Engineer prints. I just can’t get enough.
If you need big art on a budget, you can’t beat these.
How To Get Big Art with Engineer Prints:
Step 1: Choose Photos and Edit
Choose some of your favourite photos. I recommend using professional pictures, as that way you know they will be high resolution enough to blow up to this large size.
These ones I used were by my friend and local Ottawa photographer Meg Dowd.
If your photos are in colour, edit them to black and white using any photo editing software (most places who do engineer prints will only offer black and white printing).
Step 2: Print at Staples Copy & Print
Head over to your local Staples Copy & Print Centre and have them printed as “Engineer Prints”. This is what engineers use to print out blueprints for homes and other buildings. The are printed on regular paper – not photo paper, so they are very thin – but you totally don’t notice once they are framed.
The best part is that they are only $3 to print! Can’t beat that.
Step 3: Frame
Frame them in the biggest size of IKEA Ribba frames (61 x 91 cm) and you’re golden.
I’ve framed them in both black and white frames, and both look good! It’s up to you whether you want to use the photo mat or not – the engineer print takes up the entire space (with a small white trim) so just choose which look you like best.
Here’s a pic of some more engineer prints I have going up our stairs (white frames this time)…
And we also used them in our bedroom makeover, above the dresser.
Clearly I can’t get enough!
Have you tried this budget-friendly art trick in your own home?
Want more?
– How to Paint an Abstract Canvas Painting (that looks amazing!)