Canvas printing - FAQ
Caring for your printed canvases - Premium canvases
Caring for your printed canvases – Standard canvases
Delivery
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Premium or Standard - Which type of canvas printing should I choose?
The two types of printing we offer are both fantastic.
With both processes your canvas is printed to the size you specify and the frame is then handmade to fit your specific canvas.
Rest assured - there is no bad choice to be made!
Here are the facts:
Premium – Dye Sublimation
This heat pressing printing process prints onto real material canvas, with the UV resistant ink penetrating deep into the canvas. This results in canvases that are extremely robust but that have a softer, warmer tonal quality about them that is unique.
This tonal quality takes them away from being just enlarged photos and is why we love them. This is the type of canvas to choose if you’re thinking about having them in a commercial space, or somewhere like a bathroom or kitchen where they may suffer the odd knock.
Below: Close up of a Premium canvas
Standard – Giclee
The Giclee canvas prints are printed using large format digital printers. This printing method (also using UV resistant inks) offers a very true facsimile of an image, and is often used by museums when they want to get as close a reproduction of a painting as possible. For this reason these giclee canvas prints have a sharper quality about them that is more photographic in appearance.
With this process the ink sits on top of the canvas and although it is sealed, you should avoid getting giclee prints wet.
Below: Close up of a Standard canvas
Both are extremely high quality products. The basic difference is in the tone of the pictures .
How long does the process take?
If you have chosen to have us show you some treatments of your photo we should get back to you with these a few hours after you've checked out and sent us the photo. If you order over the weekend, this will be on Monday.
In all you should allow about 7 working days. If you do need it quicker than that, let us know and we will do all we can to help.
Canvas print sizes and prices
How much are your canvas prints?
The price of a
photo on canvas is based on the size that you want and whether you go for the premium or standard canvas.
Below are some possible sizes and prices, but do remember that as we hand build all our frames specifically for your canvas print, we can do any size you want.
When you use the photo editing tool and crop your photo to the shape you want, the tool will use the proportions of the crop to show you a number of possible sizes and the associated prices.
Size in cm
Width x Height |
Size in inches
Width x Height |
Standard canvases
Giclee printing |
Premium canvases
Dye sublimation printing |
| 20 x 20
| 8 x 8
| £22.33
| NA
|
| 30 x 20 (A4)
| 12 x 8
| £27.03
| £32.90
|
| 30 x 30
| 12 x 12
| £27.03
| £32.90
|
| 30 x 40 (A3)
| 12 x 16
| £30.55
| £39.95
|
| 40 x 40
| 16 x 16
| £35.25
| £47.00
|
| 40 x 50
| 16 x 20
| £48.18
| £55.23
|
| 50 x 30
| 20 x 12
| £42.30
| £47.00
|
| 50 x 50
| 20 x 20
| £52.88
| £62.28
|
| 60 x 40 (A2)
| 24 x 16
| £51.70
| £62.28
|
| 60 x 50
| 24 x 20
| £57.58
| £70.50
|
| 70 x 70
| 28 x 28
| £70.50
| £97.53
|
| 75 x 50
| 30 x 20
| £64.63
| £86.95
|
| 80 x 60 (A1)
| 32 x 24
| £70.50
| £97.53
|
| 90 x 60
| 35 x 24
| £75.20
| £105.75
|
| 90 x 90
| 35 x 35
| £94.00
| £138.65
|
| 100 x 75
| 39 x 29
| £104.58
| £137.48
|
| 100 x 100
| 39 x 39
| £118.68
| £160.98
|
| 110 x 110
| 43 x 43
| £149.23
| £184.48
|
| 120 x 80 (A0)
| 47 x 32
| £130.43
| £158.63
|
| 120 x 90
| 47 x 35
| £138.65
| £171.55
|
| 130 x 100
| 51 x 39
| £155.10
| £195.05
|
| 130 x 130
| 51 x 51
| NA
| £236.18
|
| 150 x 100
| 59 x 39
| £170.38
| £218.55
|
What are the standard canvas print sizes?
To ensure that the stretcher bars are a perfect fit for the printed canvas, we don’t have standard sizes as such - every piece we produce is made to measure. This means that we can work with panoramic shots and unusual crops without having to crop them to fit the shape of the frame.
If people are offering you standard sizes, this is a good indication that they will be using lower-quality pre-made stretchers.
If you're not sure which size to go for, then the best bet is to have a measure of the space it will hang in.
An average size canvas is in the region of 50cm wide x 40cm or so high.
What if the proportions of my photo are different from the canvas I choose?
This isn't a problem.
If you choose to have us do some treatments of the photo we will crop it to the sort of proportions you want, as well as showing you some other options.
Even if you had chosen a square canvas initially, but having reviewed the options that we sent through, you actually felt that a wide thinner crop was the better option, then this isn't a problem either. We would simply re-calculate the size of the canvas using the proportions of the chosen crop and for the same price paid.
To illustrate by example:
You have chosen a square canvas of 50cm x 50cm, but on reviewing the options we send over, you actually like a long thin crop. The proportions of this mean crop are 1.5:1 meaning that for the same price you had paid, the canvas would be 60cm x 40cm.
If you choose to edit the photo yourself using the online tool, then this issue won't arise as the system will only offer canvas sizes that are based on the actual proportions of the final image you have chosen.
How large can the canvase prints be?
The canvas comes in rolls, so with the premium canvases we are limited to 130cm along one side and any dimension in the other direction, so if, for example, you want it 130cm x 233cm no problem!
With the standard canvas, we are limited to 110cm along one side and any dimension in the other direction.
Will my photo blow up to the size I want without the quality suffering?
Before printing, all the images are carefully checked by our artworkers to make sure that they are high resolution enough to print at the size you want.
Although to help the images blow up effectively we use some very clever interpolation software, that allows us to blow up even quite small images, if supplying digital images, we really want the images at as high a resolution as possible.
One thing to look out for is photos that have been reduced in size before you send them.
With many email / imaging programmes, when you try to send an image it will offer an option along the lines of 'make the file easier to send' or 'send at the original size' . If you choose the 'make file easier to send' option this has the effect of reducing the file size a great deal, and whilst this may look OK on screen, when it comes to printing, it means the file can't be blown up effectively. Just be aware therefore, that if someone has emailed you a photo, this may have happened.
The same also applies to photos taken from Facebook and other web sites. Those images have generally been reduced in size, which whilst this looks OK on screen, may prevent them being blown up effectively.
Should there be any doubts about the quality, we will contact you before the image is printed up.
In cases where after talking to you we really can't achieve what you are after, we will simply refund you.
If you’re supplying the image as a print, then it should be OK as we will scan it in at a resolution appropriate for the size you want it printed.
How do I send in my photo?
Using the ordering tool you can choose between uploading, emailing or posting your photos.
Digital photos can be uploaded right away or emailed after checkout.
In the case of prints, negatives, slides or transparacies, these can be posted to us in a hard-backed envelope.
If you choose to email or post your photo/s, we will give you the address to send them to (and a reference number to send with them) after you've checked out.
What should I consider when deciding on the size of canvas print to go for?
When deciding on the size you want, the principal thing to take into consideration is the space you want to hang the picture in.
Don't worry about choosing a size that turns out to be too big for the quality of your photo. There are some very clever things we can do to get the image as big as possible, but if there is a problem with blowing your photo up to the size you want, we will let you know. We would never just go ahead and print an image that we felt didn't look good.
If, after discussing it with you, we can't achieve what you want, we will simply refund your payment.
How deep are the stretcher bars?
On the premium canvases we use 3.4cm deep stretcher bars and on the standard canvases 4.5cm deep.
We only use the highest quality kiln dried pine for our stretcher bars. For larger canvases we will also add in a backing board or crossbar for added strength.
Do you wrap the image around the sides of the frame?
Our standard practice is to leave blank canvas on the sides of the frame. The reason we can do this is that we cut the stretcher bars to the exact size of your print. This is what allows us to crop the photo in a way that gets the best out of it.
With the Standard Canvas we also offer a mirrored edge in which the last few cm of the image are mirrored around the sides. This achieves the same effect as wrapping the image around, but without the danger of losing an important part of the image such as the top of someone's head!
Above: Edge finishes available for the Standard Canvas
With the Premium Canvas we can Gallery Wrap the image around the sides if you would like. Do remember that there is always a slight danger of losing an important part of the image, but if we feel this is going to happen we will let you know before we do it.
Above: Edge finishes available for the Premium Canvas
Can you get rid of red eye?
No problem. We do this FREE of charge before the final image is printed.
You can visit our 'How we improve the photo for you' page, to see the other ways in which we can also improve your photo.
Do you retouch the photos?
All images are carefully cleaned and checked for scratches and marks before printing.
If for example someone has a bit of a spot on their face, we’ll take that out too.
We also take a look at the contrast and colour balance to make sure that the printed image is as good as it can be. This is all done FREE of charge.
You can visit our 'How we improve the photo for you' page, to see examples.
Can you take the background out?
We can, but whether this can be done for free, or we might have to charge a bit more, does depend on the photo. The reason is that to do it in a way that actually looks good, is quite time consuming. If we feel that an extra charge will apply we will contact you to discuss it.
Before printing the canvas we will email the work to you for approval.
You can visit our 'How we improve the photo for you' page, to see examples.
How do you get the colours right?
We spend a great deal of time and money calibrating our printing machinery to ensure we get the truest possible reproduction of your images.
Exactly how you personally see the colours of your photo on your screen will depend on a number of things including; how the room is lit, the colour, brightness and contrast settings on your computer, the make of and model of your screen, the make and model of the graphics card you have, the age of the screen, if it a Mac or a PC and so on. As you can see this is quite a list, so the exact colour you see is likely to be a little different from that which we see and which in turn is reproduced on canvas.
Our concern is to produce the very best image we can for you and whilst this process should result in a reasonably close match to what you see on screen, just be aware that it may not be exactly as you see it.
Please note also that we cannot match the colours of existing photographic prints you may have. Printing on photographic paper involves a different printing process onto a different type of paper and the resulting colour balance is different.
Can you change a photo from colour to black and white?
You can do this with our online tool.
If you have chosen to have us show you some possible treatments of the photo, we will show the picture to you in black and white as one of the options.
You can visit our 'How we improve the photo for you' page, to see examples.
How do I hang the canvas?
The canvases are really quite light, so you can actually hang them very easily on just one or two screws in the wall. Although we do finish them all with eyelets, you may find it easier – as we do at home – to just hang them straight onto the screw. Hanging them like this also means that they sit flush to the wall which looks great.
Caring for your canvases - Premium canvases
How durable are the premium canvas prints?
Very durable indeed. We print using specialist UV resistant inks and due to the Dye Sublimation canvas printing process, the inks penetrate deep into the canvas rather than sitting on top of it. To test the durability we’ve poured boiling water onto the canvases and even put them through a number of cycles in the washing machine – all with no discernable colour change to the naked eye.
Are the premium canvases sealed?
No. Because of the canvas printing process, you can't rub the colour off, so there’s no need to put a plasticised coating over the top. With a lovely matt finish and subtle grain, the canvas is actually proper fabric material, so has a very different look and feel to the Giclee prints.
How can I clean the premium canvas?
Should it get dusty, the best way to clean the canvas is with an appropriate vacuum attachment such as a curtain nozzle or a lint roller. You can also wipe them with a damp cloth with mild soapy water if they get marked. Avoid getting the frame soaking wet as it may warp. Do not use solvents.
Can I put a premium canvas in a bathroom?
Under normal bathroom conditions the canvases should not be affected. You should avoid getting water on the wooden frame and although a small splash won't hurt, it’s best to try and keep it dry. If the bathroom is particularly steamy – or a swimming pool room for example - there is a slight danger that this could lead to warping of the frame. If you do intend to hang the canvas in this sort of environment, then we can use a synthetic stretcher bar to ensure that no warping takes place, just let us know.
Can the premium canvases go outside?
If you want to use your
photos on canvas outside, we will use synthetic stretcher bars to ensure that no warping takes place . Outdoor canvases are becoming very popular with garden designers who want to add a new dimension to the concept of the outdoor room. The right image in the right spot can look amazing.
Caring for your canvases – Standard canvases
How durable are the standard canvas prints?
Our standard canvases are printed using specialist UV resistant inks guaranteed not to fade. Under normal conditions (i.e. not in direct sunlight or outside) the canvases will comfortably outlast you. As with normal artwork they should be treated with respect and you should avoid rubbing them hard or scratching them!
Are the standard canvases sealed?
Yes. The canvases have a lovely matt finish, so you don’t get any reflection from the surface.
How can I clean the standard canvas?
Should it get dusty, the best way to clean the canvas is with a soft duster.
Do not use solvents or damp cloths on the canvas.
Can I put a standard canvas in a bathroom?
If you want to put a
photo on canvas in the bathroom you should really order one of our Premium canvases.
Can the standard canvases go outside?
No! Again if you want to put a canvas outside you should order one of the Premium canvases.
Delivery
How much is delivery?
Delivery in the UK is is £7.76 (Inc. VAT).
It is by courier (DHL, Citylink, TNT or Parcelforce) and for this one price we can send up to about 5 canvases, depending on how big they are.
If ordering from outside the UK, the delivery cost will be calculated by the ordering tool based on the destination and canvas size. International deliveries are via a number of carriers - whoever represents the best value for that destination.
If ordering from outsie the EU, do remember that VAT (Tax) will be taken off.
How do you make sure my canvas print arrives safely?
To ensure your canvas print reaches you in perfect condition, we take great care in packing it up. The whole canvas is poly wrapped and packed in a cardboard box and firmly secured.
Below you can see some photos of a canvas being packed up ready for despatch.
