How to Print Digital Downloads from Etsy (Art, Prints, Cards, Etc.)

Understanding how to best print digital downloads from Etsy is something every Etsy seller and buyer need to know.

There are many different types of digital downloads on Etsy. Printing wall art will be a different process than printable games for kids depending on the level quality desired.

Here we cover how to print digital downloads from Etsy.

What is an Etsy Digital Download?

An Etsy digital download is a product that you purchase and can download without a physical copy. This can be in different file forms, such as a DOC, PDF, PNG, JPEG, or even SVG. 

Digital downloads are a great way to make more passive income, and a low-cost way to start since you don’t need to hold inventory. What kinds of products are considered an Etsy digital download? 

Here are some examples: 

• Planners (calendars, project planners, meal planners, financial planners)
• Trackers (for paying debt, weight loss, saving money)
• Stickers
• Journals
• Workbooks
• Templates
• Coloring pages
• Stationary
• Crochet or knitting patterns
• Flash cards or teaching materials
• SVG graphics (typically printed on a Cricut machine)
• Clipart

The opportunities are endless for which type of digital downloads you can sell on Etsy.

How to Access Digital Files to Print 

If you’re wanting to access your files to print them, how can you do this? There are a few ways to do this from the buyer and sellers perspective.

How to find your Etsy digital downloads as a buyer

To access your digital files as a buyer, you first need to navigate to your Etsy home page and select your account in the top right corner. You will then choose the option “Purchases and reviews.”

Once you find your purchases page, you can see all of your files that are available to download. You will find the correct file, and select “Download files”. This will bring you to the page to download your file and you can then use this file to print.

Hint: don’t use mobile to download your Etsy files

A common issue buyers have, is attempting to download files on the Etsy app. You are unable to access your files this way. If you don’t have previous experience with buying digital downloads, this can make you think that you didn’t receive the files. 

Instead, you need to use a desktop computer to access these files and the option to download these files will be available. 

There is a workaround where you can use the Etsy mobile browser and not the app to download the files but this confuses many people. We recommend just using your computer to download the files.

What if you purchased the files as a guest?

If you purchased instant Etsy digital downloads as a guest, you will not be able to use the steps above to access the files you purchased. Instead, you’ll find a link to download your files in the receipt email that was sent to you after purchase. 

You can always use Etsy’s help article for detailed directions on how to download your file.

When will you get a made to order item?

Made-to-order digital items will be sent once the seller has finished them. If you no longer have access to the email account you used to make the original purchase, please contact the seller directly to discuss how they can send you your files.

Many times buyers of made to order items aren’t aware that they need to provide sellers certain information or images in order for them to complete the file. Go back and read the listing description carefully to see if you need to send the seller a message with certain information or with a picture. Also, if you need the item by a certain date, be sure to tell the seller so you don’t miss your deadline.

Are you an Etsy seller who needs to find a digital file to email to your customer?

There is also a way to go back into Etsy to access your files as a seller. If you can’t easily find them on your computer or where you created the files, you can go into the Listings on Etsy and locate the listing with the file that you need. Go into the editor for the listing.

Once you find this listing, scroll down to the bottom where you uploaded your file. You can then click on that file that you uploaded and it will open it up into your browser. You can then download it again to take it and print it, or provide it to your customer via email for them to print.

You may need to ask the customer for their email address via messages since Etsy may not provide it.

How to Print Etsy Digital Downloads at Home with Adobe

Printing a digital file can usually be very simple. If your download is something like a checklist or a coloring page that are usually 8.5” x 11”, then you can easily print this at home. A few things that you will need to take into account is the paper type and having the correct type of ink for your home printer.

To print your digital files, you will simply need to locate it on your computer and open it in your browser or in something like Adobe Reader. Then go select the Print option. 

This is where you can make a few decisions about your print. You will need to select whether it will be one-sided or two-sided, which pages to print, whether it will be portrait or landscape, in color or black and white, and if it will be a typical page size or something different. Make sure you are printing at 100 percent because you don’t want to accidentally change the size because of your print settings.

But printing at home does have its drawbacks, as it tends to be much lower-quality. Unless you are buying super high-quality paper, such as cardstock, or have a high-quality printer, then it won’t be the same as having it professionally printed. You also won’t be able to print bleeds, which may or may not be an issue for you. Print bleeds are used in products like invitations where you want the entire message printed to the edges of the document.

If you are going to be printing a digital download at home, the best option is to find a high-quality cardstock, that you can easily find on Amazon, at Staples, and at many other office or craft stores. This will give you the quality print you are looking for, as well as the simplicity of doing it at home.

If you are printing wall art or invitations, you may want to use an online print service that we will cover more below. This way you are able to print on higher-quality paper and ensure your print comes out looking more professional.

How to Print Digital Downloads on Microsoft Word

Printing digital files can sometimes be very simple. If your download is something like a checklist or a coloring page that are usually 8.5” x 11”, then you can easily print that at home. 

A few things that you will need to take into account is the paper type and having the correct type of ink for your home printer.

To print your digital files, you will simply need to locate it on your computer and open it in your browser or in something like Microsoft Word or Pages. Then select the print option. 

This is where you can make a few decisions about your print. You will need to select whether it will be one-sided or two-sided, which pages to print, whether it will be portrait or landscape, in color or black and white, and if it will be a typical page size or something different. 

But printing digital art at home does have its drawbacks, as it tends to be much lower-quality. Unless you are buying super high-quality paper or have a high-quality printer, then it won’t be the same as having it professionally printed. You also won’t be able to print bleeds, which may or may not be an issue for you.

If you are printing digital art or invitations, you may want to use an online print service that we mentioned above. This way you are able to print on higher-quality paper and ensure your print comes out looking more professional.

Where to Print Digital Art, Prints, Invitations, and more High-Quality Digital Downloads

To achieve a higher quality print, you will want to print your digital downloads through a professional printing service. You can print these locally or have them delivered to your home through an online service.

Art, prints, and invitation downloads will come in either a PDF, JPG, or PNG file format. You can print all of these file types through a professional printing service easily.

Below we discuss different professional printing options for your Etsy digital downloads. You can also print simple digital downloads through the services below if you do not have a home printer.

Walgreens 

Walgreens is a great option for printing art prints, as you can easily upload your design and print as many or as little as you’d like. 

It is also typically convenient as there tends to be a lot of locations, and there is a good chance you have one close-by. Walgreens charges $.25 for a basic print, and there is a discount if you print a larger amount. 

If you’re looking to print a large wall art, such as an 11×14 design, the price for this with their satin paper would be $11.99, and they have sizes up to 24×36 as well. 

How to print at Walgreens: 

To print your Etsy design at Walgreens, you’ll first need to navigate to the photo section of their website. This is where you will find all the different print options for your digital download. 

If you’re looking to print digital art larger than an 8×10, you can choose from the Posters option where you can upload your own design. Select which size you would like to use, which includes 11×14, 12×18, 16×20, 20×30, and 24×36. 

You can then upload the design for your print, and begin making any adjustments. You are able to simply upload the design, or use one of the templates that Walgreens provides. But if you are only wanting to print the design you purchased, all you will need to do is upload the design and change the orientation of the file if needed. 

Once your design is ready, you will select Review Order and it will give a preview of what your design will look like in a few different sizes in comparison to a typical living room set-up. This is a great way to get an idea of what the design will look like in your space. 

Once you settle on the size you want, you will select proceed to cart and then will need to login to your account or create a new account to complete your purchase.

Vista Print

If your digital download is an invite, stickers, or another similar type of product then you are able to upload your design to print. But if it is a workbook, digital planner, etc. then VistaPrint is not the best option. 

For wall art, you will use the option for posters, which gives you the choice of 8.5×11, 11×17, 16×20 and larger. 

The cost for each type of printing differs, but for example, for 10 wedding invites, where you upload your design, is $16.99, which does not include shipping. The cost of printing wall art will depend on the type of paper you select and the size of the poster, but an 11×14 print on semi-gloss paper is $12.99 as an example.

The great thing about VistaPrint is it will ship to your home, and there are often sales where you can receive a discount on your items.

How to print at VistaPrint:

To print your design on VistaPrint, you will first need to select the type of design you are wanting to print out, whether it is a wall art, an invite, or another type of design. Once you find the correct option, you will choose this and then select the option to upload your design. 

For wall art, you will be given the choices of size, paper (which includes semi-gloss, premium matte, outdoor, and and mounted), if you wanted it laminated, and the quantity of your design. Once you select these options you are able to then upload your file. 

Once you upload your file, you can see how it would look and are given the option to add text, images or other shapes. This won’t be needed if you are wanting to easily upload your Etsy design to print. 

Then you can select next to preview the design and add it to your cart. You will complete the purchase by filling out your information and choosing from shipping options. The design will then arrive at your home, which makes everything very convenient! 

FedEx

You can also print out items at FedEx! Easily upload your design, and choose from different options like posters, prints, brochures, invites, etc. The price also varies for each type of print, but for making a basic 8×10 wall art print or another 8.5×11 design on cardstock it costs $.55 each.

To print larger wall art, you can choose from sizes of 16×20, 18×24, 22×28, 24×36, and 36×48 with the 16×20 starting at $16.47. 

How to print at FedEx:

Once you are on FexEx’s printing site, you’ll start by choosing matte or glossy paper, the size of your poster print, and the orientation. Then you can go into uploading your design. 

Here you can choose from a few options for finishing, such as adding grommets, lamination or mounting. Once you are done with these options, you can add it to your cart and finish with completing your purchase.

You have the option to choose to pick up from a local store or have it shipped directly to your home, so whichever is most convenient for you. 

Staples 

Staples is very similar to FedEx in what they offer, but it tends to be much quicker and their price is quite a bit lower. For a simple 8×10 print on cardstock, they charge $.77 each. They also offer same-day services so you can quickly print your design and pick it up that same day. 

How to print at Staples:

The first step is to visit the Staples website and sign in. You will then need to select the Services menu, and choose Printing Services. This will take you to the homepage for their printing options, where you can see all of the different types of print options available. 

You can search for the type of print you are looking for from one of their top menus. For example, you can select Document Printing. They have a few options here, but you can select a Professional Print. Simple Print is fine as well, but you will have more options with Professional Print. 

Then you will choose Start Project to start adding your file. This is where you will upload the file you want to print and select Continue. Here you will choose your print size and paper orientation. Check “Scale to fit” and then hit Next. You can also choose double-sided if desired.

This next step is where you select your paper type. They have standard paper, premium and specialty paper (like cardstock or glossy), colored paper, or colored cardstock. 

You will then choose either color or black and white ink and hit Next. In the next step you can add binding, such as a three ring binder, a coil, or stapled. This is optional and you can also choose no binding. 

Next, you can choose finishing like lamination, folding, cutting or hole punches. Then you will be able to choose the number of copies, and add any special requests if applicable. 

Finally you will choose the delivery of your print. You can search for a local store where there will be no delivery fee, or you can choose to have your print delivered with a typical shipping fee of $4.99. 

You’ll then complete your purchase and your print will be ready to go!

Walmart

Walmart is another option for printing your design and can be another convenient and easy way to get your design in your hands. You can print simple 8×10 prints, as well as choosing poster-size options that start at 11×14 and go up to 24×36. 

The cost for a 16×20 print at Walmart starts at $10.93, which is definitely one of the most cost-friendly options to choose from for your print.

How to print at Walmart:

Once you choose your design, you can select the size and the paper type, which includes glossy, matte or metallic. Then you will upload your design to the page.

You can make any adjustments next, like switching the orientation or changing the size if necessary. Once you are ready you will add it to your cart. 

Then, you can choose between shipping it to your home or picking it up at a local store. 

Prints of Love

Prints of Love is a unique way to print your design and prides itself on being affordable, simple and quick for getting your prints to you. This will obviously only be shipped to your home, so it is convenient to not leave your home, but there will be a wait time for a shipped item. But, they do offer 2-3 day shipping for all prints. 

A simple 8×10 poster print on matte paper is $23.00 and a 16×20 print is $29.00. This cost is higher than other printing services, but the quality of this print service is very high. They aim to ship out designs quickly and get your design in your hands quicker, so the speed may make the price worth it for you.

How to print at Prints of Love:

To get started at Prints of Love, you can first choose the Signs/Poster option. This is also where you will start selecting the details for your print. Choose from sizes starting at 8×10 and up to 24×36, and there are 13 total sizes to choose from, which is a much larger selection than other printing services. 

Then, you will select if you’d like it mounted, the quantity, and if you’d like a glossy or matte finish on your print. You’d then upload your design to the site. 

After this you can add it to your cart and get started with completing your purchase!

Local Printers

Wanting something different than above? You can also look to find your own local print-shop that can print out your designs, and support a local business instead.

Printing Multiple Designs on One Page

Want to print more than one design on a page? This is usually for saving paper or for convenience on a home printer.

For example, a you may want to print out two 5″x7″ inch cards on one letter-size sheet of paper versus wasting two sheets.

The above image is an 8.5″x11″ piece of paper with two 5″x7″ cards.

You can select a print setting that will allow you to print multiple per page using Adobe.

Final Thoughts

Printing a digital download from Etsy is something you can do conveniently at home, or easily print at one of the many options that we shared. Knowing how to print different kinds of products will allow you to get the best quality for your needs.

Want to learn how to create your own printables to sell on Etsy? Learn how to sell digital downloads on Etsy!

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