Canvas Print Comparison

• Canvas Print Products
• Canvas Prints Stretched
• Canvas Block - Floating Frame
• Canvas In Acrylic Ice
• What Do Our Prices Include
• Canvas Print Comparison

Yes, it's a long page of text but if you are confused by the choice of canvas printers available or new to canvas products and want some information to compare one product with another then this page may help you and hopefully you will come back to us when you have finished your search. Of course if you are a professional photographer with an ABN or website you can request a free studio sample then you will know exactly what to expect from us.

1.   From start to finish quality comes first when producing a print on canvas. The giclée process we use is the same used in museums and galleries around the world to produce the best printed canvas. We do not have different levels of service, all our customers get our very best professional service. So just check that the all inclusive price given doesn't add on an extra charge for “professional service”.

2.   So what is giclée? Giclée (zhee-klay) - The French word "giclée" simply means a spray or a spurt of liquid. However closely you look at a giclée print you will not see any dots. It is considered to be the best process to truly reproduce an image with all its detail and tonal gradations and produces better colour accuracy than other means of reproduction. So if you want the best quality print check that your canvas printer is using an inkjet printer, not a flat-bed printer as used by the larger “supermarket style” outlets.

3.   Canvas is one of our largest expenses and can be the easiest way to cut back on costs. If a canvas printer seems much cheaper than the competition then more often than not it is the quality of canvas that has been sacrificed. Every week we are contacted by suppliers, but for quality and consistency we use Torino a poly/cotton blend with even texture from North America. Poly/cotton canvas does not go slack over time as 100% cotton canvas does. Our choice of canvas does not have visible cottons seeds either, which drop off over time leaving small white flecks on your image.

4.   Inks used need to be UV pigment inks not solvent. These give the longest life and best colour stability over time. Our combination of HP5500 printer, Torino canvas with UV pigment inks have been independently tested so we are confident that your canvas print will last you a lifetime. Only by having the combination of ink, printer and canvas independently tested can you be assured of quality results that will last. So asking for independent test results can be enlightening.

5.   Having produced a quality print, we laminate it for additional UV, abrasion and moisture protection it is stretched over a timber frame, 35mm in depth. The timber used is kiln dried New Zealand “clears”. We chose this plantation grown timber as it has a consistent tight grain with no cracks or knots, which minimises twisting or bowing in the frame. Manufacturing our frames in-house we can produce custom sized frames with no additional charge. We avoid using hardwoods as we aim to be green and the additional weight of the frame adds an “ouch” factor to freight costs.

6.   We have worked on producing the best timber profile for stretched canvas prints. The front internal edges are chamfered, which prevents the canvas from resting on the frame, which in time will result in frame shadowing (the outline of the frame being visible through the canvas). The external edges of the frame are bevelled, front and back which prevents stress on the canvas. This timber profile means there are no visible cracks in the ink, which would expose the white canvas underneath the ink.

7.   Don't forget customer service, creativity, digital editing, style effects, emailing soft proofs, producing a number of variations for consideration, are they all included? With us they are, so when you have your short-list of suppliers ready send us an email so that we can arrange your studio sample at no charge.