Contract Manufacturing - Photography

 Choosing quality canvas prints

Printing

The majority of canvas art is printed using an inkjet process, popularly referred to as Giclée, in either Dye inks or UV inks.

Dye inks are often used in the smaller models of printers capable of printing onto canvas and, whilst a little brighter in colour, can have the tendency to fade after a short time (typically 12+ months.)

Whilst no print should be placed in direct sunlight, UV inks contain light stabilisers that can keep prints looking new for anything up to 200 years in ideal conditions.

Check what steps the supplier takes to ensure their equipment is colour calibrated. This ensures that the colour of the canvas matches the preview image. Good colour management is a complex, on-going process that involves skill, judgment and experimentation, as well as technology like a Spectrophotometer device.

Framing

The process of framing of a canvas print is called gallery wrapping and takes skill, dexterity and experience to achieve a high quality finish. The print is tightly stretched over around the sides of a box stretcher frame.

Quality stretcher frames will be accurately cut with a sloping profile that minimises contact with the front face of the canvas, preventing impression marks. They should also be adjustable, supplied with tensioning wedges in each corner. These allow occasional re-tightening of the canvas.

Also check whether the stated measurements refer to the finished size of the piece, or just to the unframed print. A framed piece is always smaller than the dimensions of the full, unframed canvas, and a good supplier will state both sets of dimensions.

Framing

The process of framing of a canvas print is called gallery wrapping and takes skill, dexterity and experience to achieve a high quality finish. The print is tightly stretched over around the sides of a box stretcher frame.

Quality stretcher frames will be accurately cut with a sloping profile that minimises contact with the front face of the canvas, preventing impression marks. They should also be adjustable, supplied with tensioning wedges in each corner. These allow occasional re-tightening of the canvas.
Also check whether the stated measurements refer to the finished size of the piece, or just to the unframed print. A framed piece is always smaller than the dimensions of the full, unframed canvas, and a good supplier will state both sets of dimensions.

General Tips

Check whether the canvas art supplier is easily contactable. Are they contactable by phone?

* Find out how long your print will take to deliver.

* If you are buying for your VAT-registered business, check whether the supplier can provide a VAT receipt so you can reclaim the tax.