CANVAS PRINTING

[nash]

i`m think of starting canvas printing in house and FUJI FILM have a package called GREEN BOX which comes with a 7800 EPSON Printer, a roll of canvas plus software and set-up for about £2500.00 with 3 monthly split payments.

ANY advise appreciated PRO`s and CON`s  

[Big Dave]

Do give it a try.  

You can still do regular enlargements with the 78xx printers (newest is the 7900 24", but stay with the 7800 or 7880 as InkJetMall has great compatible inks & refillable cartridges, but none for the 7900 yet) use speed mode not quality.

We got our 7880 about 1.5 years ago, and has more than paid for itself with the enlargements we've been doing.  We use the Kodak 24" photo luster papers and it's working great, and cheaper than the Epson media.  Our costs are about $2.70 / 16x20 for ink & paper and we charge $35 @.

We have a guy here in the US that has the Standard stretcher bars for a VERY GOOD price about $2 / piece, and you can do a good Canvas stretched for a minimum of $50 (big box stores) up to what ever your market will bear.  Most 16x20's sell for at least $100 -- research on-line, but your costs are very low and you can do very well.  It takes about 10-15 minutes to stretch manually (we have a generic staple gun and a canvas stretching tool) if you're slow.  And you can mount onto hardboards for standard frames if you want.

It took a while for our first Canvas sale, but we've sold TONS of 16x20's & larger while waiting for our first canvas sale.  

[NeilT]

Back in 2005 when I had the business I knocked up a tuturial, thats still worth looking at http://www.minilabhelp.com/forum/Blah.pl?m-1114600122/

[Big Dave]

Neil, is that you in the last picture ??

[NeilT]

The boy on the left will look like me when grown up, he's my son  

[nash]

what would happen if i did`nt varnish, we have a local chap down the road and all he does is canvas prints all day in an hour or two

How will i compete with that?

[Richard SPC]

Nash,

With inky printed canvas, if you are planning to stretch them with any sort of tension the edges will crack if not varnished prior to stretching. By varnishing using an acrylic varnish you are not only reducing the risk of cracking, but also protecting the inked surface against moisture.

The idea of a stretched canvas print is to STRETCH it. If you don't do this it will be as saggy as a wet pair of knickers and look dreadful.

I produce hundreds of canvas wraps a year using a pure white 450g canvas from Papergraphics (01293643532) which is then varnished using a low pressure spay gun. When dry it is hand stretched around strain bars. Using this method it is possible to end up with a wrap that is taught enough to play a tune on like a drum.

Both Epson and Kodak produce a glossy canvas that they claim does not need varnishing to protect the surface. This is true, but it does still crack to some extent on the edges when stretched tight so my advice would be to stick to normal canvas and seperate varnish.

If your competitor is not varnishing he will be charging less to his punters. Don' get hung up on price for what is a Premium product. Focus on out and out quality and value for money. Remember that value for money does not mean cheap. If it did we would all shop at Tesco and M&S would go bust.

I am more than happy to explain my canvas workflow to any of you if you contact me.

[nash]

Thankyou Richard that explains alot

[Tony.T]

Good reply Richard- perhaps you should post most more details and I will make it a 'sticky'

[AJLA]

Go for it Nash, it's a very profitable add on to what you already do, the canvases are very easy to stretch and not too time consuming to do.

I have the much older version the 7600 Pro and it has been a great machine.

Call Mandev, they will send you some canvas samples, I mainly use Fuji but I also use Mandevs 17" for smaller canvases, I  like them to look like  natural canvas and not too plastic and they have a good range.

[nash]

Hey AJLA what do use to protect your canvas Frog Juice or Clear Varnish

[AJLA]

Frog juice, a more expensive option but very easy to apply a leaves a natural look if applied correctly.  I was considering an option by Mandev but haven't got around to it.  It would interesting to hear if anyone does use it.

[nash]

AJLA do you spray it on

[Tony.T]

I've started using a new material from Kodak. It's a pre-coated canvas that has a very nice lustrous finish. Just print and go- You need to leave it for 24 hrs after printing to allow it to harden off properly. Tetenal supply it.

part no:- 084 00144A

[nash]

Hey Tony T  i tried that part number and got nothing, can you please post a link

[Christina Rose]

we are doing canvas printing  for the last 5 years.  we are printing on epson LFP and after that doing  lamination. (heat press). so far no complaint and good business for us. we used to print monthly at least  100 metre. i would like to know about  varnishing. because never ever use that. heat press lamination we found great. but which is very big machine and sucks too much electricity.

C.............R

[Tony.T]

Nash- it was only just released about 6 weeks ago. The part no I read off the box!

Phone Tetenal on 0870 460 8996

[AJLA]

I spray on and it's ready to stretch about 10 mins later.  This stuff has been tested to the limits in my shop as I have had x2 in a window where other items fade in 2 weeks this is as good as new.  I like to update my images but this one shows people the longevity of our canvases.

I myself have bought canvases, a set of 3 which faded in less than 6 months, very dissapointing!

[nash]

Thanks All

so now which are the most popular sizes and at what prices to charge, but remembering we have to compete with online prices aswell as your your big super stores

[AJLA]

I suppose  the retail prices depend on your location, I know of people in other areas charges muche higher prices than mine and they turn them over...How? As you say you have to bear in mind the internet prices etc.

I used to start of with 10x8 so that I could print x2 side by side on a 24" roll but this was a bit tight and they didn't sell very well.

I now stock 17" canvas and 24" so my sizes start with 10x12 up to 20 x24 from £34.99 to £49.99

[Tony.T]

I offer 3 'standard' sizes, 16x12 (£50) 20x16 (£65) and 20x30 (£99)

These are the most popular sizes. Obviously I can do any size in between. I also do a long 30x 12 filmstrip style (looks like a strip of unmounted slide film) with 3 images on it for £80.

When comparing prices with on line sites don't forget to add their delivery charges. That can start to make us look quite competitive !

[YEP]

I am more than happy to explain my canvas workflow to any of you if you contact me.

That would be highly appreciated as well as the economics and "marketing" of it all.

As I can see from other posts here one can use the printer (f.ex. epson 7800 / 7880) to do enlargements/big prints (beyond 20x30cm) while trying to market canvas type prints and make the enlargements "finance" the printer.

Secondly, is there ways to make dualsided prints for photo-books and similar products or is the cost of prints to high and one should look for a contractor to pass on that headache it can be ??

3'rd. I've heard that there can be issues with the heads of theses inkjet printers (and the heads don't come cheap). Is this a matter of doing your job cleaning and maintaining them or is there other specific reasons for this ?

The reason I ask those questions is that one should try and have as much profitable production for the investment.

In this case an inkjet printer.

Thanks in advance for your valuable replies