The popularity of your photo to canvas prints has grown considerably over the last couple of years and with is so have the number of companies selling your photo to canvas products. So how do you choose which company to use? Is price the main factor or should you be looking for the details?

Types of Canvas

The weight and type of canvas is important, a company that uses a top of the range canvas will state which make of canvas they use, otherwise it could be a cheap import. Too many companies say they use 100% cotton canvas as it is better than a poly cotton blend well in some cases this is true but a high-quality poly cotton blend is better than a cheap 100% cotton canvas, the same as a high quality 100% cotton canvas is better than a cheap poly cotton canvas. A 100% cotton canvas has a more authentic canvas look which is given by the less uniformed rougher weave, which in my opinion is better for artwork and painting reproductions. A poly cotton blend has a more uniformed look to it so suits photographs more than a 100% cotton canvas. The canvas also needs to have a good weight, I wouldn’t recommend anything below 350gsm as a heavier canvas can be stretched tighter and so will not sag with time, some canvases can be as thin as paper from your printer at home so beware.

Inks

The basic rule is that if the inks used are not pigment inks you should not be buying it. The most popular printers used by canvas printers are the Epson printers and use genuine Epson Ultrachrome inks which are all pigment inks and in my opinion the best around.

Wood frame or stretcher bars?

The main thing to look for regarding the frame is the type of wood used. As wood is a porous material it is susceptible to water in the atmosphere, and can warp over time due to expanding and shrinking with water absorption. The wood needs to be kiln dried as it will not warp over time. The main advantage for using stretcher bars is that they have a shaped edge at the front so that the canvas is not resting on the frame at the front, normal square frames have the canvas resting on them and over time you may find you can see where the frame edge ends.

Is it laminated?

If it is a quality print then it will keep it’s colour for years even in direct sunlight so it does not need laminating for this reason, although lamination will increase it’s life. The main reason a print needs laminating is to protect it from scratches and chips, and also to ensure it can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Laminating will double the life of your canvas ensuring that it can be moved around without risk of cracking or chipping.

I hope this has helped you to know what to look for when buying a your photo to canvas print.

By: JS Fox

Given the progress in inkjet and media technology, demand for printing photographs and art on canvas is growing exponentially. Whether you have a good inkjet printer or you prefer to have your work done by a professional outfit, it is worth to explore this option for any type of image. We constantly receive requests from wedding and portrait photographers who want to print large canvas for their clients.

Artists regularly order limited edition prints on canvas and watercolor papers to sell to collectors. These reproductions usually are signed and are accompanied by a COA (Certificate of authenticity). Buyers are very receptive to purchasing canvas prints they can hang up without a protective glass, without worrying about scratches and water damage.

The texture of a fine art canvas is unparalleled in beauty; a protective coating is applied on top to give the substrate a matte, lustre or glossy look. If you prefer to experiment with this material to see the results, canvas sheets are available at many stores that carry inkjet products.

The differences between a home desktop printer and a professional one are many but I will focus on the most important. First, commercial machines can be outfitted with pigmented inks; these inks differ from dye inks commonly found in the cheap home printers because they are archival and will not fade for decades. Dyes on the other hand will start losing brilliance in a matter of months. There are some home use printers now that offer a form of hybrid dye/pigment system. The second difference is the nozzle quality; pro level systems have extremely sophisticated nozzles that can render a very fine dot and exceptional tonal rendition.

The process of printing on fine art materials such as canvas and watercolor papers is referred to as “giclee”. Giclee is a french term that loosely translated means “sprayed on”. It refers to the nozzles which spray ink onto the paper. Giclee printing involves some of the characteristics described above and it is usually performed by professional shops.

You can read more about giclee and inkjet canvas printing on our website.

By: Fabio Braghi

Photo Canvas Prints As Personalised Wall Art

Photo canvas prints offer the ability to have your photograph printed onto genuine canvas and stretched over a gallery or museum grade frame. The picture reproduction offered is second to none and once hung on your wall it not only personalised a room but can add colour or it can be used to match the décor that already exists in your room. You don’t have to use photographs, virtually any picture or image can be used instead.

A Photo Montage

A photo montage combines many different photographs into a single image. Again, these are printed onto canvas although they can also be added to a range of other photo items as well. Sizes vary from small to customised and incredibly large canvases. The photo montage is bound to make a lasting impression with everybody that views it and is a highly appealing type of personalised wall art.

Photo Wallpaper

Photo wallpaper allows the same level of personalisation but on a much grander and larger scale. Any photograph or other picture can be printed onto satin wallpaper which is applied to the wall in the same way as standard wallpaper. The high quality material is both durable and strong so it can be used in the hall and other high traffic areas while it also offers the same incredible levels of image and colour reproduction as other personalised wall art items. The image itself doesn’t have the fill the whole wall but it makes for the perfect way to add a feature wall into any room of the house.

Again, there are a number of choices in personalised wall art with photo canvas prints, photo montages, and photo wallpaper being among the best looking and best quality of all of those choices. All of these types of personalised wall art enable you to add your own photograph or image and make an incredible looking, high quality photo item.

By: Sarah Maria Williams