How to print personalised Star Map by yourself?

Who is it useful for?

If you are on this page, you probably purchased one of our gorgeous personalized Star Maps as a last-minute gift option, or perhaps someone sent it to you as a gift. That's great, but now your big question is, "How do I print it so it looks as stunning as on the website's pictures?". Well, don't worry, this article will answer all your questions about where to get the best possible print, how to frame it, and, hopefully, will address all the concerns regarding this subject.

To make this information as useful as possible, we tried to consider all the possible printing approaches and rank them by convenience. We will tell you what paper to use, what instructions to give to a manager at your local printing shop, as well as share a couple of services that allow you to get your Star Map printed and delivered without leaving your house.

What paper should I use to achieve excellent quality?

After getting over 10,000 Star Maps of various sizes printed (experimenting with different techniques, materials, approaches), we learned a few lessons. But it all boils down to one simple thing: you have to use the best paper to achieve outstanding quality. We found out that glossy art paper ranging from 240 GSM to 300 GSM makes it look bright and add unique, deep coloration. However, you can also use matte paper (same GSM range), but it will take away the contrast and brightness.

Where can I print my digital Star Map?

There are a variety of options you can consider. Here are some of them:

• In your local print shop. Do a quick google search to find a printing shop (Google search these terms: "printing store near me," "printing shop near me," "print poster near me"). Pick one with the best reviews and head over there. In the store, tell the printing specialist (or sales manager) that you would like to print a poster on good quality, glossy paper (ideally ranging 240-300 GSM). If they don't have glossy paper available, you can replace it with thick matte paper (same GSM range). Ask them to print your poster in A3 format (11.7 x 16.5 inches) with 300 DPI.
• At home or your office. If you have access to a good printer (for example, HP OfficeJet Pro 7740) that can print in A3 format using one of the listed papers above, feel free to do it at home. Set the DPI to 300 and set sizes A3 size (11.7 x 16.5 inches) to get the best results. You can print even bigger formats, but the DPI will drop, which ultimately affects the print quality.
• At Printful or any other print-on-demand service. In case you don't want to go outside of the house and have a couple of extra dollars to spend, you can use one of the print-on-demand websites. We highly recommend using Printful as they deliver all over the world and use decent-quality materials. We used to work with them in the past and can vouch for them. From their product catalog, pick Premium Luster Photo Paper Poster (in), select size 12x16, upload your image and adjust the positioning if necessary (usually, Printful aligns your design automatically).
• Order a printed version of your personalized Star Map from us. It will save you money and your precious time. We charge way less than Printful and other print-on-demand services. On top of that, you won't have to search for a perfect paper and printing shop, explain everything to its manager, wait in long lines anticipating your Star Map to be printed.

If you still have questions on how to print your custom Star Map, do not hesitate to contact our customer support. We will gladly provide all the information to make sure that your print looks incredible.