What is print-on-demand and why is it beneficial for artists?

Print-on-demand is one of the greatest things that’s happened to the art industry. Once your images are uploaded, you choose a vendor (like Bay Photo on the West Coast or Graphic Dimensions on the East Coast for prints, or Guten for merchandise). When you get an order, in one click: you get paid, the printer gets paid, the printer prints it, boxes it, ships it, and the system sends out all the emails—all without you lifting a finger. You don’t need to get out of bed, be in the country, or be anywhere. You don’t hold inventory, don’t have minimum orders, don’t interface with the printer, don’t send tracking numbers, and don’t drive anywhere. It takes away an entire job from your plate so you can focus on creating and marketing.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-05-29