Print on Demand Guide for Artists (+Gelato Review!)

As I’ve been sharing about a new-to-me print on demand service recently, I’ve been receiving some questions. Some of the most exciting questions being “What, exactly, is print on demand?” and “Is the quality of print on demand good enough..?” So I whipped up the knowledge I’ve got, along with my personal experience with POD, and wrapped it in a bow below👇

Let’s be real, you create a ton of art—whether it’s digital illustrations, paintings, or even those funky doodles you scribble in your notebook during Zoom calls but then realize they're actually masterpieces that* need* to be shared with the world… and now you’re wondering, “How do I turn this creative magic into products without entering the giant labyrinth of manufacturing (not to mention, inventory)?”

Well, my friend, if you’re not familiar just yet, let me introduce you to Print on Demand (POD)—aka the easiest, laziest (in a good way), and most genius way to make passive income as an artist. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Why POD is the easiest solution for creating products

Zero upfront investment
Remember that time you thought about starting a merch line but then realized you’d have to spend a small fortune on inventory? With POD, that’s not a problem. You don’t pay for a single product until it’s actually sold. That means no stacks of unsold prints, cards, phone cases, or T-shirts mocking you from the corner of the room that you wish could be dedicated to creative space instead (RIP to all those unsold band tees from my teenage “entrepreneurial” phase).

Global reach without hassle
You can upload your designs, and a POD service handles the rest—printing, shipping, done. Whether someone in New York or Amsterdam wants your wall art, a calendar, a greeting card set, a mug, or a tote bag, POD makes it happen without you lifting a finger (except maybe to check your sales stats while sipping tea like the business mogul you are).

Hello, passive income!
Imagine waking up to emails that say, “You made a sale!” without having to pack or ship anything yourself. That’s the magic of print on demand.

More product options than you can even imagine
Want your art on canvas prints? Done. How about phone cases? Yep. A baby onesie? Cute. A dad hat? Weird flex, but I’m into it—POD has that too. You can experiment with different products and see what sells best without any financial risk.

What to sell first

Not sure where to start? Different types of art shine best on different products. Here’s a quick list of ideas to help you launch with confidence:

All artists → art prints, greeting cards, art books

Additionally,

Illustrators → mugs, tote bags, T-shirts, baby onesies, phone cases, calendars, and more
Painters → canvas prints, framed prints, wall tapestries, and more
Lettering artists → T-shirts, notebooks, tote bags, hats, greeting cards, calendars, camp mugs, and more
Photographers → wall art, phone cases, acrylic or metal prints, photo books, and more

Starting with these tried-and-true products gives you a solid foundation before branching out into more niche offerings. (Yes, that means you can still put your surreal cat astronaut painting on a shower curtain later.)

Real-life examples of POD in action

I’m pretty obsessed with the quality I received when I placed a sample order with Gelato (by the way, you can snag 50% off your first purchase within 48 hrs of signing up!). I’ve printed art prints with a few different POD services and have felt they’re decent, but nothing to be too proud of. I ordered three different paper styles from Gelato and was impressed with every single one of them. Here’s my unboxing video if you’re a visual person.

I also created both options of their greetings cards, one with a silky paper finish and foil treatment, and another with a nice, flat matte finish. Once again, I was impressed with both (they’re both in the unboxing video for reference 👆).

How print on demand works
(it’s easier than you think)

Step 1: Upload your artwork

Pick a POD platform (Gelato is my fav), upload your design, and adjust it for different products. Gelato has an easy peasy drag-and-drop system, so no tech wizardry required.

Important: High-resolution files (300 DPI or higher) are your best friend. No one wants a pixelated mess of a finished product.

And a hot tip: Use transparent backgrounds for products like stickers or apparel (unless you’re going for the “oops, I accidentally designed a white square” aesthetic).

Step 2: Order a test sample

Here’s a tiny, friendly nudge to order samples before launching to avoid unexpected print issues. You want to make sure you’ve placed your artwork exactly as you’d like. You want to make sure you’re happy with the result!

Step 3: Integrate with your online store(s)

You can sync your products directly with Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, Woocommerce, Squarespace and even TikTok Shop with a one-click integration setup. That means your customers can buy your art straight from the platforms they already use.

Why Gelato stands out (my biased opinion 😜)

If you’re serious about POD, Gelato is one of the best platforms out there. Why? Glad you asked:

Local production in 32 countries → Faster, cheaper, and more sustainable shipping. Because no one wants to wait three weeks for a print, they certainly don’t want to pay more for shipping than the product itself, and the planet will thank you for the reduced carbon footprint.
Top-tier print quality → Whether it’s wall art, calendars, or greeting cards, Gelato specializes in premium paper goods. Your designs deserve more than flimsy, low-quality prints.
Seamless store integrations → As I mentioned, Gelato connects effortlessly with Shopify, Etsy, Wix, TikTok Shop, and Amazon, and more (they even have a custom API code if you want to get nerdy and use other platforms). Aka, integrate with all the places people actually shop.
Competitive, transparent pricing → No weird hidden fees, just straightforward pricing that scales as you grow.
Eco-friendly model → With production happening closer to your customers, there’s less shipping waste. Good for your wallet, great for the environment.

Is POD right for you?

If you’re an artist looking to make money without dealing with the nightmare of inventory and shipping, POD is a no-brainer. You upload, you sell, and you get paid—while someone else does the heavy lifting. Curious? Go ahead and test the waters—upload one of your designs and see how it feels!

Promo code for Gelato bonus: You can get 50% off your first order within 48 hours of signing up for Gelato right here!

So, what are you waiting for? Start uploading your designs and let your art pay the bills (or at least cover your coffee addiction cuz that’s a good start). The world needs more of your creativity, and POD is here to make sure it reaches every corner of the internet.

This post is kindly sponsored by Gelato, and as always, all opinions are my own and I never share what I don’t personally like and use, myself. (I’m truly thrilled to have discovered this company!)