Learn How to Improve Digital Art Printing

In just a few steps, It is possible to have quality material without needing much effort

With the advent of digital arts, the entire creative landscape was forced to recreate itself.

In this way, artists and designers had space to explore a universe of visual possibilities, without being tied to traditional means of work.

The big challenge with this new art is to make the transition from digital to physical material that is of high quality., so as not to miss any essential details of the material.

This process requires very refined technical knowledge and requires a lot of attention to detail..

For this to be possible, It is essential to master all the steps of preparing the file and choosing printing resources.

For those who want to sell their works or use them in portfolios and exhibitions, Printing quality is an essential factor in giving credibility and value to the material.

Tips on How to Improve Digital Art Printing

Even before sending the material to the printer, it is necessary to prepare the digital file so that it meets all the technical parameters required for the printing process.

For this, It is necessary to manage image quality and file format, which can be done in the following way.

• Suitable resolution: Resolution is basically the pixel density of the image measured in DPI (dots per inch). The minimum recommended resolution for any printed material is 300 DPI.

• Resolutions lower than this can generate pixelated and blurry images, with even the loss of details, which compromises the final quality of the art.

• File format: when choosing the format, it is necessary to prioritize the one that best preserves image quality. TIFF and PDF formats are the most recommended for printing, as they do not require compression, which may cause data loss.

• Although JPEG is popular, he is not the best, as its compression can degrade the final file.

• CMYK color model: Managing colors is a big challenge in the transition from digital to print. This is because the screens use the RGB color mode – red (Red), green (Green) and blue (Blue) –, unlike graphic printing, that uses CMYK – Cyan, Magenta, Yellow (Yellow) e Key (Black) –, being that the “K” is “key”, to avoid confusion with the “B” (Blue) do RGB.

• It is crucial that the artist converts the file to CMYK mode before printing, since CMYK colors are much smaller than RGB. With this conversion, it is possible to minimize the difference and have a higher quality.

Choosing the Substrate and Printing Technique

With file preparation, it is necessary to choose the physical elements that will support the quality of the art.

For this, you need to select the substrate, or type of paper, ideal for the visual impact and durability of the desired work, with the following options.

• Matte paper (Matte): This type of paper is ideal for arts that rely on soft colors or environments with lots of light, as it has no reflections and still offers an elegant and professional finish.
• Glossy paper (Glossy): Suitable for photographs or digital illustrations with intense colors, This paper enhances colors and promotes a more vibrant finish than other types of substrate.
• Papel Fine Art: usually composed of cotton or alpha-cellulose, This paper is perfect for collector prints, as it offers more longevity and a different texture.

In addition to the type of paper, You also need to pay attention to the weight.

Heavier papers, which are above 120 g/m ², have greater durability, in addition to bringing a feeling of premium material to the art.

Regarding the techniques used, the most recognized is the Giclée print. With her, it is possible to replicate colors more accurately, in addition to the use of high longevity pigmented inks.

Yet, for those looking for smaller runs or just tests, inkjet and laser techniques are the most accessible.

At this point in the process, the quality of output equipment is critical.

A good one printer is capable of managing ICC color profiles (International Color Consortium), which are files that standardize color reproduction between different devices, leaving the printed material as faithful as possible to the original and ensuring excellence.

The Role of Finishing and Color Proofing

Even with a perfect file and a quality substrate, the process only ends with the finish and color test.

These final steps are necessary to ensure that the printed material will be as attractive and accurate as possible., meeting initial expectations.

Therefore, Proof printing before making a large print run is essential.

With her, it is possible to have a sample in which the artist can check the sharpness, contrast and color fidelity on a small scale, which allows you to make adjustments to the file so that the final product has the highest possible quality.

It is at this point that it is possible to correct color problems that may have occurred when converting from RGB to CMYK, for example.

In addition, It's also time to check the finish, that raises the standard of art quality, through resources such as:

• Localized varnish: used to create contrast and highlight, This feature is based on applying shine to specific areas of the art.
• Textures and reliefs: when using textured papers or applications that add a tactile element to the work, it is possible to bring more value to the final product.
• Hot stamping: the application of a metallized film, be it golden, silver or other type, in details, logos or impactful phrases end up bringing more sophistication to the print.

Therefore, these countless details and steps transform the print into a unique design piece on the market.

Have technical knowledge and know how to prepare a file, with attention to every detail, enables digital illustrations to stand out in the market, bringing professionalism and attention to the quality of the artist.

Text prepared by the Conversion team.