How to Scan Your Art to Turn Into Prints & Stickers

Updated February 2026

Watercolor paintings, acrylic paintings, and gouache illustrations are a beautiful medium that can be enjoyed in a number of different forms. But turning it into a print or sticker can be tricky! If you have completed a painting that you would like to share with others or turn into a product, scanning your painting is an important first step. In this article, I will walk you through the process of scanning your art to turn them into prints and stickers.

Step 1: Choose the Right Scanner

The first step in the process is to choose the right scanner for your artwork. It is important to select a scanner that is designed for fine art and has a high resolution capability. A high-quality flatbed scanner with a maximum resolution of at least 2400 dpi is ideal for this purpose.

I’ve recently upgraded my scanner to Canon CanoScan Lide 400, and I love it! It has a maximum 4800 dpi optical resolution which suits all of my scanning and printing needs. It has excellent sharpness for artwork and paintings, and is dual purpose for document scanning for when I need to do that too. It did not require any additional apps to use, and works with both PCs and Macs.

If you want to take it a step further, consider the Epson Perfection V850 Pro. It's the scanner that most professional artists, surface designers, and print shops use when you need high-resolution (6400 DPI!!!) art scanning. It has excellent color depth and tonal accuracy, which is sooooo critical for paintings and other textured work. Basically your scan is nearly print ready.

All of these perks come with a price tag though, as this scanner will run you about $1,500. So, I'd really only suggest this if you're looking for: 

• Fine art reproduction
• Print-ready scans
• Licensing and archival quality
• Don't plan on rebuying a scanner within 2 years
• Have the budget and/or selling products that will offset this cost

Step 2: Prepare Your Painting

Before you begin scanning, it is important to properly prepare your painting. Ensure that the painting is clean and free of any dust or debris. If necessary, gently brush the surface of the painting to remove any loose particles.

Step 3: Scan the Painting

Place the painting on the scanner and select the highest resolution setting available. Be sure to scan the painting in color, as this will capture the true beauty and vibrancy of your painting or illustration.

Step 4: Adjust the Image Settings

After scanning, you will need to adjust the image settings to ensure that the scanned image is accurate and clear. Adjust the brightness and contrast settings as needed, and consider cropping the image to remove any large white spaces or borders.

Step 5: Remove the White Background

Once you have scanned and adjusted the image, you may want to remove the white background around the painting to make it suitable for stickers. This process can be done using image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop.

To do this, simply select the "magic wand" tool and click on the white area surrounding the painting. This will select the background, which can then be deleted or filled with a transparent layer. This will result in a clean image of just the painting, which can be used to create custom stickers or other products. It's important to note that removing the white background may impact the overall quality of the image, so be sure to adjust the image settings as necessary to maintain the best possible image quality.

Step 6: Save the Image

Once you have adjusted the image settings, save the scanned image in a format that is suitable for printing without any added background, .PNG

Step 7: Print the Image

With your scanned image saved, you can now print it as a poster, canvas, or on any other printing material you choose.

If you are planning to create stickers, print the image onto a vinyl or adhesive material. If you’re curious about which products I use to make my stickers read this blog: Materials You Need to Make Waterproof Vinyl Stickers at Home.

If you’d rather have a third party print the stickers for you, I highly recommend Keenslaps! You can read my full review of my experience working with Keenslaps Stickers in this article. Also, if you decide to purchase stickers from Keenslaps, use promo code KIMPOSED to get 15% off your purchase!

Step 8: Enjoy Your Creation!

You have now successfully scanned your watercolor painting and turned it into a print or sticker. Enjoy your creation and share it with others!

In conclusion, scanning your paintings and illustrations is a straightforward process that allows you to preserve and share your artwork with others. By following these steps, you can turn your unique artwork into beautiful prints and stickers that you (and your friends!) can enjoy for years to come.

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