From Screen to Frame: How to Print and Display Your Comic Gift

The digital version of your comic is great for sharing instantly. The physical version is what ends up on a wall.

This guide covers everything after the download: how to print your comic, how to frame it, and how to display it in a way that does justice to the illustration.

Your Digital Files Explained

When you download your comic from MyComicGift, you receive high-resolution JPEG files — one for the cover, one for the storyboard.

Resolution: The files are produced at print-ready resolution, suitable for A4 (210 × 297mm) and A3 (297 × 420mm) prints. Going larger than A3 will result in visible quality loss at close range.

Format: JPEG, which is compatible with virtually every print service and home printer.

Colour profile: The files are produced in sRGB, which is the standard for digital display and most consumer print services. If you're using a professional print service with specific colour profile requirements, they'll be able to handle the conversion.

Printing Options

Order a Print From MyComicGift

The simplest option. MyComicGift's print service handles the file preparation, paper selection, and shipping. The prints are produced on quality art paper with colour-accurate printing.

Best for: Gifts being given in person, situations where you want the print to arrive as a finished piece ready to frame, or where you're not confident about local print quality.

Delivery time: Typically 5–10 business days depending on location.

Print at Home

Home printing works if you have a printer capable of A4 or A3 output with good colour accuracy. Most standard inkjet printers handle A4 without issue.

Paper choice matters. Standard copy paper produces a flat, low-contrast result. For a print you'll want to display, use:

• Photo paper (glossy or satin): Rich colours, high contrast. Glossy shows fingerprints; satin is the better choice for display pieces.
• Matte photo paper: Softer finish, no glare. Works well for the ligne claire style, which has a lot of white space.
• Fine art paper (if your printer supports it): The highest quality option. 200–300gsm paper produces a print with real tactile quality.

Use a Local or Online Print Shop

Most high-street print shops and photo labs offer A4 and A3 printing from digital files. Online services (Photobox, Snapfish, printed.com, Vistaprint) offer more options including canvas prints, metallic paper, and large-format output.

For the best result: Request "fine art giclee print" or "photo print on premium satin paper" rather than a standard document print. The paper and ink quality make a significant difference.

Framing Your Comic

A good frame makes the difference between a print and a piece of displayed art.

Standard frame sizes that work:

• A4 (210 × 297mm) — widely available, works for the cover alone or a single panel
• A3 (297 × 420mm) — better for the full storyboard, fits standard frames
• 30 × 40cm — slightly non-standard but widely available, especially at IKEA (RIBBA frame)
• 50 × 70cm — large format for a statement piece

Frame styles that complement ligne claire illustration:

The clean lines and flat colours of the ligne claire style work well with:

• Simple black frames — classic, high contrast, lets the illustration speak
• White or light wood frames — softer, works well in modern interiors
• Thin metal frames — contemporary, works well with the comic's graphic quality

Avoid ornate or heavily decorative frames, which compete with the illustration rather than complementing it.

Mounting options:

• Mounted (with a white card border): Makes the print look more considered and adds breathing room around the image. Recommended for A4 prints in A3 frames.
• Full bleed (print fills the frame): Works for larger formats where the illustration itself has enough internal space.

Display Ideas

Cover and storyboard together: The two pieces are designed to be displayed as a pair — the cover to the left, the storyboard to the right. Matching frames, aligned at the centre, with a small gap between them.

Cover alone as a statement piece: The comic cover works as a standalone piece of art, framed at A3 or larger. The ligne claire style is bold enough to anchor a wall.

Gallery wall with other art: Comics sit well in gallery walls alongside photographs and other prints. The illustration style creates an interesting contrast with photography.

On a desk or shelf: A smaller A4 framed print on a desk or bookshelf is a good option for a gift you're not sure about displaying on a wall. It's visible but not a commitment.

Which Format to Display

The choice between displaying the cover, the storyboard, or both depends on the space and the preference of the recipient:

The cover is the single most visually striking image — the hero prominently featured, a clear title, the full colour palette of the illustration. This is the piece for a large empty wall.

The storyboard tells the story — nine panels that reward closer inspection, with more detail and narrative to discover. This is the piece for a space where people spend time and look at things closely.

Both together gives you the complete comic: the cover sets the scene, the storyboard tells the story. The ideal display if the wall space allows it.

Haven't created your comic yet? Start with what is a personalised comic gift or go straight to the editor to create yours.