Photo on Canvas Prints. Reviews and 6 other Ways to Discover A Reputable Canvas Business
For the average consumer, finding out what to search for or which provider to rely on when deciding to buy a photo on canvas print can be quite tough. Below are a few basic rules to follow which will enable you to more thoroughly understand what's involved and choose a photo to canvas transfer supplier intelligently.
Customer reviews
Always read customer reviews to try and determine the level of customer satisfaction that the business has received. Beware of firms with no testimonials page.If they have earned a rich reputation by providing good quality items, they will be happy to display customer feedback on their website. This is also a key mark of quality as manufacturers who have worked hard to earn a superb reputation are far less prone to risk ruining it by using cheaper, sub-standard. materials.
Outsourcing
Make sure that the company is professional and that they are truly knowledgeable about the complete canvas printing process. Various canvas retailers outsource their work to other providers, depending on someone else to provide you with a quality product. However in these cases, the prints are normally outsourced at a very low cost and the quality suffers greatly. Look to see if the provider provides information on the photo to canvas transfer equipment used and the canvas canvas printing process. This is an excellent sign that the company are experts who understand all aspects of canvas printing and is likely to provide you with a quality product.
Canvas quality
When printing your photo on canvas prints, the specialist you select should preferably use the very best quality, dense, strong 100% cotton canvas. This artist grade canvas guarantees that the colours will last, prevents cracking and is also actually purpose made to lock the ink in. Unfortunately, a great number of canvas suppliers on the Internet use low grade 200gsm polyester or poly-cotton canvas (nearly always imported into the U.K from China). This particular canvas is in fact yellow but is afterwards bleached white. This bleach breaks down the inks and can bring about discolouration of your artwork in less than 2 months. The quality of the canvas which is used has a great deal to do with the overall quality of your finished canvas. Low quality canvas will split on the surface while framing, ruining your print.
Frame type
The type of timber used to make your canvas is very important because it directly affects the life expectancy of your print. Ensure the provider concerned only uses the very best, European, shaped pine stretcher bars to make their frames. These frames are produced to a high standard and contain no knots or splits. These stretcher bars have a smooth lip that lifts the canvas a little in order to avoid causing indented marks along the front of your canvas. These marks on the canvas can be caused by the pressure of the frame beneath it. Make sure that solid, fixed together wood or cheap fir stretcher bars (most commonly produced in China, better-known in the trade as "Art98" bars) are not used. These bars are poorly made and will not last. The stretcher bars should also have machined slots on the inside of the frame that allow you to insert 4 wooden tension pegs into the inside corners of the frame. These wedges are used to tighten your print further and allow it to be re-tightened in the future. Beware of companies that use plastic tension pegs that do not have raised dots on the end as they will not remain in place, requiring many manufacturers to glue them in. This means that your canvas can never be re-tightened! Unfortunately most canvas providers now rely on either the brace method or "Art98" bars to cut costs. Thus giving their art a limited lifespan. Only premium quality frames can guarantee that your canvas will have a long life and will look great.
Technology
Many canvas print retailers are printing with the Epson 9880 range of large format printers. The 9880 is easily the most advanced large format colour and black & white printer in the market today. These printers set new standards for large format photographic and fine art printing. Printing at high resolution they make a big impression with lasting results in both black and white and vibrant colour. The 8-colour ink set system (that also includes 3 black inks for higher definition on black and white prints) means that every tone is replicated perfectly.
Lacquer
The canvas supplier you choose should apply at least 1 layer of protective coating (ideally 3 layers) to all of their photo on canvas prints at no extra charge. This coating should be a water-based varnish manufactured specifically to protect, preserve and complement fine canvas art. This lacquer improves the colour of pigmented inks on matte media and improves resistance to U.V light that causes image fading. It will also protect your print against moisture and abrasion.
Many photo on canvas print manufacturers on the Internet now ship their prints without any such coatings applied. These untreated canvases will crack at the corners and will fade greatly with time.
Customer reviews
Always read customer reviews to try and determine the level of customer satisfaction that the business has received. Beware of firms with no testimonials page.If they have earned a rich reputation by providing good quality items, they will be happy to display customer feedback on their website. This is also a key mark of quality as manufacturers who have worked hard to earn a superb reputation are far less prone to risk ruining it by using cheaper, sub-standard. materials.
Outsourcing
Make sure that the company is professional and that they are truly knowledgeable about the complete canvas printing process. Various canvas retailers outsource their work to other providers, depending on someone else to provide you with a quality product. However in these cases, the prints are normally outsourced at a very low cost and the quality suffers greatly. Look to see if the provider provides information on the photo to canvas transfer equipment used and the canvas canvas printing process. This is an excellent sign that the company are experts who understand all aspects of canvas printing and is likely to provide you with a quality product.
Canvas quality
When printing your photo on canvas prints, the specialist you select should preferably use the very best quality, dense, strong 100% cotton canvas. This artist grade canvas guarantees that the colours will last, prevents cracking and is also actually purpose made to lock the ink in. Unfortunately, a great number of canvas suppliers on the Internet use low grade 200gsm polyester or poly-cotton canvas (nearly always imported into the U.K from China). This particular canvas is in fact yellow but is afterwards bleached white. This bleach breaks down the inks and can bring about discolouration of your artwork in less than 2 months. The quality of the canvas which is used has a great deal to do with the overall quality of your finished canvas. Low quality canvas will split on the surface while framing, ruining your print.
Frame type
The type of timber used to make your canvas is very important because it directly affects the life expectancy of your print. Ensure the provider concerned only uses the very best, European, shaped pine stretcher bars to make their frames. These frames are produced to a high standard and contain no knots or splits. These stretcher bars have a smooth lip that lifts the canvas a little in order to avoid causing indented marks along the front of your canvas. These marks on the canvas can be caused by the pressure of the frame beneath it. Make sure that solid, fixed together wood or cheap fir stretcher bars (most commonly produced in China, better-known in the trade as "Art98" bars) are not used. These bars are poorly made and will not last. The stretcher bars should also have machined slots on the inside of the frame that allow you to insert 4 wooden tension pegs into the inside corners of the frame. These wedges are used to tighten your print further and allow it to be re-tightened in the future. Beware of companies that use plastic tension pegs that do not have raised dots on the end as they will not remain in place, requiring many manufacturers to glue them in. This means that your canvas can never be re-tightened! Unfortunately most canvas providers now rely on either the brace method or "Art98" bars to cut costs. Thus giving their art a limited lifespan. Only premium quality frames can guarantee that your canvas will have a long life and will look great.
Technology
Many canvas print retailers are printing with the Epson 9880 range of large format printers. The 9880 is easily the most advanced large format colour and black & white printer in the market today. These printers set new standards for large format photographic and fine art printing. Printing at high resolution they make a big impression with lasting results in both black and white and vibrant colour. The 8-colour ink set system (that also includes 3 black inks for higher definition on black and white prints) means that every tone is replicated perfectly.
Lacquer
The canvas supplier you choose should apply at least 1 layer of protective coating (ideally 3 layers) to all of their photo on canvas prints at no extra charge. This coating should be a water-based varnish manufactured specifically to protect, preserve and complement fine canvas art. This lacquer improves the colour of pigmented inks on matte media and improves resistance to U.V light that causes image fading. It will also protect your print against moisture and abrasion.
Many photo on canvas print manufacturers on the Internet now ship their prints without any such coatings applied. These untreated canvases will crack at the corners and will fade greatly with time.
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