FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is Artzip?

Artzip is the easiest way for artists to create hi-res, print quality images of their art.

Use the simple web app to capture photos of your artwork. After uploading your photos, Artzip utilizes custom image technology to stitch photos together creating a high PPI (pixels per inch) image.

Why do I need to upload detail photos?

The most frequent reason we see a failed Zip is that the artist did not upload detail shots of all areas of the artwork. The detail photos of the artwork are the key to creating your hi-res image. We can’t send you a hi-res image of your art if you don’t send us images of your whole painting!

Can I make prints that are larger than my painting?

Yes, with a good image, you can make prints that are larger than your artwork. This depends on the size you’d like to print and the PPI of your zip. Use the Print Size Calculator to calculate how large you are able to print your image.

What is PPI?

The first step to understanding how to print high-quality photos is understanding pixels per inch (PPI). The pixels on your digital camera or computer screen get converted into dots on the printed photo.The more pixels you have per inch, your photos will be sharper. A general rule of thumb is to try to have a PPI of between 150 and 300.

You can learn more by visiting our PPI guide here.

What size artwork can I photograph with Artzip?

Any size artwork can be photographed and zipped. We’ve seen people make zips of murals up to 10' high and 30' long. The PPI of the image will depend on how close your camera is to the artwork and how many detail photos you take. The ideal-sized artwork is 48” or less.

What type of file will I receive?

The zip is a TIFF file.

If you edit the zip before downloading, the edited version of your zip will be downloaded as a PNG file. Both TIFF files and PNG files are excellent files with which to make prints.

Can I create a zip using my computer?

Yes, you can upload your images and create a zip using a computer with internet access.

Does Artzip guarantee color accuracy?

Due to the many variables affecting color accuracy (lighting, varying cameras, screen viewing accuracy and brightness, printer calibration, etc.), we cannot guarantee color accuracy; however, we are currently working on a solution.

Is Artzip easy?

Yes, Artzip is easy!

There is a small learning curve but once you get the hang of shooting the art correctly, you’ll be finished in minutes. When you upload good photos, you get a fantastic Zip!

How much does it cost?

Pay $25 to unlock your Zip and remove the watermark.
You then have unlimited downloads of that image, and can send the image to your preferred printer. We recommend creating a few Zips of the same artwork in one session to ensure you've gotten it right, then choose and purchase your most successful Zip.

What’s the big deal?

Before Artzip, you had to hire a professional photographer to create a high-resolution image (which you need in order to make good fine art prints of your art). With Artzip, you can shoot a handful of detail shots on your smartphone and upload them to the Artzip website, then Artzip zips the images together to create a high-res image of your artwork…and voila!

What’s a Zip?

A Zip is the high-resolution image that you receive when we zip your segment photos (detail shots) together.

What's a Reference Photo?

A reference photo is an image of the entire artwork. Having this image ensures that the detail photos are zipped together in the correct order.

What Are Detail Photos?

Detail photos are close-up photos that capture the details of every area of the artwork. These close-up photos then get zipped together to form the high-res image.

Good Detail Photos = A Good Zip

Photographing Art

How should I light my artwork?

Even lighting across the face of the painting is recommended.
Daylight works very well (outside on an overcast day or in the shade on a sunny day).
If shooting indoors, you want to use daylight bulbs, not soft white. Soft white bulbs will make your photos look yellowish.
Brighter light is better. If the light is not bright enough, the photo may be out of focus or grainy.
If the paint is glossy, an indoor lighting system with polarized film is a good solution for removing glare. This is more labor-intensive but relatively easy once you set it up.
If you want to emphasize the thickness of the paint, place the lights above the painting pointing down. This will mimic the lighting in which most artwork is viewed, and when you print the image, the viewer will see the shadows created by the texture as if they are really there.

To watch a video illustrating the DIY four-point lighting system and polarized film, click here.

Troubleshooting

How can I edit my zip?

You are able to crop and edit your zip further once you purchase your zip and remove the watermark.

My Zip didn’t turn out correctly

Here’s a list of possible reasons your zip wasn’t perfect. Take a look, then reshoot and try a new zip. Or contact us and we’ll look into it for you.

You missed an area of your artwork when shooting your detail photos. We need images of every inch of your artwork.
One or more of your photos were out of focus
Differing distances in your detail shots. Try to shoot all of your detail images from approximately the same distance from your artwork.
If your artwork is on paper that is warped, this may cause a slight error. Make sure your artwork is as flat as possible.

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Is it a problem if my phone number is not a USA number?

That’s not a problem! When a Zip is completed, we like to give you the option to receive a text notification that it’s ready. Unfortunately, that feature is not supported outside the USA, so we’ll email you instead.

Why is my zip low-res?

Your camera is too far away from the artwork. Move closer and reshoot your detail images. The closer the camera is to the artwork, the higher the resolution will be.

My zip is grainy or out of focus.

You may be shooting in low light, and you should shoot in brighter light for your camera to be able to take in more data. Brighter light allows your camera to capture clearer photos.

Error message when downloading my zip to my phone.

Often the image can be too large for a phone to handle. We recommend downloading your zip on a computer.

What file types can I upload?

We allow uploading JPEG, TIFF, HEIC, and PNG files. If you would like to upload RAW files, please get in touch with us, and we can help you create a Zip using your RAW files.

The proportions are wrong when I crop my Reference Photo

Sometimes, the proportions of the cropped image become skewed (tall and narrow or short and wide). This is happening because the precise corners of the artwork are difficult to detect even though it seems like you are placing the target selectors on the corners. To fix this yourself, place the target selectors just inside the corners of your artwork. Also, you may email us your Reference Photo, and we will crop it to the exact corners for you, then email you the cropped image so you can use it to start your zip.

Making Prints

What is the correct resolution for making prints the same size as my artwork?

300 ppi is best. However, any printer will agree that 150 ppi (pixels per inch) or higher will make a great print. If you have any questions about what size you can print your zip, input the dimensions into the Print Size Calculator.

What is the Print Size Calculator (PSC)?

This tool tells you what size you can print of your image. Enter the dimensions you would like your print to be, and the PSC will calculate what the PPI will be at those dimensions. Or you can input the PPI you want your image to be, and the PSC will calculate what the dimensions of your print will be.

Can I make a zip of a large mural and get a good print?

Yes, but the print will most likely need to be smaller than the mural itself.

When shooting a massive artwork the size of a mural, sometimes the PPI can seem low, but that is OK. Go to the Print Size Calculator and enter the dimensions that you would like the print to be. Then see the PPI that is calculated for a print that size. If the resolution is higher than 150 PPI, your print will look great.

For example, say the mural is 15’ x30’ and the PPI of the zip is 52. You want to make a print measuring 48”h x 96”. You can enter 48” x 96” in the Print Size Calculator, which will calculate the resolution at the new dimensions. OR you can enter the desired PPI and see the calculated dimensions at which you can make a print.