Let’s talk about something that has made my life as an artist way easier: print on demand (aka POD). If you’ve ever tried selling art online, you know the struggle—inventory, shipping, returns… it's a logistical no thank you that eats into your creative time.
But what if your art could make money while you sleep—without ever handling a single order? That’s exactly what print on demand allows you to do. Once you upload your designs and set up your store, your products sell without you lifting a finger. Orders are printed and shipped automatically, letting you focus on what matters most: creating.
How print on demand is a game changer for artists
The short version: You upload your art → pick products to sell it on → when someone orders, it gets printed and shipped for you. You never touch a thing.
As artists, we’re all about creating. But if you’ve ever sold your work online, you know it comes with a lot of logistical work. Managing inventory, handling orders, and dealing with shipping—let’s face it, it’s a lot of stuff we don’t want to be doing. I’m a fan of print on demand services for a few main reasons:
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No upfront costs: You don’t have to buy any inventory upfront. If it sells, it prints and gets fulfilled within just a few days. Zero risk.
- More time for creativity: No packing orders or running to the post office. More art, less admin.
- Global reach: Your art can reach customers worldwide without worrying about international shipping or customs. And Gelato (a POD platform—more on them in a sec) prints and ships from locations near your customers. Local production shortens shipping distances and reduces carbon footprints, plus no customs headaches for them.
- No waste: Since products are only printed when ordered, POD helps reduce waste and keep your operation eco-friendly. Sustainability for the win! 🌱
A step-by-step guide to getting started with POD
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how you can start selling your art with print on demand.
Step 1: Create your designs
This is the fun part, and perhaps the part you’ve already done this a hundred times over. But this is where your creativity shines: select what artwork will best resonate with your target audience.
Whether you’re a digital artist, photographer, or illustrator, you can upload your art and apply it to various products. From wall art to greeting cards to calendars to t-shirts, the possibilities are there for you.
Step 2: Choose a print on demand platform
I remember when I put a t-shirt up for sale without ordering a sample first , and let’s just say that was a tail-between-legs moment for me. Upon discovering the quality firsthand, I took that product down and never sold a single thing without testing the quality first!
While we’ve got options, my go-to recommendation in today’s world is Gelato, and let me tell you why:
- Seamless interface: It’s super easy to use and has a much better customization hub than a lot of PODs
- Product variety: It offers a wide range of products without sacrificing quality
- High quality: It’s globally recognized for its quality and reliability
- Global fulfillment: They partner with 140+ production hubs in 32 countries all around the world to ensure that when a customer places an order, their product is produced and shipped from a facility near their location. Local production shortens shipping distances and reduces carbon footprints.
- & my favorite reason: Gelato offers eco-friendly practices, which is a bonus if you care about sustainability 🌍
Step 3: Upload & apply your products
Alright, now that you’ve got your artwork ready to go, it’s time for the fun part—uploading and applying your designs to products!
But hold up—before you just throw your art onto any random item, here’s a pro tip: make sure your design meets the product’s specific file requirements, like resolution, file types, and size guidelines.
If your files aren’t high-quality or don’t match the product’s required specs, your designs might not print the way you imagined. That means blurry images, awkward cropping, or colors that aren’t as vibrant as you intended. Not cute. Don’t ask me how I know 😳
Trust me, it’ll take two minutes to double check and you’ll set yourself up for success by making sure that your products look as good in real life as they do on your screen.
Here are the basic things to keep in mind when prepping your design files for upload:
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Artwork file resolution: For clear, crisp prints, your design needs to be a high enough resolution. A good rule of thumb is to create artwork at 300 DPI (dots per inch). Mistake to avoid: Uploading low-resolution files = blurry prints & disappointed customers. Always use 300 DPI for crisp results!
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File type: Most platforms, including Gelato, accept PNG or JPEG files and I personally recommend going with PNGs because JPEGs can sometimes lose a little quality when compressed. They also allow you to save transparent pixels (so you don’t have that weird box around your t-shirt design… you know the one).
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Color mode: This is something that can trip people up. When working on your design, make sure your artwork is in the color mode according to product specs. If you don't, you might see different results than what you see on your screen. While the platform can typically handle this conversion, it's better to be safe than sorry!
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File dimensions: Some products will have specific size recommendations. If you’re making a t-shirt design, for example, the design might need to be at least 3600 x 4800px for optimal print quality. Bigger is generally better here, but again, check the specs for each product type
Step 4: Promote your art
Do not (hold on, let me get my megaphone out) ahem I repeat.. 📣 Do NOT skip this step!
Okay, so your art is out there in the world—but how do you actually make sales? Ya gotta talk about it. Share your products on your social media channels, write about them in your blog, and get creative with your marketing.
One of the best ways to connect with your audience is through storytelling. Share why you created the designs, what inspires you, or how your art can add a unique touch to someone’s home or wardrobe. The more personal your connection with your audience, the more likely they are to support you ♥
Making money with print on demand
Here are a few tips to maximize your POD earnings:
- Niche down: I knowwwww, I can hear you now (”Really, Peggy? Coming from you?!”) Hear me out, friends. I’m going somewhere with this. It can be tempting to create generic designs that everyone will love, but niche markets are where the magic happens. It doesn’t mean you only create those things, but try getting a wee more specific with your subject matter. Find a target audience that relates to your art style and build your designs around that. See? That’s not so bad 😜
- Create varieties of the same design: A transparent version to add to a T-shirt or a mug, maybe both a vertical and a horizontal format for wall art and a calendar spread, perhaps a few different colorways (yes to that). Work smarter, not harder!
- Engage with your community: Building a loyal fan base is key. Reply to people, ask for feedback, and encourage your followers to share their purchases on social media. The more you engage, the more people will feel connected to your brand.
Ready to start printing on demand? Say less ⚡️
If you’ve been looking for a way to make passive income from your art, print on demand is a no-brainer. It’s a simple, low-risk way to start selling your designs on physical products without the stress of managing inventory or shipping.
You create the designs, and they take care of the rest. It’s like having a personal assistant who handles all the boring stuff so you can focus on your art. WORTH IT.
If you’re ready to dive into the world of print on demand, Gelato is a great place to start. Try it out risk-free with my link and get your first sample at half off within two days of signing up—test your designs, see the quality for yourself, and start building your passive income stream today.
For real though, go forth and get your art into the world 🚀 ✨
Oh, and before you go—I’ll be sharing some of my own orders with you shortly! Keep an eye out for the update, where I’ll show you the art and the product side by side, along with my thoughts on quality, print accuracy, and overall experience. Stay tuned! 🎨✨
