What size and Lamination ( protection) Glossy or Matte, looks and sells the best on fine art gallery prints on canvas. I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks
I'm speaking from the portrait world rather than the fine art world, but among portratists covering a canvas with ANYTHING is a no-no. They're framed in heavier frames (usually wood of some sort), unmatted and uncovered. The point is to augment the feeling of a "painting" in all ways. Signatures go right on the canvas in the LRC.
It's also much more common for the canvas to be mounted on a stretcher rather than a rigid backing, which makes the mount thicker Along with the heavy frame, that makes the whole installation stand out from the wall more than conventionally framed photos. Canvases are the "high priced spread" in our studio, and we're extremely careful about presentation.
I'm interested in hearing from the fine art types on this one, too.
Hank, this would be canvas on a 2 1/2 streacher., unmatted and unframed. I'm thinking the lamination glossy or matte would be a protective spray such as what I spray my oil paintings on canvas with. I had one done on a rigid backing in matte, which I have never been happy with , as it is too dull and seems washed out. so I don't want the same surface finishing on this, but I don't want to go to the extreme with glossy either.
Check out this site:
http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/
After quickly going through a few cans of the spray (nasty stuff - don't try it without a respirator) I went to the ECO-Print Shield. I mix about two parts glossy to one part matte and get an effect that I like. I thin it a bit with water for ease of application. It definitely takes some trial and error to get the process down but they do have good instructions.
Good luck.
Posted by Nelcha Cross on June 25, 2008 at 2:05 AM
Jackie,
I am curious as to exactly whom your target audience is?
I personally have dealt with numerous galleries and not one of them
would ever consider accepting a "printed on canvas" stretched image
as a Fine Art Print. Maybe it's just a local art preference, but many
hotels, restaurants and such would use them but not for show
in a Fine Art Gallery that is using museum standards.
I have thought of doing these also, but have refrained
just for this reason. If you know of galleries that accept
them, then go for it. I would suggest Matte and probably 16x20.
just my 2 cents.
I use Marshall's Image Guard lacquer spray with good results on my canvases. It's easy to use, not too smelly in a well-ventilated area. It's a must if you do art shows as an incredible number of people have to "see" with their fingers. It leaves no discernable finish, matte or glossy. Found it at dickblick.com
Thanks everyone for your input. WHCC does my printing and they offer Fine Art Gallery prints on canvas 2 1/2 "streacher frame. "All gallery wraps are protected with a special laminate designed for canvas prints. Your gallery Wrap will be protected from scuffs and scratches, and the laminate offers UV protection, Lamination is included in the price of a Gallery Wrap and is available with either a Matte or Glaossy finish." I am wondering if I should request the Matte finish or should I request the Glossy finish? Which one would look and sell the best.? I'm thinking the viewing area of a 16 x 20 would be too small since 2 1/2 inches will be used from the origional photo to cover the sides leaving only a viewing area of about 14 x 18.If I am going to spend this kind of money to have one made I certainly want it to be a show stopper. As for my own oil paintings which are few and far between, I thank you for your information Joyce. I see many of the canvas Gallery Prints in Shows that I attend and they sell well, even at $300-$450 each. Also, Hank what lab do you use? Bay Photo Lab has this offer also but My compurter is not calabrated to their printers. I am in the process of caliberating to their printers on another computer so I am hoping to analize their work also.
"All gallery wraps are protected with a special laminate designed for canvas prints. Your gallery Wrap will be protected from scuffs and scratches, and the laminate offers UV protection, Lamination is included in the price of a Gallery Wrap and is available with either a Matte or Glaossy finish."
That sounds almost like the same words our lab uses, Jackie. For our tastes, the matte usually looks better than the glossy, even with portraits.
As for size, I'd recheck with your lab, but a 16x20 should have a 16x20 viewing area with the stertcher frame concealed under it. There's extra canvas outside the image itself, and that's lapped over the edge of the stretcher and behind it. Maybe I'm reading your words wrong, but a 16x20 canvas on a stretcher is still a 16x20 rather than a smaller size.
We use H&H Color Labs in Kansas City, Jackie. They do superb work! There's a bit of rigamaroll in gettings started with them, but in the end you have an account and most importantly a contact person (they call them associates) assigned to you, giving you a single contact point within the large company. Your associate stays on top of your orders and answers all your questions. In our experience it's an invaluable resource, compared to dealing with a new and different voice each time you call or email. Any time we want to try a new product or service, they really make it easy. And on a couple of my wife's wedding albums (very high dollar BTW), our associate's vigillance has averted a major snafu on color space or layout. They really know what they are doing.
You may already know (and do) this Jackie, but it's worth passing along to you, just in case:
If you are having a lab far away do your printing, SAVE the packaging when the canvases arrive. You may not need it right now and it may be a pain to store, but there is really nothing that comes close to recycling the great packaging done by the labs for your own shipping.
And a followup note on using distant labs. When your canvases arrive, inspect them closely. Even the smallest crack, scratch, chip or blemish is grounds for asking the lab to do the work again at their costs. They should cheerfully do it for you at no cost.
We actually get more for our 16x20's than the prices you cite, and our price goes up to well over $1k as you get into the 30" range on any dimension. When you're asking those kind of prices, and canvases are the premier product for your business, you simply can't afford to have the smallest flaws.
Discussion
10 repliesI'm speaking from the portrait world rather than the fine art world, but among portratists covering a canvas with ANYTHING is a no-no. They're framed in heavier frames (usually wood of some sort), unmatted and uncovered. The point is to augment the feeling of a "painting" in all ways. Signatures go right on the canvas in the LRC.
It's also much more common for the canvas to be mounted on a stretcher rather than a rigid backing, which makes the mount thicker Along with the heavy frame, that makes the whole installation stand out from the wall more than conventionally framed photos. Canvases are the "high priced spread" in our studio, and we're extremely careful about presentation.
I'm interested in hearing from the fine art types on this one, too.
Anyone else?
Check out this site:
http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/
After quickly going through a few cans of the spray (nasty stuff - don't try it without a respirator) I went to the ECO-Print Shield. I mix about two parts glossy to one part matte and get an effect that I like. I thin it a bit with water for ease of application. It definitely takes some trial and error to get the process down but they do have good instructions.
Good luck.
I am curious as to exactly whom your target audience is?
I personally have dealt with numerous galleries and not one of them
would ever consider accepting a "printed on canvas" stretched image
as a Fine Art Print. Maybe it's just a local art preference, but many
hotels, restaurants and such would use them but not for show
in a Fine Art Gallery that is using museum standards.
I have thought of doing these also, but have refrained
just for this reason. If you know of galleries that accept
them, then go for it. I would suggest Matte and probably 16x20.
just my 2 cents.
That sounds almost like the same words our lab uses, Jackie. For our tastes, the matte usually looks better than the glossy, even with portraits.
As for size, I'd recheck with your lab, but a 16x20 should have a 16x20 viewing area with the stertcher frame concealed under it. There's extra canvas outside the image itself, and that's lapped over the edge of the stretcher and behind it. Maybe I'm reading your words wrong, but a 16x20 canvas on a stretcher is still a 16x20 rather than a smaller size.
We use H&H Color Labs in Kansas City, Jackie. They do superb work! There's a bit of rigamaroll in gettings started with them, but in the end you have an account and most importantly a contact person (they call them associates) assigned to you, giving you a single contact point within the large company. Your associate stays on top of your orders and answers all your questions. In our experience it's an invaluable resource, compared to dealing with a new and different voice each time you call or email. Any time we want to try a new product or service, they really make it easy. And on a couple of my wife's wedding albums (very high dollar BTW), our associate's vigillance has averted a major snafu on color space or layout. They really know what they are doing.
If you are having a lab far away do your printing, SAVE the packaging when the canvases arrive. You may not need it right now and it may be a pain to store, but there is really nothing that comes close to recycling the great packaging done by the labs for your own shipping.
And a followup note on using distant labs. When your canvases arrive, inspect them closely. Even the smallest crack, scratch, chip or blemish is grounds for asking the lab to do the work again at their costs. They should cheerfully do it for you at no cost.
We actually get more for our 16x20's than the prices you cite, and our price goes up to well over $1k as you get into the 30" range on any dimension. When you're asking those kind of prices, and canvases are the premier product for your business, you simply can't afford to have the smallest flaws.