Canvas and Photo Printing Done Right

If you're going to spend the money to have your photos and artwork printed large so they can be truly appreciated, why would you take it to a department store, a street sign maker, Kinko's or the local photo kiosk to have it done?

I'm fanatical about printing because I print my own fine art images. I don't let anyone else do it because I know how hard a job it is to do right. Don't your images deserve the same care that I give my own work?

Print Media

Giclée prints are made with high-quality archival inks on fine art media using a high-resolution large format inkjet printer. Inkjet printing is the "giclée" process. Anyone who avoids the question or tells you differently is getting ready to overcharge you.

I use a Hewlett-Packard Z3100 photo/fine-art printer with a 44" wide carriage for our prints. This machine prints at up to 2400dpi using 11 archival pigmented inks for absolutely stunning print quality. The quality of image produced by this calibre of equipment is leagues beyond other reproduction techniques.

Matte Paper

Good colour and excellent detail are apparent in the least-expensive paper I offer. Matte paper is fairly heavy, untextured, acid-free and archival, but does not feature the best colour or deepest blacks of a true fine art matte paper. This is an excellent surface for signage, information panels, test prints, graphic art and other non-critical output.

Satin Photo/Print Paper

Excellent colour and detail with a moderately smooth satin finished surface. Does not have a texture of its own, so ideal for reproducing highly textured originals as well as photographic images. Satin prints must be protected from scratches and wrinkles by being mounted and framed under glass or acrylic.

Depending on print size, I may use either Red River Ultrapro Satin, HP ID Satin Photo or Breathing Color Vibrance Lustre photo paper, all of which are very similar in look and texture with extremely rich colour and deep, dark blacks.

Fine Art Paper

Rich detail with soft colour and a matte finish. Slightly textured matte fine art paper works well with black and white photography, graphic art and traditional media reproduction. Bare matte paper must be framed under glass or plastic as the surface is fragile.

Depending on print size, I may use either Red River Aurora or Breathing Color Optica One matte fine art papers, both of which have a lovely velvet look and feel.

Face mount resin

Face mount prints are exceptional and contemporary in style. These prints seem to float in front of your wall, with no mat and no frame. Their ultra-high gloss helps your photos look rich and vibrant. Technically, these prints are viewed through a thin layer of ultra clear resin that has been adhered directly (on the face of the print) to the pigments themselves.

Bare facemount prints include just the resin and the bonded print. These must be either inserted into a frame, glued directly to the wall, or have a mounting system added by you.

Pricing for face mounted prints includes the price of the print itself, which mut be printed specifically for the mounting process.

Ready-to-hang facemount prints have a hanging system already attached to the back and are ready to hang. Depending on print size and appropriate hanging system, your print will float 1/2 to 2" in front of the wall with no frame and no mat.

Face mount prints vary from 1mm to 3mm thick, depending on size of print. Larger prints use thicker resin to maintain structural integrity. The goal of these prints is for them to seem as flat as possible. It's also worth noting that face mount prints are among the lightest-weight ready-to-hang prints available.

Woven Canvas

Canvas prints have a rich texture due to the fabric weave that enhances many images. After printing, canvas is clear coated by hand for protection from dust and casual contact. Nevertheless, canvas is vulnerable to piercing, creasing and tearing and must be handled with care. Framed or wrapped canvas compares well in the on-the-wall price to traditionally framed prints, as canvas requires neither mat nor glass. Note that my stretched and wrapped canvases are hand-stapled to real artist-grade stretcher bars. Other canvas print vendors often use "glue bars" which can warp and delaminate over time. Why risk it?

I am printing on Breathing Color Chromata White canvas for most jobs, but a wide variety of custom canvas is available (at extra cost) including pseudo-linens and burlap textures for very exotic looks that may suit your artwork even more than the traditional fine art quality Breathing Colour product.

Linen Canvas Alternative: A new alternative fabric is available; this "linen canvas" is a fine naturally woven linen-type canvas with a subtle texture and natural knots. This is an exceptional medium for prints that true canvas's coarse weave would otherwise not be suited. It lends a superior fine art touch, with a bit of the Old Masters flavour. Due to the high cost of the raw fabric, final cost is about 40% higher than the usual giclee canvas. These prices are not shown in the grid below; if you want an exact quote for your print, or to learn more about linen, just ask!

Canvas Hanging Options

If you want finished artwork ready to hang, choose Wrapped Canvas. If you're going to have your canvas augmented with a decorative frame, choose Stretched Canvas. If you'd like to stretch the canvas yourself or have something else in mind, chose Rolled Canvas.

Rolled Canvas for you to Stretch

Printed and protected but delivered rolled for you to stretch and mount yourself. Sufficient unprinted canvas, about 1" on each side, is included for side-staple mounting on standard 3/4" artist's bars. If additional canvas is needed for wrap stapling, add 20% to the price for a 2" solid printed border plus a 1" stapling margin.

Stretched Canvas for Framing

Printed canvas stretched and stapled on the side of standard artist stretcher bars just like a traditional art canvas. These bars are 3/4" thick. This product is intended to be inserted into a frame as the sides are unprinted and the canvas is stapled on the sides of the stretchers. The sides are white, and no hanging hardware is included, as the frame is to carry the weight of the canvas.

Wrapped Canvas for Immediate Hanging

For a ready-to-hang low-cost alternative to fully framed prints, choose wrapped canvas. This is a contemporary style that exhibits artwork without a visible frame. Wrapped canvas bars are 1.5" thick. Printed canvas wraps around the stretching bars and is stapled on the back, hiding all details of construction. Hanging wire and hardware is attached for you. The print is ready to hang.

Canvas Stretching Detail Images

These images show details of the Wrapped Canvas option. The finished canvas is stretched tight over traditional gallery thickness artist's bars and stapled by hand. The canvas is folded neatly in the corners for a clean presentation. Wooden "keys" in the corners allow you to adjust canvas tension in the years to come. Wall bumpers are attached with brass nails. Braided steel hanging wire rated for 70lbs is attached using solid brass hanging hardware attached with brass screws.

Print Pricing

How big do you want your print? Find a similar size in the table below. The sizes shown are examples. Similar sized (by area) custom prints will be the same price as shown. Media descriptions below the table.

Colour Accuracy

If I've captured your artwork, you don't need to worry about colour accuracy -- It's taken care of with a fully colour managed workflow. If you need accurate and compelling reproductions of your artwork, you should make the investment of having me photograph your original artwork.

If you are providing the image files, then you need to understand that I do not guarantee that my print of your file will match your screen, another print, or your original artwork. Colour matching requires a fully colour-managed workflow, and as I cannot guarantee the accuracy of your files, I will not guarantee the accuracy of my prints of your files. If you require colour matching, screen time to adjust your files on my colour managed workstation is available at $150/hr with a 15 minute minimum.

Shipping

Prints can be picked up for free at my studio. If necessary, I will ship your prints to you anywhere in the world. Shipping costs are determined by parcel size, weight, destination and carrier, plus packing material and labour costs. Tube rolled prints are fairly inexpensive to ship; flat prints are quite expensive. Feel free to ask for a quote.

Currency and Payment

All prices are in Canadian dollars. Taxes are not included in prices shown above. Payments can be made via credit card or PayPal transfer. Local customers only may pay by cheque or cash.

How to Get Started

If I've captured your artwork, just tell me the desired size and media for each piece you want to print: I've kept a copy of your files just for this purpose. Otherwise, I print from a high quality JPG (quality 10 or greater) with embedded colour space, a Photoshop file (single layer please), or a TIFF image with embedded colour space.

Getting Your Images to Me

Files under 10MB can be emailed; larger files can be downloaded from your website, sent via "yousendit.com" or can be burned on a CD/DVD or USB memory stick and sent via post. Your memory stick will be returned with your prints; your CD will be kept on file. Other options are possible, let's discuss.