Will My Canvas Print Gallery Wrap?

Printing photos on canvas is very popular for all the reasons: longevity, more vibrance, art, elegance.  Choosing the photo to print on canvas should not be exasperating. We have discussed the preference of choosing photos that have good resolution and image quality in previous posts and the next important thing to care about is what you want.  Canvas lends an artsy elegance to a photo so it doesn’t matter if you choose a photo of people or scenery or animals.  It doesn’t matter if you are a professional photographer, an amateur photographer or  were just someone who had a camera handy at an opportune moment!

When you send your digital or traditional photograph off to have it printed on canvas, you need to know a few things about what these company do.  Most companies primarily print the photo so that the image wraps around the stretcher bars.  Wrapping the image around the stretcher bars is called “gallery wrap”.  The gallery wrap style eliminates the need for a frame , allowing the canvas to hang as it is and is very attractive. The gallery wrap does not preclude the option of framing the canvas, however, which makes it a very attractive win-win method for the customer.

In order to have your image gallery-wrapped, your photo needs to have sufficient “background” imagery around the subject of the photo so that nothing important gets wrapped to the sides. Computer photo programs are pretty sophisticated these days so if the perimeter of the image isn’t something complicated, it can be copied to increase the imagery and allow the gallery wrap to work.  Of course, this is possible even if it is a photo of a landscape that needs additional image added for the wrap.

You may want your photo printed on canvas and the want it gallery wrapped but the primary subject of the photo comes right to the edge of your photo and the “background” image is such that it can’t be increased for whatever reason. You can still have it gallery wrapped but you will have to add a colored border – usually black – for the sides that wrap.  The canvas printer will size your photo to fit the face of the canvas and add the border for the rest of it. An example: you want a 16 x 20 canvas done in gallery wrap.  The photo would be sized to accommodate the wrap so, for 3/4″ stretcher bars, an additional 1.75″ would be added to each dimension.  Your 16 x 20 would be sized to 17.75 x 21.75.

If this new size means that important parts of your photo will wrap, the better option would be to size the photo as 16 x 20 then add a border color for the .875″ on each and every side.  You must be aware, however, that this method cannot be exact as canvas does, in fact, stretch, so there will likely be some amount of bleed over to one side or two. This bleed-over is usually negligible but it is mandatory that the canvas be taut so stretched tautness must take priority over perfect alignment of the image to the face edges of the stretcher bars.

Your canvas Printer should keep you informed if there are placement issues and provide you with proofs of how your canvas print will look, so worry not.  Print your wonderful photos to the elegance of canvas and enjoy!

Your Photo to Print on Canvas – Quality

Most people probably think of digital photos when they consider printing a photo on canvas.  Most companies that do this work have upload capabilities that can be done right from the computer. This is certainly easy but it is not the only way to go and we must remember our favorite traditional photos that we want transferred to the elegance of canvas.

Let’s talk about digital photos first. Most of us have digital cameras and the newer ones are 6 and 8 Mega Pixels and above.  Even new cell phones have 6 mega pixel cameras! Beware, however, that just because your camera is 6, 8, 12 or more mega pixels that the photo you have taken is of sufficient resolution and image quality for enlarging.  Be sure to read your manual and set your camera to its best.  Briefly, resolution relates to the pixel count captured in the image. The denser the pixels, the better the resolution and enlargement is easy. Low resolution will cause your image to pixelate when enlarged. In accordance with your particular camera, you want to set it to the largest setting, typically shown as something like 3888 x 2592. Such a setting limits the number of photos you can take before downloading but you will have the quality and won’t miss out on the option to enlarge!  The other setting, image quality, relates to compression.  The greater the compression, the less quality you will have (high compression is good for emailing but not for enlarging).  Higher compression will result in ghosting and blotchy colors when enlarged.  So, however it is designated in your camera (check your manual), you want to set your camera to the least compression.

For your traditional photographs that you will be mailing in, there is no way to know until they are scanned and the digital image evaluated. Obviously, newer film cameras are a lot better than some from 20 and more years ago.  There is also the issue of the quality of the camera.  It is rare, however, that a traditional photo can’t be used.

Whether digital or traditional, your photos will be evaluated for their desired size and purpose by the canvas photo printer and an advisement will be given if there are any issues.  Likewise, old damaged traditional photos can usually be repaired and brought to sufficient “health” for printing on canvas.

The canvas printing company should never just print your image as received. If attention is needed – even if it is just to brighten the image for printing – it will be done. Canvas printing companies have sophisticated tools to enhance your images for the best possible canvas print but remember the mantra that the quality of the source photo directly relates to the quality of the canvas print. This doesn’t mean that you don’t choose your cherished photo.  It just means that you must not have unrealistic expectations if your chosen photo is ‘somewhat lacking’.

Canvas Photo Prints – The Why of it

Canvas has become a popular medium for photo printing and if you haven’t seen a canvas photo yet, you are missing out.  Canvas has texture and depth that lends a pizzazz to a photograph like no other medium. The elegance of canvas breathes life into a photograph and makes you smile every time you look at it.  Of course, the source photo directly relates to the canvas print so the better the quality of the photo, the better the quality of your canvas print.

Once you make the decision to print your photo to canvas, you choose the professional to do it.  You will want your photo prepared the best it can be.  You may want to remove something  or crop and re-center or perhaps it is a traditional photograph that is old, faded or has other problems that need attention.  When your photo is sent to a professional for printing on canvas, it should be examined and evaluated for the intended size and purpose.  If there are any issues, you should be advised of the issues/limitations so you can make the determination to continue,  send another photo or cancel the order.

Many people will continue with a not-so-good traditional photograph or even digital image because of the sentiment attached to the image,  making it too important not to print on canvas. The reason to print on canvas will not only give greater longevity to the image but it gives the image a satisfying dynamic that is really difficult to explain.  This does not mean that you should be sloppy in your selection of image(s) to print on canvas, rather, it means to not be hog-tied by perceived limitations.  Rule of thumb, place the order and let the professionals evaluate and advise.  If you are not comfortable with that, email (or snail mail) the image to them and ask their opinion.

One of the best things of printing photos on canvas is creating a piece of art that is unique.  The canvas means something to you because of the subject of the image.  You can print up your photos on canvas to decorate your home, to simply have a favorite photo brought to life on canvas or to give as a gift.  Canvas prints are affordable and perfect as meaningful, unique gifts: birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, thank you’s, commemorations, and just because.  What type of photos? Family, kids, babies, pets, vacation scenes, landscapes, flowers, birds, horses, buildings, homes, cottages, beaches, boats, clouds..whatever you want and whatever pleases you.

Join the elegance and fun of printing your photos on canvas today.