A lot of museums around the world have high-resolution pictures of artwork for which the copyright has expired. There are so many beautiful pieces, and you can just print them yourself. For example, https://www.nga.gov/open-access-images.html has a huge library (~2.000 images) of artwork that you can use freely. The resolution is generally good enough for large prints.
I just grabbed a random image from there, which is 4096×3066, easily good enough for a canvas print of 1m (~40”) in width.
Such a large print will commonly set your back around 30-50 USD, with small ones going as low as 10 USD. It’s a cheap way to get very nice results.
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This is cool, thanks for sharing the link!
Have an office full of these prints, French Impressionist.
I have a small request. Write the name of the piece, and name of the artist somewhere on the back. A small nod of respect to the artist.
Got a recommended canvas printer?
An art print from a living artist will also be in that price range, just saying. But at least this is much better than just using AI art. I’ll have to save that site.
This is a great tip – thank you! Wasn’t aware the NGA had high res images for free under Creative Commons Zero.
I did this with Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and got so many compliments. Total cost was under $50 for a huge canvas, way cheaper than a replica.
TIP: If you’re going this route, splurge on UV-resistant ink or glass. Sunlight will wreck your print faster than you’d think.
What a great idea! goes and finds nothing but religious images of Madonna oh that’s not the esthetic I want for my house.
https://preview.redd.it/xmzrt1gjvdve1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36a3018328502b190c8c77b5be45aa5c94a8f204
Found a print for my office! (Perhaps this is the origin of the SNL skit)
Paint by numbers, cheap as quality print, great hobby and for passing time and you get a nice piece of art whem you finish.
“and have it printed on canvas.” – Your LPT sort of glosses over that last point and I don’t see anywhere here ever this is explored. Since most of us have never considered even doing this before, can you talk about that a bit? Are there online places you send this to to get done? Do you take the image on an SD card to some retail store and have them do it? How do you actually accomplish this last point?
Quick. Download it before Trump shuts that down too.
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How would you have something printed on canvas?
Can you search for objects?? I want an octopus picture!
You could also consider supporting a local artist.
I haven’t explored options in a few years, but I’ve had good luck in the past with mpix.com for getting images printed where the pricing seemed reasonable. Good quality, unlike what I would get from Walmart or Walgreen/CVS or whatever. I haven’t had anything printed in a while, but it looks like their canvas prints start at $60 and they have a 25% off everything sale going now according to their webpage.
If there are better/cheaper options please share them below! I am going to redo a picture wall within the next year so I’ll need plenty of prints…I’m always open to new suggestions!
Not only that, but my Groupon often had coupons for large prints. I got a couple canvas prints for ten each.
I want a picture of Deep Space Nine on my wall. No text, no ships, no character portraits, just the space station. The largest picture that I could find is 2500×1667. How big can the canvas go before it starts looking pixelated?
If you get on the Walgreens mailing list you get lots of coupons for photo services. My boss sends me hers.
I tried to do this when making a movie and the person at the desk said that’s copyright infringement
Before doing this, shop your local thrift stores. Sometimes you can find really cool stuff for your home. Plus way cheaper than this process and you have the fun of hunting too!
The Library of Congress website has archives of historical photos as well available for high-res download
I’ve done this many time. Here’s some more hints: some internet artists have permissive licenses on their work letting you use it for personal use (like hanging in your home), and some have stores with reasonably priced canvas prints available (so you can help support the artist). NASA is another source of cool art if you’re into space – I have “The Day the Earth Smiled” printed on canvas. Everyone thinks its a picture of Jupiter and then I tell them it’s actually of Earth and point out the little blueish dot below the rings.
What a cool idea, thanks OP!
You can all also get prints on metal, which my spouse did with some of NASA’s free art- it looks very professional!
Did this with a Turner high res file from the national gallery and had it printed 40” by 60” onto canvas at DickBlick that had a print department.
Pro tip is to wait till they have deals. Used to send out a 50%off prints coupon like every other month back in the day.
Also have done this as gifts for people. Always went over really well
One of the best LPT. I had some posters done at Walmart and never occured to me I could do it for the real artwork. Bounus points for the linking NGA.
BTW, based on what I found, no one has a better price than Walmart. Loved their quality as well.
While I didn’t try CVS/Walgreens, they might be cheaper, if you find the right coupon.
You can go to Ross and get a giant painting for $5.
Nice like “Dogs playing poker?”
fwiw the copyright only matters if you plan to sell it on or display it in a public setting. privately in your home you can infringe copyright as much as you like.
This is indeed a cheap way to get art in your house, but it would also be good to buy an artwork from a struggling artist.
i used to work in a picture framing shop and this was one of the bigger things they did. lots of custom canvas prints, interesting process how they get it on there too. iirc its printed with a wide format printer onto some intermediary papery material and then that gets transferred onto the canvas using a heated vacuum press. But i could be wrong on that, it’s been a few years and i was never directly involved with that part.
the canvas is then stretched onto a frame, and then that gets framed if desired. get the good glass too if framing…
I printed a bunch of my favorite albums out and taped them up on my walls! It’s super easy to decorate when you just put up stuff that you like!
Get it on vinyl canvas wrap and framed and you have something nice to keep clean and dust free.
i have used easycanvasprints a couple times with good results
Micheal’s has custom framing on sale for 70% pretty regularly.
Ok, but does anyone have an image high-res enough to print a lifesize version if the Vigo painting from Ghostbusters?
Commenting so that I can find this later when my wife is around. Awesome tip!
My favorite part of having an android is when anyone with anything better has to ask me if I have a charger.
Download images from Unsplash.com and have them printed. All the free images are royalty free. I’ve decorated my whole house this way.
https://unsplash.com
If someone can tell me an easy way to find high resolution images of pokemon cards without text then this pro tip will be very useful.
What can I search for to get the Mayan, Aztec, , Inca ones I saw at the Museum of Natural History in NYC? I tried searching but couldn’t find any.
Here are 34 million images from European institutions: https://www.europeana.eu/en/search?page=1&qf=TYPE%3A%22IMAGE%22&query=&view=grid
Might be able to use something like Gigapixel if you want to make it even bigger with good quality.
Where does one find a canvas printer?
I would say support a local artist instead of a FedEx Office. Plenty of affordable art at local craft fairs
Print shop here, we do custom framed canvas printing on our amazon store if anyone needs it: https://www.amazon.com/Personalized-Showcasing-Photograph-Orientations-Personalized/dp/B0F1DQVPM3
Or you can buy from a living artist.
You can get high res prints for the same price by purchasing them from living artists trying to make a living as well.
https://preview.redd.it/0u2mduig4ive1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8bca0f25e6fbc5e5da7ecde1694eceea32c7cb8c
I agree, fantastic idea. This Bierstadt has been on my wall for about 10 years. I think frame and all was about $200. Tye frame was the biggest cost. The original hangs in the National Gallery in DC.
Here’s an alternative idea: find a local artist whose work you like and buy it. I like supporting local folks.
I use Walgreens. Wait long enough and they have 50-60% off sales.
Where do you get huge canvas prints? Like will typical print shops be able to handle a 1m canvas?
Now I got the Mona Lisa.
Where in Germany wen’ger good prints with low prices?
This is a good idea and a great value.
For a bit more one can order a replica painting done with oil paint on canvas from China. I’ve ordered a few and have been happy with the results.
Go to student art show at a local community college. You’ll change someone’s life and get something original.
Man I can’t get my printer to print an email half the time. I would most likely end up throwing the thing out the window attempting this.