What file do I send to a printer?
The file you downloaded, unchanged: for Apex wall art, the 4:5 300 DPI file; for stickers, the transparent PNG. Tell the printer the finished size, pick a paper, and let them handle color conversion. Do not re-save it as JPG, do not enlarge it, do not 'optimise' it.
- 01
Home printer
Print the file at the size you want on the paper you have. Choose the highest quality setting and the correct paper type in the driver; that matters more than anything you do to the file.
- 02
Online lab (Mpix, Nations Photo Lab, a local shop)
Upload the original. Choose the size — for wall art, 8×10, 11×14, 16×20 or 24×30 — and a matte or lustre paper for art. Decline auto-enhance; it re-processes color.
- 03
Commercial press
Ask what they want. If they require CMYK or a specific profile, convert with their profile and check the proof. This is the only case where you touch the file.
PNG or JPG for the lab?+
Whatever you downloaded. If the lab only accepts JPG, export at maximum quality once; do not round-trip it.
Should I add a border or bleed?+
Labs usually add bleed themselves. For framing, order the exact size and let the mat do the border.
Do I send the file to a framer?+
Print first, then frame — or order a framed edition where the product page offers one and the print partner handles it.
- —Apex does not provide printer-specific presets or profiles.
- —It does not cover paper choice or framing — those are the lab's and the framer's expertise.
Print it, or have it printed.
Download and print anywhere, or order a framed edition where the page offers one.