ECONOMY.  When making a canvas transfer, it’s first necessary to make posters.  Only then can you transfer them onto canvas.  Those two steps add cost to the overall production.

QUALITY.  You can print more colors on a Giclee than on a typical poster.  Generally posters are printed using four colors (the old CMYK process).  With Giclée, you can use seven, eight or more colors without adding to the cost of the print.  You get richer colors and deeper blacks.  Canvas transfers, although very popular, have a limited life.

PEACE OF MIND.  With a Giclée, the test print you get will look like the final print.  In fact, it is exactly the same product you will receive, just smaller.  When you deal with canvas transfer, you first get a simulated print made on a different material, by another machine than will run the final job.  Then those posters are laminated, dipped in water, separated from the paper base, and then sandwiched between two materials by another company.  The final result will not closely resemble the poster, and the poster will not resemble the original. If you are not happy, oh well.


Turn around time
Once we receive your upload, it may take up to 24 hours to check your images to make sure they are ready for size/proportion and resolution to reduce risk of printing files with errors. We will then send out the invoice and a Paypal request for payment. (you do not need to have a Paypal account to pay with a credit card) Once payment is received, it take about 3-7 business days for production, depending of your size order and our work load, plus shipping time to your area using Fedex as our courier (see map on our shipping info tab, it is a Fedex map and we can not guarantee their time table).

 
What types of files do you accept?
We accept tiff, jpg and jpeg files. Be sure to specify the file extension (for example: imagename.jpg) in the file name or it will not work.

Your files should be in RGB and at 200 dpi for resolution at final format. We have gone much lower (100-150 dpi) with good results but it is a case by case situation depending on the image.


Is there a set-up fee?
We do not have a set-up fee. In saying that, if there is any cropping or skewing that needs to be done with your files before we can begin production, there will be a fee invoiced.


Can I receive a test print before I order to see your colors and material?
Yes. You would upload just like an order and select the option proof first. We would then send you a free 8x10 in the mail of your image on the material that you would request your order on. Once you receive your proof, you would then email us to proceed with your order. We will not send an invoice until your approval on the proof is received via email.

What are your materials available for Giclées reproductions?
-       100% archival cotton canvas
-       Tetxtured watercolor 400 gsm
-       Smooth watercolor 230 gsm



What type of ink do you use?
We use aqueous pigmented inks rated at 200 years.

We don't use solvent inks for they emit harmful VOC (volatile organic compounds) into the air that may be harmful to your health.


Dye vs pigment
Dye inks can, in theory, produce more colors than pigment inks.  The drawback is stability.  Within a few months, dye images start to degrade.  If a dye image is displayed in a sunny room, changes can be visible in only 2 - 3 months.  Dye prints may fade irreparably in just one year.  In the past, many companies expected their dye inks to last 25 years.  Experience proved them all wrong.  Pigments by nature are far more resistant to degradation.  Pigments have been used in paintings since mankind’s earliest cave art 40,000 years ago; they are the reason we can still see and enjoy them today!


What type of printer do you use?
We use Epson and Canon printers which are pretty much the standard for printing giclées.


What type of coating do you use on the canvas?
We offer only one coating surface which is somewhere between gloss and semi-gloss. In our opinion it is the surface that offers the best saturation and contrast but without the drawbacks of high gloss. It is enhanced UV, water and abrasion resistant. We use a machine to coat the canvas. Spray and rollers do not do a really good job, and you can not coat a few hundred giclées in one day using these methods.


What are your scanning fees and options?
We offer 2 options for scanning.

1) Automatic colors. This is pretty much what everybody does. Everything is calibrated so the scan should be perfect. Price is $50.00

2) Manual color correction. The reality is that automatic perfection is less than...perfect. It is possible to come closer to perfection by adjusting all the colors one by one. It takes more time but the results are usually superior. Price is $150.00

What type of scanning technology do you use?
Our scanning technology is the very best. It will capture all the textures of an original and at the same time eliminate all unwanted reflections on glossy surfaces without the use of color shifting polarization. Also, it will not expose the original to intense lights nor will it enter in contact with it. Contrary to digital camera capture, this technology does not use interpolation or complicated algorythmes to correct the inherent drawback of the Beyer matrix used in digital cameras. In brief you get better colors, more information per meg, a sharper image and all the texture.


How many files can I upload at one time?
You may upload 25 files at one time. If you have multiple large files, you may upload a few at a time with no worries. We will place all uploads in your name together when it is time to invoice and they will ship together. Ensure you mention that you have more upload(s) following in the note section.

When you upload, be patient. It may take a while for the upload to be completed depending on your configuration. Just let it run its process until you receive the "upload successful" message. If you try to get back to it before the end, it will cancel itself. We receive uploads all day and some of them are over 700MB.


What borders are available for canvas?

-       black

-       white

-       color of your choice (indicate the code in the note section)

-       image (needs to be considered on the uploaded image)