Printing the CarterVerse Way: Where Digital Vision Meets Real-World Craft

Written By Jon Carter

One of the biggest questions I get is, “Do you print everything yourself?”

The short answer: no — and that’s intentional.

CarterVerse art is designed, proofed, and color-controlled in my studio, but most pieces are printed and drop-shipped by professional print partners who specialize in the same level of precision and finish I’d demand from myself.

Only my high-end, custom commissions are finished in-house — the kind that need personal handling, texture work, or additional framing elements.

That balance lets me keep the CarterVerse standard consistent at every scale.

Why I Partner Instead of Print Everything Myself

Running large-format or specialty printers isn’t just expensive — it’s a full-time operation.

I’ve chosen instead to partner with a few trusted production studios I’ve personally visited and vetted. I’ve seen their color consistency, substrate options, and finishing process firsthand.

These are not anonymous print-on-demand companies — they’re teams that understand art.

This partnership approach allows me to:

  • Offer museum-quality metal, acrylic, and fine-art paper prints without the overhead.

  • Maintain fast, reliable fulfillment for collectors around the world.

  • Keep focus where it belongs — on creation, not calibration.

Each partner prints to my specifications — ICC profiles, tonal balance, and finish instructions are pre-dialed so every CarterVerse piece arrives exactly as I intended.

When I Handle the Printing Myself

There’s still a part of the process that never leaves my hands.

I maintain a small, professional setup in my studio — not for volume, but for precision testing and limited editions.

Epson SureColor P900

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I use this printer for:

  • Proofing color accuracy before any major release.

  • Producing small art prints or stickers that don’t require lab fulfillment.

  • Creating samples to evaluate new materials or finishes.

Having this setup lets me verify that my digital files will translate perfectly when scaled up by my partners. If it looks right on the P900, it’ll look right at full size.

The Finishing Work: Reserved for the Custom Few

Only the high-end, custom CarterVerse pieces are fully finished in my studio.

These are the one-of-a-kind works that demand extra care — additional mounting, hand-applied coatings, or bespoke packaging.

In those cases, I handle:

Those finishing steps make every high-end CarterVerse piece unmistakably personal — the difference between “printed art” and “crafted art.”

Drop-Shipping Without Compromise

For everything else — limited runs, open editions, and standard orders — my partners handle printing, packaging, and direct delivery.

That means collectors get their art faster and safer, without anything sitting in a middle warehouse or losing quality control.

Because I’ve worked with these same production partners for years, I know exactly what their output looks like.

Every file I send has already been proofed and checked against my in-house samples.

There are no surprises — just consistency.

The CarterVerse Workflow

  1. Design & finalize the digital piece in Procreate or Pixelmator.

  2. Proof & adjust colors using the Epson SureColor P900.

  3. Send to verified print partner for large or specialty production.

  4. Perform studio finishing only on top-tier commissions.

  5. Drop-ship directly from trusted labs to collectors.

This hybrid workflow gives me the best of both worlds — scalability without losing authenticity.

What This Means for Collectors

When you order from CarterVerse, you’re not getting a mass-produced poster.

You’re getting a piece that’s been color-verified, quality-checked, and finished through a process built for longevity.

Whether it ships directly from one of my labs or leaves my studio bench by hand, every CarterVerse work passes through a level of control that guarantees it looks as bold, bright, and intentional as it did on my screen.

Recommended Tools of My Trade

Final Thoughts

CarterVerse isn’t just about making art — it’s about respecting the craft from start to finish.

By blending trusted production partners with hands-on finishing where it matters most, I keep every piece true to its origin while making sure it reaches collectors with the quality it deserves.

This approach scales without compromise — exactly how I like it.

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Jon Carter