shipping
March 7, 2018
Not too long ago a well published photographer told me how he was trying to find ways to boost his sales of framed photo prints he ordered and had us drop ship to his customers on a regular basis. He asked me what I thought about offering free shipping to incentivize visitors to his website to order these prints? I told him I thought it was a great idea but maybe not for the reasons he expected.
Instagram For Artists in 2018
March 7, 2018
How many of you are artists or photographers are on Instagram? Instagram has changed on how your images are being viewed. Here are some tips to work with the new changes.
Will You Be At Houston’s Bayou City Art Festival
March 7, 2018
Showcasing Your Framed Prints Online
February 27, 2018
Despite all of the advancements in technology since the introduction of window displays back in the late 1800’s, presentation still holds the most chips. And, as any successful store window designer knows, it isn’t enough to simply show off your products. No, you’ve got to set a stage; a scenario. Create something to which your shoppers can actually relate. You have to implant an idea into their minds – one that tells them how perfectly your product fits into their world.
How to Create a Certificate of Authenticity
February 27, 2018
If you are going to be selling your art as prints or already have been doing so, are you also offering a Certificates of Authenticity (COA) to your buyers? This is a topic that comes up quite often when we visit with artists and photographers over phone or even in person. Two questions are asked. The first is how do I have those made and what goes on them.
Signature Placement if Making Prints
February 27, 2018
Tips on adding your signature in the right spot for future prints of the art. Do you consider the placement of your signature on your original work?
To Frame or Not to Frame: Building Sensible Product Lines
February 20, 2018
If you’re ready to start offering prints for sale, you’re probably really excited about building a product list for your online store. Assuming you have already digitized your artwork and run a few test prints, it’s time to start making some decisions about products and variants.
New Art & Photo Slates Are Here
February 16, 2018
We are excited to be rolling our a brand new product in the form of actual stone slates with fractured edges that can display your artwork, photography or even text. Two black plastic “feet” are included allowing it to remain upright on any table, desk or shelf. Each is unique due to their fractured edges and they can vary in size by up to 0.4″. These are processed and shipped from our San Antonio headquarters to any part of the country. Artists or photographers can use our automatic drop shipping service to have their slate shipped to their customer.
Ways to Digitally Capture Your Artwork
February 15, 2018
Alexis Fedor moderates a Facebook Group called, Artists In Business where she offers advice on business practices for artists. Daily I, go to this community to read what issues artists are seeking that are outside the realm of business model questions. So when Mirinda Clapier asked for recommendations for a scanner to digitize her watercolor artwork, I wanted to ask here at FinerWorks.
Survey: Where Do You Mostly Sell Prints
February 14, 2018
Artists and fine art photographers are always asking us for tips to help them sell more of their prints. We find that most are selling their prints at either events, sometimes known as popups in their local art community but that could include such things as “First Fridays” which is an art and food even extravaganza that happens at various venues in our local market or it could be a non-art related overall but in which you were able to still get a table to showcase your work. The other choices are self explanatory.
$10 or $15 Voucher – Share Your Prints on Social Media
February 14, 2018
Share a photograph or video of a recent order from FinerWorks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or even YouTube and get a voucher for your next order from FinerWorks. Post a Photo – $10 Voucher. Post a Video – $15 Voucher. One gift card per person is allowed. Include hash tag #FinerWorks in your post so we see it. This voucher offer ends February 28, 2018 so make sure you post by then.
Artists, Prepare Yourself for the Social Media Blackout
February 6, 2018
Five tips for artists and photographers to prepare for Facebook’s new algorithm that is set to lose the last of your 1-2% of views of your posts. It’s time to get ahead of the social media change that many are calling the Facebook Apocalypse. As Facebook also owns Instagram this algorithm wall will keep your audience from seeing your posts here as well.
Annemarie Barrett Shares Her Style of Selling
January 31, 2018
Artist Annemarie Barrett of AEB Art shares some of her tips on selling prints made by FinerWorks on her Etsy shop.