The Process
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Cezanne Elite scanner we use for canvas printing

We operate in Hereford based studio using latest Adobe photo editing software driven by the cutting edge Apple Mac's. We print using latest Epson Stylus Pro range printers. We offer professional approach to canvas photo printing service. Please read our section on canvas resolution guide if you have any doubts about your photo or simply send it to us for comments.

CANVAS PRINTING

Our mission is to put your photos on canvas. We believe that to achieve this no compromises should be made. We only use pigment based inks - which can produce far greater gamut of colours than solvent inks, flat-bed or dye-sublimation inks.

These alternative inks often used by other suppliers are more suited for sign-making and designed to have better durability for outdoors. Pigment inks that we are using are more appropriate for photos and fine art printing. They have good UV resistance and have no odour/vapours. We only use genuine EPSON inks and printers.

1440x1440 dpi for all canvas prints

All canvas prints are produced @1440dpi, where most other companies are using 720dpi. In our experience 1440dpi is giving much better colour gamut and details, altough takes twice as long to print. Our priority is quality not speed. We use Breathing Color © 450gsm polycotton blend  canvas - which is ideal for photography and also reproduction of the art. Our printers can actually print at 2880x2880 but with canvas there are no benefits of using higher resolution - due to canvas texture.

2880x1440 for photo paper

All printing on photo papers is produced @2880x1440 dpi on a selection of EFI specialist papers.

CANVAS VARNISH

All canvas prints we produce receive two coats of museum grade varnish at no extra cost. As a standard we use Breathing Color Glamour II Gloss Giclee coating. Matt version is also available on request. There is also possiblity to achieve semi-matt or semi-gloss finish. Please enquire if you are interested in those.

Here are some benefits of laminating your canvas prints:

  • it improves the contrast of the picture,
  • it enriches the colours,
  • it increases UV resistance,
  • it allows for the canvas to be wiped with a damp cloth,
  • it prevents mould/fungus forming on the canvas,
  • it protects the canvas from chipping and cracking.

STRETCHER BARS

As standard we use 38mm deep fir wood kiln dried to 8% moisture content stretcher bars. 18mm stretchers will soon be also available. Cross braces are used on all frames over 32" long.

   

CALIBRATING

We take calibration process very seriously. It is a vital tool in canvas printing as it is in any other printing process. The truth is that even best printers will not produce best results if not calibrated correctly. Also even identical printers will reproduce the colors in a slighlty different way. All our equipment has been calibrated using industry leading hardware & software. We use Gretag Macbeth spectrophotometers with profile making software. Our printers are re-calibrated frequently to make sure your canvas prints are reproduced in best possible way. Every picture we print goes through the colour calibrating software - EFI Colorproof XF - which has footprints of all our printers. Please visit our blog section which contains guide to use our profiles for canvas printing.

Calibrating printer for canvas printing

Why calibration is so important ?

Calibration consists of the following steps:

- Linearization - to make sure that the right amounts of inks are put on the canvas - each media has got its own characteristic for maximum amounts of ink it can take,

- Dot gain evaluation per each ink channel,

- Establishing printer's own characteristics,

- Black tones balancing in the correct way, without hue shift,

ICC media profiles are available to download in our blog section - profile for canvas prints. You can use them in Adobe Photoshop for soft proofing - giving you good indication of how your canvas photo is going to look like when printed. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you require any further assistance. Please read our blog section on soft proofing if you'd like to use this option -  Soft proofing canvas prints.

SCANNING

We use high end, A3+ (up to 329x530mm) scanner with up to 20,000 dpi (interpolated) resolution - SCREEN Cezanne Elite - on of the best ever flat bed scanners. That means that none of the details from your originals will be lost. Your old negatives, slides or photos taken with conventional camera will produce even higher quality canvas prints than from digital cameras. All your originals will be returned to you together with your canvas prints.

OTHER MEDIA

As well as canvas photo printing we can also offer printing onto the range of specialist papers, all up to 44'' wide. We stock 245gsm EFI Best Colour Paper - one of the few with FOGRA Certificate - used as a professional proofing paper. Please contact us if you need more details.

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