Learn About Digitization & Licensing

Every watercolor begins as an expertly hand painted original. Sometimes, that is all you need, but if you’re interested in taking your piece of art to use for an event, marketing, or a logo, there are additional steps beyond the initial commission. Digitization and licensing are those important steps that turn the new artwork into a useful, print ready asset.

For a wedding or event: invitations, signage, dance floors, favors, and more.
For marketing: social media and website posts, fliers, and emails.
For a new logo: complete release of copyright to use as part of your brand’s digital assets on everything.

Here’s what you need to know to get the most from your custom piece.

Your art is hand made, the digitization is too:

• Each original watercolor is scanned at 300 DPI (or higher upon request). These “dots per inch” is the industry standard for high quality prints. This resolution keeps color richness and detail crisp for both small items (invitations, place cards) and larger formats (signage, bar wraps, dance floors). A rule of thumb is to paint as close to the largest intended use, but sometimes that’s not feasible. Need something dance floor size? Paint at least an 8x10 and Alexa will digitize at a higher 600+ dpi. Or ask your stationer/designer to convert your PNG to a vectorized SVG for seamless resizing.

• The artist personally reviews and retouches the scanned file. This is not an automated cleanup nor an AI click and fix tool. Alexa removes stray marks, corrects & matches colors, and preserves the integrity and texture of the original watercolor artwork while making it print ready for your needs.

• Final delivery is a transparent PNG file. Transparency allows seamless placement over different backgrounds, essential for creative invitation layouts, overlaying on signage, or printing on colored items.

• Your license information will be included on your final file. Please use this version when sending to printers. They may crop the text out for your printing needs.

Common wedding uses:

• Wedding invitations and RSVP cards

• Welcome and bar signage

• Dance floor decals and seating chart walls

• Favors, programs, and thank you cards

• Digital elements for websites and social media (with appropriate licensing, see below)

Licensing or what you’re allowed to do with your art:

When you receive your artwork from Alexa’s Illustrations, licensing defines how that file may be used. The standard license is tailored for events and gives you practical, event focused permissions with simple limits.

Standard Event License:

• Art Use Terms & License: Original art created by artist, Alexa's Illustrations. Artist owns the copyright of the piece(s & ASSOCIATED DRAFTS). Permission for single personal event use *YOUR NAME AND EVENT TYPE* up to and not beyond *YOUR EVENT DATE*. Not intended for replication, merchandising, commercial branding, distributing as own work, or web publishing. This license is NON exclusive. Subsequent use or use beyond this license requires additional license and associated fees.

• Artist Credit: Please include Alexa's Illustrations as part of your event's vendor team and credit the artist as applicable on social media and publications (@Alexasillustrations on IG, www.alexasillustrations.com).

What This Means:

• You are expected to share the licensing information with every vendor that receives the file. This protects the integrity of the asset and maintains the artist’s copyright.

• Permission to send the provided file to printers and vendors to replicate for all wedding related physical items: invitations, signage, menus, favors, and on site decor. Have a question about what’s covered? Please ask the artist.

• License is limited to use within your engagement window and expires after your event date. That means the file can be used for production tied to your event but not for indefinite commercial distribution or resale.

• The license covers reproduction for your private wedding event only. It does not grant rights for broader commercial use or resale by third parties.

• Your license information will be included on your final file. Please use this version when sending to printers. They may crop the text out for your printing needs.

Upgrades and Additional Permissions:
If you need rights beyond the standard event license, the following upgrades are available for an associated fee:

• Exclusivity upgrade: Prevents the same artwork from being licensed to another client until after your event. Best for couples who want a truly one of a kind piece reserved for their event. May not be feasible for non custom pieces, as many existing licenses are in place at all times.

• Web publishing license: You will receive a new “for web” version of the piece that includes the artist’s signature and a file at 72 dpi for web publishing. Permits use of the artwork on websites, blogs, social media, and digital save the dates beyond strictly private event usage. Restricted to your personal wedding website. Please do not publish the original 300 dpi unsigned version online in any capacity. This allows for art theft and is a violation of the license.

How to Request Prints and Use Files with Vendors:

• Provide the 300 DPI PNG to your printer or designer. If they request another format (PDF, TIFF, or a vector), discuss options: some jobs may require conversion or additional retouching at an extra cost and may be limited by the programs Alexa’s Illustrations has available.

• Communicate intended final size up front. Large format printing (banners, backdrops) and specialty items (metals, vinyl, fabric) may have specific file requirements or color profiles.

• If your vendor requests direct licensing clearance, forward them the license terms or have them contact Alexa’s Illustrations for confirmation.

Preservation, Color, and Printing Tips:

• Colors on screen can differ from printed results. Ask your printer for a proof or color match swatch when color fidelity is critical (invitations, branded signage). Provide specific CMYK or hex codes to Alexa to ensure colors are matched as part of the digitization process.

• For very large prints, confirm resolution needs. While 300 DPI is standard for most use, some very large prints viewed from afar can use scaled workflows. Your printer can advise.

Credit the Artist:
Now that you know all the work that goes into making your artwork, artist credit is an invaluable way to say thank you, and is stated as part of your art use license.