John Brinkley
Grumbler
Have a 16x29 wedding photo on canvas with only 1" border. As this is my first of this type, should it be stretched on bars or mounted in some fashion? Any suggestions appreciated.
Question Photos on canvas.
- Thread starter John Brinkley
- Start date
FrameMakers
PFG, Picture Framing God
While 1" is a little tight, it can still be stretched on bars. Mounting will also work. It mostly depends on what the client wants.
Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
That can go either way and as Dave pointed out it should match the customer's desire.
It is probably a digital image printed by inkjet. As such, it might be damaged by application of heat, moisture, or pressure. Or maybe not. Infinite substrate/inkset/printer variations in the marketplace now, and there's no way to determine their limitations in advance, unless you know the details of their creation. You feel lucky?
Stretching is usually safe, but be careful about abrasions and marks on the image surface, which could be very fragile. Also be careful not to stretch too tightly, as the ink layers could crack at the edges. Also be careful not to stretch too loosely, as the canvas may relax and sag in a short time.
My favorite method is to use Lascaux 360 contact cement and a good quality board, such as 4-ply or 8-ply alphacellulose, reinforced by Coroplast. Chemical content and stability is important in framing digital images, so do not use just any contact cement.
Apply the contact cement to both surfaces, let it dry to the tacky stage, then join under moderate weight. If you have a vacuum press it might work perfectly, unless the extreme pressure and/or vibration of the machine would abrade the surface. Padding in the vacuum press doesn't seem to help if the image surface is fragile.
Digital images on canvas are among the most troublesome things we have to frame these days, because they are so unpredictable. Good luck.
Stretching is usually safe, but be careful about abrasions and marks on the image surface, which could be very fragile. Also be careful not to stretch too tightly, as the ink layers could crack at the edges. Also be careful not to stretch too loosely, as the canvas may relax and sag in a short time.
My favorite method is to use Lascaux 360 contact cement and a good quality board, such as 4-ply or 8-ply alphacellulose, reinforced by Coroplast. Chemical content and stability is important in framing digital images, so do not use just any contact cement.
Apply the contact cement to both surfaces, let it dry to the tacky stage, then join under moderate weight. If you have a vacuum press it might work perfectly, unless the extreme pressure and/or vibration of the machine would abrade the surface. Padding in the vacuum press doesn't seem to help if the image surface is fragile.
Digital images on canvas are among the most troublesome things we have to frame these days, because they are so unpredictable. Good luck.
Greg Fremstad
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I would recommend sending the photo back with the customer to the printer or photographer and have THEM mount it or stretch it. Ask them to bring back some unusable samples of the canvas so you can try different mounting methods. Get the latest Chris Paschke book on mounting - a great reference.
Don't spit on an inkjet print! Don't practice on customers art!
Don't spit on an inkjet print! Don't practice on customers art!
Quote by Greg Fremstad: "Don't spit on an inkjet print!"
Boy do I know this one from painful experience! And it's something I knew beforehand, but I really knew it after it happened. A couple years ago, I was framing three little Epson prints of Half Dome. Am careful not to talk while matting them, but had to say something to someone, and a tiny dewdrop flew from my mouth right onto the picture. Arrgh! To my horror, it immediately made a white circle over a sixteenth of an inch wide. Even after telling the customer, replacing the photo with another one from the same State Park gift shop, and sending them on their way happy, I have still kept the damaged photo. I show it to new employees when cautioning them not to do what I did.
Boy do I know this one from painful experience! And it's something I knew beforehand, but I really knew it after it happened. A couple years ago, I was framing three little Epson prints of Half Dome. Am careful not to talk while matting them, but had to say something to someone, and a tiny dewdrop flew from my mouth right onto the picture. Arrgh! To my horror, it immediately made a white circle over a sixteenth of an inch wide. Even after telling the customer, replacing the photo with another one from the same State Park gift shop, and sending them on their way happy, I have still kept the damaged photo. I show it to new employees when cautioning them not to do what I did.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
I'd say that's the safest approach.
Else, one would be going back to the same lab for a replacement photo (and paying for it!) if the mounting is skrewed up.
John Brinkley
Grumbler
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.