How to Get High-Quality Prints from Oil Paintings on Canvas

If you’re thinking about turning your oil paintings into prints, you want to make sure they capture all the richness, depth, and texture of the original. Here are the key steps to get professional-looking prints without losing quality.

1. Photographing or Scanning Your Artwork

Getting a high-resolution image of your painting is the first and most critical step. Unlike watercolors or digital art, oil paintings have texture, sheen, and depth that can be tricky to capture.

• Use a professional camera or DSLR. A smartphone might not cut it for larger prints.

• Shoot in good lighting. Natural light is best, but soft diffused lighting can help avoid glare.

• Use a tripod. This prevents any blur and ensures a sharp image.

• Watch for glare. Oil paint, especially with varnish, can reflect light. A polarizing filter can help reduce unwanted shine.

• Take multiple shots. Different angles and exposures will help you choose the best image.

If your artwork is smaller (like an 8x10), a flatbed scanner can give you an ultra-crisp image. However, large canvas paintings are better captured with a camera.

2. Editing & Preparing the Digital File

Once you have a high-resolution image, some digital touch-ups might be needed before printing:

• Adjust brightness & contrast to match the original painting.

• Crop out any unwanted edges.

• Sharpen details so brushstrokes and textures are clear.

• Color correct for accuracy—colors can shift depending on the lighting used during photography.

• Save as a TIFF or PNG for best quality (JPEGs can lose detail).

If you’re not comfortable editing, you can hire a professional or use services like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.

3. Choosing the Right Print Material

Not all prints are created equal! The material you print on affects the final look:

• Canvas Prints: Best for replicating the look of the original, but be mindful that texture can change how details appear—especially if your original painting had a smooth surface.

• Giclee Prints on Fine Art Paper: Great for high-quality reproductions with sharp details and vibrant colors. Look for 100% cotton rag or archival paper for longevity.

• Metal or Acrylic Prints: These create a modern, high-gloss look, which works well for certain styles but may not suit traditional oil paintings.

When printing on canvas, choose a fine-weave option to avoid distorting small brush details.

4. Selecting Print Sizes Wisely

One of the biggest mistakes (as I learned in my video! 😅) is scaling up too much.

• Stick to sizes proportional to your original piece (e.g., a 5x7 could go up to 8x10 or 11x14, but jumping to 18x24 may exaggerate flaws).

• If enlarging, make sure your image resolution is at least 300 DPI to prevent blurriness.

5. Choosing a Printing Company

Not all print shops handle oil painting reproductions well, so look for:
✅ Giclee printing (museum-quality, archival inks)
✅ Custom proofing (so you can check colors before ordering in bulk)
✅ Canvas stretching/mounting options if printing on canvas

Some recommended online print services:

• Easy Canvas Prints (where I ordered mine)

• FinerWorks (great for fine art giclee prints)

• Bay Photo (high-quality options for artists)

6. Doing a Test Print First

Before ordering large prints, always test with a smaller size or a sample swatch. This helps ensure colors and textures look how you expect before committing to a big order.

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By following these steps, you’ll avoid some of the common pitfalls (like I ran into!) and get beautiful, high-quality prints that do justice to your original oil painting.

📺 Watch the full video to see my learning process:
👉 Click Here to Watch on YouTube

Have you ever had trouble with prints? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences!