How Canvas Printing Works
Step 1. Selecting a Canvas Material to Print On
This decision is the most important one and will hinge on your preference for fabric or vinyl. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, which should be fully understood beforehand. The biggest difference between these materials is their size. Vinyl Canvas has a maximum print size of 52" x 210", while Fabric Canvas maxes out at a whopping 126" x 1908"
Fabric Canvas Printing
Cotton & Linen are highly absorbent and relatively bright compared to other textiles which creates more vivid colors. It's one of the reasons that history's finest artists have relied on fabric canvas as the de facto standard for centuries. Canvas, in the historical sense of the word, does its job very well and comes with a certain level of credibility. It's not perfect for every project, especially outdoors. But for artistic prints, home decor and a "high end" finish, fabric really is hard to top.
Specifications:
- Cotton Linen Blend Fabric 0.57 mm thickness
- Available in rolls up to 126 inches x 159 feet.
- Commonly used for stretching, upholstery and wallcoverings
Step 2. Select The Format You Need
There are a number of ways to receive your custom canvas prints
Canvas Print Rolls
Larger prints (25 sq feet or more) are typically delivered in rolls. This is the easiest way to ship canvas prints due to the compact size of the package. Any stretching, framing or installation is left to the customer.
Stretched Canvas Prints
The material is stretched tightly onto a wooden frame, leaving the edges exposed and open to design consideration. Some clients prefer raw, unprinted edges. Others will request an exact color to match for decorative value. There's also the premium option:
Gallery Wrapped Canvas Prints
The preferred format for many artists and photographers. Creates a pleasing visual effect which begs for exposed edges. If you plan on framing your print, keep in mind you lose exactly 4" of space around the edges to achieve this effect.
Step 3. Pick a Size For Your Canvas Print
You will want to first decide where it will be displayed. Make sure there are no visual obstacles, line of sight is clear and you've got decent lighting. In most cases you will want a decent margin around the artwork (at least 6 inches), but use your judgment.
Next you will need to ask yourself some questions about the artwork you want to print.
- Is it a piece you need to scan?
- Do you already have a scan or digital file?
- If so, are there enough pixels and details to cleanly print at the desired size?
final question is what sets the limitation on how large you can p print, something your printer will walk you through. On that note:
Step 4. Send Us Your Art
Option A: Uploading Online (Recommended)
accept PDF, EPS, TIFF and JPG files. Upload your files to Dropbox or WeTransfer and send us a link. Our PrePress Department will run a preflight check on all of your files to ensure consistent color, crisp details and catch any potential errors before going to press.Option B: Ground Shipping
you don't have digital files or access to a scanner, send us your art via certified mail. We'll carefully scan it in, then send it back to you the same way.
Step 5. Review Your Sample
We'll print and send you a sample of your chosen material. We only go to print if you love the sample. If you have feedback or improvements to make, we'll ship you another until you are satisfied and confident enough to move into production.
Step 6. All Done. Enjoy Your Custom Prints!
Your prints arrive at your doorstep, ready to make the world a more aesthetically pleasing place. They look exactly how you wanted and you realize how easy and fun it was to bring your ideas to life.
If any of this process sounded too technical or you have a related question, definitely give us a call. We love talking about all things print related and are happy to share what we know. Folks from all walks of life have created some incredible art and decor for their homes and businesses. Half of them were complete novices and they did great! All they needed was imagination and the right team to support them. That's what we're here for.
