Prints on Canvas
About Canvas Prints:
Canvas prints can be created from any digital file, color or black and white. The same requirements that we need for any giclée print (e.g. resolution of at least 150 dpi at the finished size, RGB color, etc.) are true for canvas prints as well.
Most canvas prints are “stretched” on a wood frame. The frame is made up of four “stretcher bars.” Stretcher bars are sold in full inch lengths, so most modern canvas prints are created in full inch sizes. Standard stretcher bars start at 8″ in length and can go up from there. Two kinds are normally available, shallow and deep. Shallow stretcher bars are about 3/4″ thick; deep stretcher bars are 1.5″ thick.
In order to stretch the print around the frame, an additional 2″ of material is added on each side. The stretching is accomplished with a special pair of canvas pliers, pulling the material firmly around the frame and securing it on the back. Corners are pleated neatly.
When considering a canvas print of your image, keep in mind that the final size will be in full inches, so all of the print may not show on the front of the completed piece if it is not a full inch dimension. Canvas prints are traditionally framed, usually without glass. The frame typically will obscure a small portion of the edge of the print.
Gallery wrapped prints are very popular. These are canvas prints that are not framed. The edges of the frame are visible and three basic options for the treatment of the edges are common.
1. Solid color edge. In this option, the canvas over the visible edge of the frame is colored a solid color.
2. Image wrap. In this option, the image wraps around the frame. Obviously, you will lose some of the image to accommodate the depth of the frame. If your print has important information near the edge, this is probably not the best choice.
3. Mirror wrap. In this option, the 2″ of image at the edge of the print is copied and flipped seamlessly to the existing image as if the edge of the frame was a mirror. None of the image is lost in the process. This works exceptionally well for most landscapes.
There is currently a strong demand for wrapped canvas prints and numerous businesses have sprung up to meet the demand. It is valuable to note that canvas comes in many grades and levels of quality. Also, the process that is used to create the image can vary widely from water soluble dye-based inks to pigment and solvent formulations. Whatever the method, look for archival materials, in both the canvas and printing process. Inexpensive canvas printed with inexpensive inks may look great when you buy it, but may fade substantially over time. Real giclée prints should last for a lifetime and beyond. At Digital Imaging we use a cotton artist’s canvas and the HP Vivera archival ink set to create prints that should look as good 200 years from now as they do today.
Pricing:
Canvas prints, like all our giclée prints, are priced by the square foot. To determine the square foot size, multiply the length in inches X the width in inches and divide the result by 144. Don’t forget to add the 2″ to each side before you calculate the cost. If you are stretching the canvas yourself or if you plan to do something else with the print, you can request a different amount of material at the edge, or none at all.
Single prints in color are $22.00/square foot. B&W is $21.50/sq.ft. Note that we compute sizes to two decimal places. There is a one square foot minimum. Multiples of the same print earn a discounted rate based on the quantity. Stretching with a gallery wrap is computed by adding the length of the stretcher bar plus the width and multiplying the result by .75. This includes the cost of the stretcher bars. There is no discount on stretching.
Some standard sizes are specially priced (assume color with gallery wrap from your digital file):
8×10: $35
9×12: $43
11×14: $45
12×18: $70
16×20: $94
Turnaround:
We typically can print and stretch your image in 2-3 days, depending on our workload.
If you are starting with a legacy print (a print for which there is no digital file), we will need to scan the image; this will take both time and money. Proper scanning is the foundation of good giclée printing. The image you end up with will only be as good as the digital file we begin with.