Giclee nightmare

[Emibub]

Now that I have your attention. I have a giclee on canvas that I am framing. I brought up in another thread that it really smells strongly of ink. In fact I needed to leave the room because it is effecting my lungs a bit. Anyway, it was rolled very tightly into a tube that is maybe an inch and a quarter. I noticed while the clients were here that there were some hairline cracks along the bottom on the canvas. I told them I assumed from being rolled so tightly. Now that I have it stretched all along the top and the bottom are many hairline cracks. I'm still assuming it is from being rolled. I'm thinking the act of flattening it out is causing it. It looks horrible and I can just sense it isn't going to go well. This is the first thing I've had in a year and a half that has me this worried. Can anybody back up my thoughts on this? I don't have my camera here or I'd take a picture.

There are so many variables in art today that I'm thinking of not mounting anything ever agin.

[Less]

Don't worry, they all crack at the edges of the stretcher when you pull it tight. Just don't pull too tight. The rabbet lip will cover it. You are framing it - right? **** , oil paintings crack when you stretch them.

Don't loose any sleep over it.

All I said was H ell?

[ 05-30-2003, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]

[Rick Bergeron - CPF]

Hi Kathy,

To me, it didn't sound like you were talking about the cracks that form along the edge where the canvas wraps the stretcher as Less mentioned. Many, but definitely not all, of the giclee's that we've stretched, crack where they wrap the bar. I have never seen cracks that were significantly inside the wrap. There is a term used for length of time that a digital print should be allowed to dry/cure before framing, which is 7-10 days if memory serves me. I would think that any agressive folds/curls in the piece should also be avoided for a similar length of time. The smell you describe is very similar to that of one of the local guys prints that have been rolled as soon as the clearcoat has dryed to the touch and definitely not more than 24 hours after being printed.

You're probably correct in the assessment regarding tightly rolling caused the cracks.

[Emibub]

Rick, You got it exactly. I expect a painting or giclee to crack at the edge where you wrap. These cracks are severe I'd say for 2-3 inches in from the edge. In my opinion if I was stretching too tight it would have cracked on the sides too. I just think as tightly as this thing was rolled that is why it is only cracked along the top and bottom. I have stretched maybe 20-30 giclees and never have seen this problem.

I have never had one smell like this either. My whole backroom still smells of it and even though I have it wrapped on the sales floor I can still smell it.

I have been agonizing over this all day. I tend to obsess over these things and I won't be able to sleep til she picks it up. I mentioned over the phone in a message that I wasn't happy with the stretch and I would explain more later. I have dealt with her previously and she is okay to deal with but she is loud and boisterous. I used to thrive on the confrontations I had with customers at Michael's. In fact it was the only real counter time I did was when customers were boiling mad over something. I developed a real reputation of being able to soothe even the most hostile of people. I enjoyed the challenge and never took it personally. I got a thrill out of appeasing them and diffusing their anger. Believe me, I had plenty of practice. This is the first confrontation I am anticipating here and I hate it and I have to take it personally because it is only me here.............I hope she comes in the next half hour, I want this over with...............so I can stop obsessing.

[Shan Linde]

Kathy,

Now I am curious. Is it the coating that is cracking?

And why just the bottom?

IS it possible that what the customers have is a defective art processing situation...(bad production run or cast off)?

Cheap canvas? Wrong type of canvas for the printers ink? Not enough time drying?

I suggest these things because you obviously have had success with stretching other computer graphics....

Shan

[HannaFate]

ooh. It must have been rolled with the image side in. That's great for posters, but terrible for images on canvas.

It sounds like a defect from the printer, who rolled it incorrectly, and too soon after coating. Maybe your customer can get a replacement from the printer.

Let us know how it goes!

[Emibub]

Thanks for the responses. I really don't think I am to blame here. The smell alone convinces me it hadn't cured. I don't know enough about them to sing a good song though. The lady has not come in to pick it up and I will be on pins and needles until I get this monkey off my back. In fact I will give a back up call today to urge her to come in to look at this thing. I can't stand the suspense.

I took a look at it this morning and It even has new cracks in further than before. I am convinced it wasn't properly applied. I only hope I can convince the customer. Thanks for the replies though, I needed the reinforcement. I also need to have more involved insurance to cover this type of incident if it does backfire on me. I know I am not covered as well as I could be.

[Jerry Ervin]

Originally posted by Emibub:
The lady has not come in to pick it up and I will be on pins and needles until I get this monkey off my back.

Please don't leave us hanging.

Think positive. Maybe the person will really like the "aged" or "distressed" look.

Jerry

[Less]

A girl, in case we didn't know
I took a look at it this morning and it even has new cracks in further than before. I am convinced it wasn't properly applied.I had two beautiful little Giclées on heavy-weight rag. I went to dust off what I thought was a speck of dust, only to find more white spots appearing. Yikes! Apparently the ink was drying before it had a chance to bite into the paper and I was dusting the ink off the paper. These prints were not local, so I decided to finish the job and hope that the image didn't eventually end up in a pile on the mat bevel.

I am sure you are right Kathy. Ink quality, paper condition, proper printer set-up, and even the digital file itself play an important role in making a successful Giclée. Less came to quickly realize that the person behind the digital file and printer set-up is the MOST important part of the equation.

[ 06-06-2003, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]