Printing your artist documents well
A label on thin paper warps at the first hanging; a certificate on office paper looks like a photocopy. The right paper and the right printer change everything — no professional equipment needed.
The right paper for each document
Paper is measured in gsm: 80 gsm is office paper; 200 gsm is almost card. Each document has its weight.
Matte, 160 to 200 gsm
Stiff enough to stay flat on the wall, matte to remain legible under spotlights — glossy paper reflects the lighting. The "matte photo paper" packs (180-200 gsm) work perfectly. For A6 labels (4 per sheet), 200 gsm micro-perforated card stock even avoids cutting: they snap apart by hand.
Adhesive sheets or glued paper
Comfort option: adhesive label sheets matching the chosen layout — check the box: “105 × 74 mm, 8 per sheet” for the standard format, “45.7 × 25.4 mm, 40 per sheet” for inventory mini-labels. Print at 100% (actual size) and test one sheet, especially for 40 per page. Otherwise, 100-120 gsm paper attached with pH-neutral adhesive — never household tape.
120 to 160 gsm, smooth and matte
A certificate carries a photo of the artwork and a verification QR: smooth ivory or natural-white paper, matte to satin, 120 to 160 gsm, keeps the photo crisp and the QR readable. Ivory laid paper makes a gorgeous “noble document” — best kept for QR codes that aren't too small, with pigment ink.
80-100 gsm — or the print shop
Working documents (artwork lists, consignment notes) print on standard paper. For a bound catalogue meant for galleries, an online printer does better than a desktop printer.
Finding the right pre-cut sheets
Our PDF templates are aligned to the millimetre with supplies sold everywhere — Amazon, stationers, office supplies. You print at home at 100%. Depending on the document: a sheet to detach, nice paper to cut, or an adhesive label sheet.
Always A4
Never US Letter, even from international sellers.
The number per sheet
This is the real criterion: 10 cards, or 8 / 4 / 2 / 40 labels depending on the document.
The right material
Card to detach, paper to cut or adhesive: it changes with what you print.
Business cards
Detach · non-adhesive85 × 54 mm · 10 per sheet
Card stock you snap off cleanly, never adhesive. For two-sided cards, the box must say “printable on both sides”.
Exhibition labels
On the wall · non-adhesiveAn exhibition label stands on the wall: it needs rigid matte paper, never adhesive. Two ways to get there.
Ready to detach · small format
Business-card size (85 × 54 mm)
A sheet of business cards to detach makes a small rigid label, ready in one clean snap.
Most versatile · any format
Nice paper + cutting
Print on thick matte paper (160 gsm), keep the “Cut lines” option ticked in the form, then cut with a guillotine. Works for every format.
Authenticity certificate
Full A4 · fine paperFull A4 · no cutting
The certificate carries a photo, a QR code and small text. Safest: smooth ivory paper, matte to satin, 160 gsm, inkjet — the QR stays sharp, the photo stands out. For a “noble document” feel, ivory laid paper (e.g. Lalo) is gorgeous; then prefer pigment ink, set “thick paper” and check the QR scans. Use 120 gsm if your printer struggles with thick stock.
Back labels & inventory
AdhesiveHere adhesive is the right material: the label sticks to the back of the artwork and stays there.
A7
105 × 74 mm · 8 per sheet
A6
105 × 148 mm · 4 per sheet
A5
210 × 148 mm · 2 per sheet
Mini QR inventory labels
45.7 × 25.4 mm · 40 per sheet
Tap a reference to copy it, then paste it into Amazon or your online stationer's search. “Or equivalent” is always fine.
Check on the box
The name alone is not enough: two boxes with the same name can have different cuts. Aim for A4, the exact size, the number per sheet and printer compatibility. Two-sided: “printable on both sides”.
Do not buy
Adhesive for an exhibition label, plain A4 paper for a business card, or any product that doesn't state the number per sheet.
Laser or inkjet: what changes
Both work — with one nuance that matters for documents meant to last.
Laser: toner doesn't fear water
Toner is heat-fused: it won't smudge with humidity or a damp finger. For a back label that will live on the work for years — storage, transport, handling — it is the safe choice.
Inkjet: beware of humidity
Standard dye inks run on contact with water. If you print inkjet, let pages dry for a few minutes before handling, and prefer pigment inks when your printer offers them — they hold up far better.
No reliable printer at hand? Any copy shop prints your PDF in laser on heavy paper, for a few cents per page.
Handing the PDF to a professional
MycreArt PDFs are A4-calibrated: they go to the printer as they are.
The simple option
USB stick or email, laser printing on matte 160-200 gsm paper. Ask for guillotine cutting for the labels: clean edges make the difference.
For durable labels
For exhibition labels you reuse from show to show, online printers offer rigid supports — light and affordable PVC, or Dibond for sturdiness.
Three instructions to give
Print at 100% ("actual size", never "fit to page"), matte paper, no added margins. The PDF already handles the layout — any adjustment breaks it.
The three checks that avoid waste
Thirty seconds that save a whole pack of paper.
Print at actual size
In the print dialog, choose "100%" or "actual size". The "fit to page" option shrinks everything: smaller labels, shifted cutting marks.
Test a QR code
Print one page, scan a code with your phone. A QR that is sharp on screen can become unreadable when poorly printed — better to know before sticking fifty labels.
Test one sheet
Before a run, print one page: check a QR code, the marks and the paper orientation. On plain paper, cut with a metal ruler or guillotine; scissors always show.
What artists ask
Matte paper, 160 to 200 gsm: stiff enough to stay flat once mounted, with no glare under exhibition lighting. The "matte photo paper" packs sold for desktop printers work very well. Below 120 gsm the label warps; glossy, it reflects the spotlights.
Yes for exhibition labels and documents handed over in person. For back labels, which will live on the work for years, laser is safer: toner doesn't run with humidity, unlike standard inkjet dye inks. Otherwise, a quick trip to the copy shop settles it.
On 120-160 gsm natural white or ivory paper, laser or pigment inkjet. The MycreArt certificate already includes its verification QR code: print at actual size and test one scan. No need to laminate — a sleeve protects the document without sealing it.
Any copy shop or repro service prints a PDF in laser on heavy paper — USB stick or email. Specify: print at 100%, matte 160-200 gsm paper for exhibition labels. Expect a few cents to a euro per page depending on the paper.
Yes — that's the durable version. Online printers print your PDF on PVC or Dibond: the label can be reused from exhibition to exhibition without wear. PVC is the most affordable for occasional use; Dibond, stiffer, is built to last.
Comfort option: pre-cut business card sheets, from stationery shops or online — check that the box says “85 × 54 mm, 10 cards per sheet”, the format of the MycreArt PDF. Print at 100% (actual size) and test one sheet before the run. For rigid cards, a copy shop prints the same page on heavy paper with a clean cut.
Related guides
The documents to print — and how to prepare them.
Exhibition labels
Exhibition labels with QR codes, generated from your inventory.
What to put on the back of a painting
The identification label that follows the work all its life.
The certificate of authenticity
The verifiable document that backs every sale.
PDF catalogues
Professional portfolios ready to send to galleries.
Your documents are already print-ready
Exhibition labels, back labels, certificates: A4-calibrated PDFs, generated from your inventory.