Cheap Photo on Canvas Prints. Who Do You Trust?

On  a daily basis large numbers of individuals use the internet to search for photo on canvas prints. They type words that describe what they are trying to find into search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing as well as many others. They've got all kinds of motivations. Most of these reasons can be split into 1 of 2 categories; People looking to transfer family portraits or pictures onto canvas or people searching for a photo on canvas to be given as a gift. No matter what the reason for the search, many are searching for the same thing. They just simply want a great looking, high quality canvas print that will last and won't cost the earth.

It is possible to encounter, of course, both good and bad experiences when buying photo on canvas prints. Mainly because, as with most other products sold today, the market place is being flooded by low cost sellers selling inferior quality items.

The easiest way to avoid having a negative experience is to equip yourself with a little information first. The most important thing to remember is that not all canvas prints are the same. The quality of the print will vary significantly from company to company and with the current economic climate, an increasing number of cheap, sub-standard print sellers are surfacing, so beware! This is making it increasingly more difficult for amateur photographers (and even expert photographers like myself) to know who to have confidence in when wanting to purchase a photo on canvas print.

So how do you know that the specialist you decide on will do a good job?

From my experience, sticking to the below guidelines should help you find a dependable supplier who will supply you with a magnificent looking print that will last for many years.

1. Start by looking at the vendors website for signs of quality.

Does it look professionally created?
Are thier contact details shown?
Do they have testimonials on their site?

These are often key factors in ascertaining whether a company is professional, reliable and trustworthy.

2. Take a look at which materials and techniques will be used to make your canvas print. When looking for indications of good quality materials and workmanship, it would be useful for you to know a few specifics about canvas prints. Listed here are a few things for you to look out for.

Frame quality: Beware of suppliers who use solid wood frames that are manufactured in-house. A solid wood frame does not make it possible for the canvas to be tightened again with time and the canvas will sag and lose its shape. Always opt for a 4-piece pine frame. These 4-piece frames should preferably come with wooden wedges inserted into the inner corners of your frame allowing you to stretch the print over and over with time. It is important to bear in mind when buying a print, that the kind of wood used and the structure of your frame is integral to its durability.

Canvas material: Always opt for a print that is produced using 100% cotton canvas. This both improves the look of the canvas and stops discolouring. This kind of material also gives your print a more appealing matte finish.

Archival Inks: What are archival inks? Archival inks are inks which are fade resistant for up to 75 years. A lot of printers compromise quality by using other low cost varieties of ink. Always be certain that the supplier that you decide on uses archival inks. The preferred range of archival ink based, large format printers on the market at this time would have to be the Epson Ultrachrome 7880/9880 range. If these printers are being used, you can be certain of fantastic image quality.

Lacquering: A Lacquer coating should preferably be applied to both prevent cracking on the edges of the canvas (where the canvas meets the frame) and also to make it possible for you to easily keep your canvas clean by gently wiping it with a moist cloth. This kind of coating also protects the print from U.V fading in addition to preventing scratches and scuffs.

This protective layer increases both the quality of the finish and the durability of your canvas. Always ensure that such a coating will be applied to your print.

If you are considering choosing a photo on canvas print, keep in mind the points made in this guide to ensure that you receive a stunning, hard wearing canvas print that will last for many years to come.