Question about Canvas Prints

[song4themoon]

Have any of you ordered them before? Who do you use?

I usually go through MPix for my prints and they offer Canvas too
http://www.mpix.com/productsinfo.aspx?prod=12



However, I saw that Winkflash offers Canvas for quite a bit cheaper and the only difference I see is that they dont put the black cover on the back
http://www.winkflash.com/posters/canvas.asp


Does anyone know how much of a difference in quality there is as far as Canvas goes? Do you think I am safe ordering the one from Shutterfly?

This is for friends of mine, I did their engagement pics and want to get one on Canvas to give them for their wedding.

[nvrl8]

I just ordered this pic from mpix on 16x20 canvas and it is stunning! A friend of mine ordered one from winkflash and it looks awful cheaply done.

http://www.naturalvisionphoto.com/gallery/3364528#187749661

[song4themoon]

thanks, I will order from MPix. I wasnt sure if there is a big difference but coming from someone that has seen both, I am convinced now.

[Banbert]

These guys are offering DWF members a free 16 x 20 print (just have to pay a delivery charge ) and I am gonna give them a bash.

https://www.canvasondemand.com/pro-login.asp

[PixelChick78]

Don't order from www.art-hammer.com (http://www.art-hammer.com)

Mine was awful and cost me $30 shipping to send it back to get a refund ! GRR!

[Banbert]

Got my prints from Canvas on demand today, very decent delivery time all the way from the USA considering I ordered em at the worst possible time of the week (Friday night) ... so basically 6 and half working days from order to delivery to me.

They arrived very well packaged and I am well pleased with the prints.

I got the free 16 x 20 and then got another the same size of a different photo, head shot a child and an upper body of a B&G.

I will take some details shots of the prints, frames, dust cover and hanging equipment when I am back at home tomorrow evening. Will definitely use these guys again.

[TooManyHobbies]

Old thread but I had to put my 2 cents in...

Canvas on Demand is down the street from me, but I've never used them since I do a lot of canvas printing myself and for others. I just got my 44" Epson 9880! It would be great if canvas printing services would tell you what canvas they use and give you a profile for their printer. I've used several types of canvases and there is a world of difference between them. There is basically matte and gloss canvas as well as ink, then you need to look at the brightness, if they use brighteners, is the canvas natural instead of white, is it a high resolution or soft canvas, canvas weight, and what protective coating is put on the canvas if any after printing. All of these factors can greatly affect what you are getting. Of course there is another whole discussion on mounting. I do find that matte canvas holds up better then gloss from scratches and that the longer you weight even after coating before abusing the canvas the better it holds up. Especially if you are doing studio wraps or shipping, so faster is not always better.

[DwightMcCann]

Hey, Hobbies, can you recommend (or even know about) "How To" materials for learning to print and mount canvas prints? I've got an Epson 7800 (and am considering an upgrade) and would like to see what is involved and how difficult. Recommendations for vendors of whatever supplies/equipment are required would also be appreciated.

Old thread but I had to put my 2 cents in...

Canvas on Demand is down the street from me, but I've never used them since I do a lot of canvas printing myself and for others. I just got my 44" Epson 9880! It would be great if canvas printing services would tell you what canvas they use and give you a profile for their printer. I've used several types of canvases and there is a world of difference between them. There is basically matte and gloss canvas as well as ink, then you need to look at the brightness, if they use brighteners, is the canvas natural instead of white, is it a high resolution or soft canvas, canvas weight, and what protective coating is put on the canvas if any after printing. All of these factors can greatly affect what you are getting. Of course there is another whole discussion on mounting. I do find that matte canvas holds up better then gloss from scratches and that the longer you weight even after coating before abusing the canvas the better it holds up. Especially if you are doing studio wraps or shipping, so faster is not always better.

[TooManyHobbies]

Printing on canvas is easy with the 7800 with good results. Just giving you something quick, I wrote this a while back and had to cut a lot of it to have it fit in the space I was allowed. This is what you can't find on the net when looking for advice. Excuse the typos. The stuff in red I could write many more pages on, but this should help. Printing on canvas is like any other artist paper, besides color management, no special settings are needed except for what the manufacturer recommends. It's what you do in PP and mounting that are important.

PRINTING WITH CANVAS

Printing with canvas has become increasingly popular in the last few years with photographers, artists, decorators, set designers, etc. Many professional printers have added this service to their repertoire and new companies specializing in canvas printing are appearing on the scene frequently. The availability of high quality inkjet printers and canvas media has many photographers exploring the potential of displaying photographic work with canvas in a variety of ways.

Why Print Photography on Canvas?

Mounting Costs. Canvas can be mounted conventionally with a frame, glass, and matt, but it doesn’t have to be. The glass or matt or even the frame can be omitted saving costs. One mounting method called a studio wrap is accomplished by stretching the canvas around stretcher boards. Another mounting method is to tapestry mount the canvas with either rods or boards at top and bottom so the piece can be hanged. These methods do not protect the piece as well as glass but use of archival inks and media, protective coatings, and proper care will allow it to last for many years. Cost savings can be dramatic compared to conventional mounting methods allowing the photographer to keep the profits instead of the framer.
Freedom of Size. Studio wrap stretcher boards are available in an infinite combination of sizes in one inch increments allowing freedom from custom matting and framing associated with non-standard print sizes. In addition, it becomes impractical to mount and frame a print once it exceeds matt and glass sheet sizes (~40”x30”), but studio wrap and tapestry mounting are only limited by the canvas media size (~60” x whatever length).
Observer’s Relationship. Many find appealing that the work can be observed with no barrier between the image and the observer. The lack of glass provides less glare distraction and provides a more intimate viewing experience. Highly textured canvas as well as fine art papers can have intermittent contact with the glass causing even more viewer distractions.
Artistic Rendition. Canvas adds a varying degree of texture and artistic feel to a photography making it appear more artistic like a painting.
Gaining Resolution with the Digital Painting of Images. Low resolution images usually have a limit on how large they can be printed even with proper upsizing, but a common artistic technique called smudge painting can be used to transform a photo into a painting while adding resolution from the textures of the brushes used.

Is All Canvas Printing Equal?

Most print services give you little to no information on the products they use. In addition, there are many different canvases, inks, coatings, and stretcher boards to choose from whether you are having a print made or if printing yourself. You should consider the following attributes of the canvas when printing as it can dramatically affect the results: color gamut, Dmax, brightness, tone, opacity, surface coating(gloss, matte, etc.), texture, resolving ability, thickness, weight, acidity, optical brightener additives, water-resistance, available sheet or roll sizes, ink compatibility, and protective coating compatibility.

A Few Useful Tips for Printing with Canvas.

1. When printing a canvas image for later mounting using a studio wrap there are methods for not loosing image edges on the sides of the wrap. Calculate how much edge will be wrapped. Enlarge your image area filling in the new areas with a solid color, a mirror of the image, or a stretched edge of the image.
2. You can push the ink saturation limit further than recommended by the manufacturer when printing to get a near photo quality canvas print, but the durability and resolution may suffer. Even so this can lead to pleasing results.
3. Although the canvas may feel dry soon after coming out of the printer, it gains durability for up to a week after printing and/or coating with protective sealants. Gloss canvas dries slower and tends to be less durable than matte canvas. So give it as much time as you can before mounting.
4. When putting together stretcher boards for studio wrap mounting glue the corners together and use corner clamps while drying to ensure that it is square.
5. When stretching canvas over stretcher boards be careful of humidity changes that can later relax the canvas and cause it to sag on the frame. Wedges can be used to retighten the stretched canvas, but it’s better to get it right the first time. Temporary tacks and a canvas stretcher can help get a tight stretch.
6. When stretching canvas on a studio wrap fold the canvas on the top and bottom edges since usually only the sides are visible when displayed. Although the sides of a studio wrap should be wrapped to the back of the mounting and stapled, you can staple to the top and bottom edges instead of the back allowing you to use a larger frame than you might have been able to for the size canvas used.
7. Sharpie markers or artist paints (better) may be used to touchup a canvas that has been scratched.
8. If your printer has a cutter, cutting canvas is not recommended, but I haven't had any trouble. You can also use a cheneil fabric cutter that is a rotary blade sissor.


Canvas Media Links:
PremierArt: www.premierimagingproducts.com (http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/)
Epson: www.epson.com (http://www.epson.com/)
Fredrix: www.fredrixprintcanvas.com (http://www.fredrixprintcanvas.com/)
Inkpress: www.inkpresspaper.com (http://www.inkpresspaper.com/)
Museo: www.museofineart.com (http://www.museofineart.com/)
Innova: www.innovaart.com (http://www.innovaart.com/)
Clearstar: www.clearstarcorp.com (http://www.clearstarcorp.com/)
Canvas Supplier Links:
www.shadesofpaper.com (http://www.shadesofpaper.com/)
www.atltex.com (http://www.atltex.com/)

[DwightMcCann]

OK, now I need the DVD tutorial and references to books/manuals/online tutorials! :-)

Printing on canvas is easy with the 7800 with good results. Just giving you something quick, I wrote this a while back and had to cut a lot of it to have it fit in the space I was allowed. This is what you can't find on the net when looking for advice. Excuse the typos. The stuff in red I could write many more pages on, but this should help. Printing on canvas is like any other artist paper, besides color management, no special settings are needed except for what the manufacturer recommends. It's what you do in PP and mounting that are important.

PRINTING WITH CANVAS

Printing with canvas has become increasingly popular in the last few years with photographers, artists, decorators, set designers, etc. Many professional printers have added this service to their repertoire and new companies specializing in canvas printing are appearing on the scene frequently. The availability of high quality inkjet printers and canvas media has many photographers exploring the potential of displaying photographic work with canvas in a variety of ways.

Why Print Photography on Canvas?

Mounting Costs. Canvas can be mounted conventionally with a frame, glass, and matt, but it doesn’t have to be. The glass or matt or even the frame can be omitted saving costs. One mounting method called a studio wrap is accomplished by stretching the canvas around stretcher boards. Another mounting method is to tapestry mount the canvas with either rods or boards at top and bottom so the piece can be hanged. These methods do not protect the piece as well as glass but use of archival inks and media, protective coatings, and proper care will allow it to last for many years. Cost savings can be dramatic compared to conventional mounting methods allowing the photographer to keep the profits instead of the framer.
Freedom of Size. Studio wrap stretcher boards are available in an infinite combination of sizes in one inch increments allowing freedom from custom matting and framing associated with non-standard print sizes. In addition, it becomes impractical to mount and frame a print once it exceeds matt and glass sheet sizes (~40”x30”), but studio wrap and tapestry mounting are only limited by the canvas media size (~60” x whatever length).
Observer’s Relationship. Many find appealing that the work can be observed with no barrier between the image and the observer. The lack of glass provides less glare distraction and provides a more intimate viewing experience. Highly textured canvas as well as fine art papers can have intermittent contact with the glass causing even more viewer distractions.
Artistic Rendition. Canvas adds a varying degree of texture and artistic feel to a photography making it appear more artistic like a painting.
Gaining Resolution with the Digital Painting of Images. Low resolution images usually have a limit on how large they can be printed even with proper upsizing, but a common artistic technique called smudge painting can be used to transform a photo into a painting while adding resolution from the textures of the brushes used.

Is All Canvas Printing Equal?

Most print services give you little to no information on the products they use. In addition, there are many different canvases, inks, coatings, and stretcher boards to choose from whether you are having a print made or if printing yourself. You should consider the following attributes of the canvas when printing as it can dramatically affect the results: color gamut, Dmax, brightness, tone, opacity, surface coating(gloss, matte, etc.), texture, resolving ability, thickness, weight, acidity, optical brightener additives, water-resistance, available sheet or roll sizes, ink compatibility, and protective coating compatibility.

A Few Useful Tips for Printing with Canvas.

1. When printing a canvas image for later mounting using a studio wrap there are methods for not loosing image edges on the sides of the wrap. Calculate how much edge will be wrapped. Enlarge your image area filling in the new areas with a solid color, a mirror of the image, or a stretched edge of the image.
2. You can push the ink saturation limit further than recommended by the manufacturer when printing to get a near photo quality canvas print, but the durability and resolution may suffer. Even so this can lead to pleasing results.
3. Although the canvas may feel dry soon after coming out of the printer, it gains durability for up to a week after printing and/or coating with protective sealants. Gloss canvas dries slower and tends to be less durable than matte canvas. So give it as much time as you can before mounting.
4. When putting together stretcher boards for studio wrap mounting glue the corners together and use corner clamps while drying to ensure that it is square.
5. When stretching canvas over stretcher boards be careful of humidity changes that can later relax the canvas and cause it to sag on the frame. Wedges can be used to retighten the stretched canvas, but it’s better to get it right the first time. Temporary tacks and a canvas stretcher can help get a tight stretch.
6. When stretching canvas on a studio wrap fold the canvas on the top and bottom edges since usually only the sides are visible when displayed. Although the sides of a studio wrap should be wrapped to the back of the mounting and stapled, you can staple to the top and bottom edges instead of the back allowing you to use a larger frame than you might have been able to for the size canvas used.
7. Sharpie markers or artist paints (better) may be used to touchup a canvas that has been scratched.
8. If your printer has a cutter, cutting canvas is not recommended, but I haven't had any trouble. You can also use a cheneil fabric cutter that is a rotary blade sissor.


Canvas Media Links:
PremierArt: www.premierimagingproducts.com (http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/)
Epson: www.epson.com (http://www.epson.com/)
Fredrix: www.fredrixprintcanvas.com (http://www.fredrixprintcanvas.com/)
Inkpress: www.inkpresspaper.com (http://www.inkpresspaper.com/)
Museo: www.museofineart.com (http://www.museofineart.com/)
Innova: www.innovaart.com (http://www.innovaart.com/)
Clearstar: www.clearstarcorp.com (http://www.clearstarcorp.com/)
Canvas Supplier Links:
www.shadesofpaper.com (http://www.shadesofpaper.com/)
www.atltex.com (http://www.atltex.com/)

[TooManyHobbies]

OK, now I need the DVD tutorial and references to books/manuals/online tutorials! :-)

It's not that bad. Startoff with some good cheap canvas in 24" - Inkpress matte. Get some stretcher boards, a staple gun (I like electric), and possibly a canvas stretcher at your local art supply store. I use Jerry's Artarama since they are cheap. They have a website too to order online. The boards just click together although you'll need a rubber mallet for the thicker boards (1.5"). You should already have a hole starter, wire cutters, picture wire, and hanger hardware.

Do you use or are you good at PS? If not then don't crop so tight on the images to allow for loss when you wrap. Try B&W or duo tone printing first, since you may be disapointed by color on matte canvas.

[DwightMcCann]

It's not that bad.
How many times have I heard this expression? That's what they say about flu shots! That's what they say about a military tour! That's what they say about dieting! That's what they said about my first marriage!

[DwightMcCann]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTdoPiQElQg is an interesting watch.

[Tragerman]

I got that freebie and am thoroughly impressed with it.
-Mickey

These guys are offering DWF members a free 16 x 20 print (just have to pay a delivery charge ) and I am gonna give them a bash.

https://www.canvasondemand.com/pro-login.asp

[Uhland]

I just ordered this pic from mpix on 16x20 canvas and it is stunning! A friend of mine ordered one from winkflash and it looks awful cheaply done.

http://www.naturalvisionphoto.com/gallery/3364528#187749661
a little off topic but I love your bridal photos.
You really know how to pose them with great backgrounds for the shot.

Exposure is so well done on them even in the "hard" situations.
Would you atribute much of that to your use of the lightmeter?

[dan_c]

Printing on canvas is easy with the 7800 with good results. Just giving you something quick, I wrote this a while back and had to cut a lot of it to have it fit in the space I was allowed. This is what you can't find on the net when looking for advice. Excuse the typos. The stuff in red I could write many more pages on, but this should help. Printing on canvas is like any other artist paper, besides color management, no special settings are needed except for what the manufacturer recommends. It's what you do in PP and mounting that are important.

PRINTING WITH CANVAS

Printing with canvas has become increasingly popular in the last few years with photographers, artists, decorators, set designers, etc. Many professional printers have added this service to their repertoire and new companies specializing in canvas printing are appearing on the scene frequently. The availability of high quality inkjet printers and canvas media has many photographers exploring the potential of displaying photographic work with canvas in a variety of ways.

Why Print Photography on Canvas?

Mounting Costs. Canvas can be mounted conventionally with a frame, glass, and matt, but it doesn’t have to be. The glass or matt or even the frame can be omitted saving costs. One mounting method called a studio wrap is accomplished by stretching the canvas around stretcher boards. Another mounting method is to tapestry mount the canvas with either rods or boards at top and bottom so the piece can be hanged. These methods do not protect the piece as well as glass but use of archival inks and media, protective coatings, and proper care will allow it to last for many years. Cost savings can be dramatic compared to conventional mounting methods allowing the photographer to keep the profits instead of the framer.
Freedom of Size. Studio wrap stretcher boards are available in an infinite combination of sizes in one inch increments allowing freedom from custom matting and framing associated with non-standard print sizes. In addition, it becomes impractical to mount and frame a print once it exceeds matt and glass sheet sizes (~40”x30”), but studio wrap and tapestry mounting are only limited by the canvas media size (~60” x whatever length).
Observer’s Relationship. Many find appealing that the work can be observed with no barrier between the image and the observer. The lack of glass provides less glare distraction and provides a more intimate viewing experience. Highly textured canvas as well as fine art papers can have intermittent contact with the glass causing even more viewer distractions.
Artistic Rendition. Canvas adds a varying degree of texture and artistic feel to a photography making it appear more artistic like a painting.
Gaining Resolution with the Digital Painting of Images. Low resolution images usually have a limit on how large they can be printed even with proper upsizing, but a common artistic technique called smudge painting can be used to transform a photo into a painting while adding resolution from the textures of the brushes used.

Is All Canvas Printing Equal?

Most print services give you little to no information on the products they use. In addition, there are many different canvases, inks, coatings, and stretcher boards to choose from whether you are having a print made or if printing yourself. You should consider the following attributes of the canvas when printing as it can dramatically affect the results: color gamut, Dmax, brightness, tone, opacity, surface coating(gloss, matte, etc.), texture, resolving ability, thickness, weight, acidity, optical brightener additives, water-resistance, available sheet or roll sizes, ink compatibility, and protective coating compatibility.

A Few Useful Tips for Printing with Canvas.

1. When printing a canvas image for later mounting using a studio wrap there are methods for not loosing image edges on the sides of the wrap. Calculate how much edge will be wrapped. Enlarge your image area filling in the new areas with a solid color, a mirror of the image, or a stretched edge of the image.
2. You can push the ink saturation limit further than recommended by the manufacturer when printing to get a near photo quality canvas print, but the durability and resolution may suffer. Even so this can lead to pleasing results.
3. Although the canvas may feel dry soon after coming out of the printer, it gains durability for up to a week after printing and/or coating with protective sealants. Gloss canvas dries slower and tends to be less durable than matte canvas. So give it as much time as you can before mounting.
4. When putting together stretcher boards for studio wrap mounting glue the corners together and use corner clamps while drying to ensure that it is square.
5. When stretching canvas over stretcher boards be careful of humidity changes that can later relax the canvas and cause it to sag on the frame. Wedges can be used to retighten the stretched canvas, but it’s better to get it right the first time. Temporary tacks and a canvas stretcher can help get a tight stretch.
6. When stretching canvas on a studio wrap fold the canvas on the top and bottom edges since usually only the sides are visible when displayed. Although the sides of a studio wrap should be wrapped to the back of the mounting and stapled, you can staple to the top and bottom edges instead of the back allowing you to use a larger frame than you might have been able to for the size canvas used.
7. Sharpie markers or artist paints (better) may be used to touchup a canvas that has been scratched.
8. If your printer has a cutter, cutting canvas is not recommended, but I haven't had any trouble. You can also use a cheneil fabric cutter that is a rotary blade sissor.


Canvas Media Links:
PremierArt: www.premierimagingproducts.com (http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/)
Epson: www.epson.com (http://www.epson.com/)
Fredrix: www.fredrixprintcanvas.com (http://www.fredrixprintcanvas.com/)
Inkpress: www.inkpresspaper.com (http://www.inkpresspaper.com/)
Museo: www.museofineart.com (http://www.museofineart.com/)
Innova: www.innovaart.com (http://www.innovaart.com/)
Clearstar: www.clearstarcorp.com (http://www.clearstarcorp.com/)
Canvas Supplier Links:
www.shadesofpaper.com (http://www.shadesofpaper.com/)
www.atltex.com (http://www.atltex.com/)

Could you tell me if there is a protective varnish spray to use on the canvas to prevent it from cracking?
Thanks a mil,

[TooManyHobbies]

Could you tell me if there is a protective varnish spray to use on the canvas to prevent it from cracking?
Thanks a mil,

Cracking is usually caused by putting too much ink on the canvas by not having the printer configured for the particular canvas or becuase you didn't let the canvas sit long enough. A protective spary or rollon can help if you still have a problem.

Clearstar: www.clearstarcorp.com (http://www.clearstarcorp.com)

There are other cheaper solutions like going to the artists store and picking up UV clearcoat varnish spray, but you need to be careful about what type of inks and papers and weather the spray will cause problems due to compatibility. Also some spays can dull a print if they have matting agents in them to make something matte. Usually a low gloss or satin is the lowest you can go to protect, keep shine down, and not deteriate image quality.