How to Turn Your Artwork into Printable Coloring Pages

Want to turn your drawings into fun and shareable coloring pages? Whether you’re a digital artist, doodler, or small shop owner, learn how to transform your original artwork into printable coloring pages that can be sold, gifted, or downloaded for free.

7/6/20252 min read

Coloring pages are wildly popular for kids, adults, teachers, and DIYers alike—and you don’t need to be a professional illustrator to create them! If you’ve ever wanted to turn your sketches or digital designs into printable coloring sheets, you’re in the right place.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to create, clean up, format, and share your own printable coloring pages.

🎨 Step 1: Start with Clean Line Art

To make a successful coloring page, you need bold, black outlines with minimal or no shading.

You can:

  • Draw by hand on white paper using a fine-tip black pen, then scan it

  • Draw digitally using apps like Procreate, Adobe Fresco, or Illustrator with a black brush on a white canvas

🖌 Tip: Keep designs open and spacious—especially for younger colorers.

🧽 Step 2: Clean and Convert the Image

If your drawing is on paper:

  • Scan it at 300 DPI resolution

  • Use a program like Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva to increase contrast and clean smudges

  • Erase any stray marks or unwanted shadows

If it's already digital:

  • Double-check that lines are solid black (#000000)

  • Ensure your background is pure white for print clarity

🖼 Step 3: Set Up a Printable Page Layout

Use an 8.5 x 11 inch canvas or A4 (standard printable paper sizes). Center your artwork and leave a small margin on all sides for printing ease.

Optional: Add a simple frame or border to make the page feel finished.

💾 Step 4: Export Your Coloring Page

Save your final coloring page as:

  • PDF for printable downloads or multi-page booklets

  • PNG for single-page previews or transparent background use

  • JPG for simple one-page downloads with small file size

📁 File Tip: Always export at 300 DPI for crisp, clean print quality.

🛍 Step 5: Share or Sell Your Pages

You can now:

  • Print at home for personal use

  • Upload as a freebie or lead magnet on your blog

  • List for sale on Etsy, Gumroad, or your own Shopify store

  • Compile into a full coloring book PDF for print-on-demand services like KDP or Lulu

💡 Don’t forget to include a terms of use note if your coloring pages are for personal, educational, or commercial use.

📈 Bonus Tips for Selling Coloring Pages
  • Use keywords like: “printable coloring pages,” “coloring sheets for kids,” “adult coloring book PDF,” or “line art coloring download”

  • Add engaging mockup images to your listings using platforms like Placeit or Canva

  • Offer themed bundles (e.g., animals, holidays, mindfulness) to increase value

✅ Final Thoughts

Turning your artwork into printable coloring pages is a fun, low-cost way to share your creativity with the world. Whether you're crafting for kids, designing for relaxation, or building a passive income stream—this process is easy, scalable, and full of creative potential.