There are lots of things to consider when we print your chosen photograph or artwork on to a custom canvas. For your convenience here is a summary of tips, extras and options available to you at Custom Canvas.
Gallery Wrap or Border?
“Gallery wrap” is where an image continues, or wraps, around the canvas frame, like this:
Sometimes wrapping will affect the subject matter or the balance of the photograph, in which case a border can be added to the sides of the canvas. A "border" is a solid band of colour added to the outside of your image, lined up with the edge of the canvas frame and not visible of the face (front panel) of your canvas:
If your canvas needs a border you can choose a border in any colour of your choice or you can leave it for us to select a colour to match your image. If you do not email us with your preferences we will assume you are happy for us to use our creative expertise, in which case this is the process we'll use:
- When gallery wrapping will not affect the subject matter or the balance of the image we will do that as our preferred option.
- If on first glance something important will obviously be affected by gallery wrapping, e.g. faces are close to edges, we will select a border colour to best match the image. If that is unclear we try a few colours from the image and see what looks best- often it is made to match surrounding sky or water.
- Sometimes the best option is not obvious so we may email you a wrapping estimate to get your opinion. We will look in detail at how wrapping will affect your photo.
*NEW* MIRRORED BORDER OPTION
We've recently added mirrored borders to our range of Custom Extras. Our designer will reflect the outside 40mm of your image as a border, lined up with the edges of the frame. This gives the appearance of a gallery wrap without affecting the image and costs $19. If you are comfortable using Photoshop or other similar software you can add a border yourself to the image, but please make sure your calculations are perfect or it will slow down your order and may cost more to fix!
To order a mirrored border for your canvas order, go to our extras page before you get to the checkout :)
How much will wrap?
Exactly how much wraps on your canvas will depend on the size of the finished canvas. The frame is 35mm thick so about 40mm of every side wraps around the sides and back of the frame.
On a 600x400mm canvas the
wrap is 8% on the short side
and 6% of the long side.
The same photo on a smaller
200x150mm canvas will wrap
17% on the short sides and
14% on the long sides.
If you are concerned about the amount that will wrap, ask us to show you what is will look like and we'll work out with you what is the best option for your image.
SIZING
Your finished canvas may have different dimensions than the canvas size you ordered. We like to retain the integrity of your image so we don’t crop a photo to fit a canvas size unless you specifically ask us to. On rare occasions we strongly believe the finished canvas will be improved by cropping and in these cases we'll email you. Our standard practice is to adjust the canvas size to suit your photograph and get as close to the overall area of your ordered canvas as we can. You will not have to pay any more for your canvas if we have to go larger than the size you ordered.
If you need a particular size to fit a space on your wall please email us either when you order or beforehand and we will arrange it for you.
STANDARD SYNTHETIC or TEXTURED COTTON CANVAS?
Our standard synthetic canvas is 100gsm, durable, lightweight, flat and has a gloss finish.
On request we can print on to a 260gsm cotton canvas which is thicker, textured and has a matt finish. Cotton costs an additional 15%.
HOW TO HANG YOUR CANVAS
There is a convenient 'hanging groove' in the frame of all our canvases, to ensure that the canvas hangs flush on your wall and also has minimal movement.
This groove is already in the canvas frame like a mini trench, so there is nothing more to do before it takes place of pride on your wall. You can use either standard picture hooks OR a protruding flat head screw (for plaster or conrete walls in particular). The edge of the hook or screw fits snug in the hanging groove:
THE PROCESS
Here's a step by step guide to how things are done at CustomCanvas :)
- Your order arrives into our system either via our website, by email or trademe (trader name 'custom.canvas')
- We match your images to your order and save the details together, on our office pc
- The images are run through our Custom Calculator to determine the quality, the finished dimensions and the wrap/border option.
- At this stage we may email you to finalise these details if they are different from what we would normally do
- When the images have been through these tests your order enters the print queue. You will receive an automated confirmation email outlining the dimensions and gallery wrap/border details within 24 hours of the print queue acceptance. Delivery is 10-14 working days from this date.
- The printing department will print your order in the following few days. The canvas is given time to dry both before and after treatment with a UV protectant.
- A solid NZ pine 35mm frame is made, custom-sized, for your printed canvas, which is stretched around the frame and secured by staples.
- Your canvas order is carefully transferred to a despatch centre, where they are sent out in batches three days a week.
- Our office robot sends another automated email once the tracking details have been entered into the system, usually the same day as the order is despatched.
- When we hear back from you that you've received the canvas order safe n sound we archive your pic. A copy of the order details are retained on the website system and the images are cleared from this every six months or so.