I Tested 5 Print Shops – Here’s The Best Place To Print Artwork

There’s a visible difference between a digital download print and a top of the line art reproduction. It’s all about the quality. There’s printing from home on printer paper and then there’s printing on Hahnemuhle William Turner paper with a deckled edge. The quality of the printer matters. The paper and the texture matters. I’ve always wanted to find a print shop that checked all the boxes so over the past two months, I tested 5 recommended print shops to find the best one…and I did!

I ordered canvas prints, fine art prints, and paper samples from all 5 shops to compare color accuracy, the quality of the papers, quality of the canvases, prices, and turnaround time. I ranked each print shop and took detailed notes – let’s dive in!

#5 – FedEx Office

Starting with the print shop I see most recommend online by hobbyists – FedEx Office. I actually rank this one last for a handful of reasons, but mainly for the lack of options. While it’s an easily accessible option if you’re in a time crunch, it doesn’t offer the bells and whistles that can make printed art look high end.

Paper prints range from $0.76 to $1.31 depending on the paper you choose and canvases start at $34.99 which is in line with the competitors. The paper options for fine art printing are very limited. 110lb Index and 80lb Ultra Bright White are the two recommended paper options for artwork at FedEx, yet both feel like printer paper to me and have a slight sheen. The canvas print on the other hand looks very pixelated and of poor quality. It really only looks good from afar.

Sizes are also an issue because FedEx is set up to print documents, not custom artwork. There are three size options for paper prints and you must crop or adjust the size of your artwork to fit within one of their paper sizes prior to getting the artwork printed.

The positive is that the colors are actually quite vibrant on their paper prints!

#4 – Loktah

I had never heard of Loktah prior to this experiment and I was intrigued right off the bat when they said they offer deckled edges. They have a lot of good things to offer – giclee prints, canvases, custom sizes, torn edges (i.e. deckled edges), and a plethora of paper options to pick from.

Prices range from $10-$15 for a 5×7 print and an 8×10 canvas is $50. While there are a collection of paper options to pick from, not all paper options are available for fine art prints. And while several papers have texture, none have the texture I like.

You can order prints through their website, but if you want to order a canvas print, you’ll need to download and install their design software program.

Unfortunately I did not have a positive experience ordering from Loktah. Between orders “not going through” without notification, no confirmation emails, and a lack of customer service responses, I would be wary of ordering again.

#3 – MPIX

Mpix was my go to print shop for years…and for good reason. This is a fairly mainstream print shop that many DIYer’s utilize and they have an easy website to order through.

When it comes to Giclee paper prints, Mpix is the most budget friendly shop. 5×7 paper prints start at $2.26 and they frequently offer sales. On the other hand, canvases start at $60 making Mpix the most expensive place to buy canvases. They do offer free shipping for orders over $35 (something no other shop does) and they ship incredibly fast too! I usually receive my order within 2 days!

In terms of paper options, MPIX offers a thick “Fine Art Photographic Paper” in matte that fits most artwork needs. However they don’t have an array of textured papers to choose from which is something I often want. As for sizes, you can pick from many size options, however, custom sizes are not available.

I will say I was disappointed by the color accuracy on the canvas print. It was far more purple and pink than the original. The accuracy of the paper print, however, was great!

#2 – Picture Salon

If you’re all about quality printing, customization options, and lots of paper and canvas types to pick from, Picture Salon is for you! The main thing I love about Picture Salon is that you can order any size print or canvas.

They offer 6 paper options – 3 smooth and 3 textured. While the textured paper options weren’t quite as good as the next print shop I’ll talk about, I did like the options! You can order mats, frames, add a border around the print, and select how you want your canvas wrapped. As for canvas prints, I was incredibly impressed with the print job! Impressively clear and color accurate, and it has a soft finish that doesn’t make the image look pixelated. I would absolutely order a canvas from Picture Salon again.

Paper prints start at $3.75 for a 5×7 and canvases start at $32.29 for a 5×7. Shipping took about 2 weeks. My one complaint is that the website is a bit clunky. A bit Windows 2000…but still easy enough to use.

#1 – Candela

My #1 pick for printing artwork is Candela! They specialize in museum quality printing, drum scanning, and artwork scanning for artists, galleries, and museums. Quite frankly, when I compared all the paper prints side by side, Candela’s won by a landslide. The vibrancy of the colors, the crystal clear printing, the texture of the paper, it’s everything I want in high quality printed art.

My 5×7 print on Hahnemuhle William Turner paper cost $15.12 which is the highest of all the shops I ordered from. The quality of the print and paper however, is well worth the price. The 8×10 canvas on the other hand cost $35, making it the cheapest of all the shops.

Of all the print shops, Candela carries some of my favorite papers. The texture of the paper is what makes a print look incredibly authentic and they carry the best of the best. (Fine art smooth, highly textured, watercolor, etc) Go ahead, request a deckled edge while you’re at it. They also offer canvases with a matte sheen which makes the art look incredibly authentic…almost like old chalky paint!

The one downfall is that production takes a while. Print-only orders take 5-10 days + shipping. Canvases take 3-4 weeks + shipping. I received my order in just under 3 weeks. As for shipping costs, shipping starts at $10 for paper prints and $20 for orders including canvases. But when you see the quality of your art print, you won’t bat an eye.

In summary, Candela has the best paper options of all the shops and I was wildly impressed with the print quality. That was an easy win! As for canvases, it’s a toss up between Candela and Picture Salon! Both comparable quality and prices, but Picture Salon has a slight edge with a shorter production time. Both shops offer samples which I highly recommend!

Now that you know the best place to print artwork, what are you printing!? Might I suggest Portrait of A Man or Une Rue À Bourges by Léon Augustin Lhermitte – the two paintings I used for this experiment!