Photo canvas

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Photo canvas is a coated fabric specially developed for printing, which is stretched onto a frame after printing . The fabric is similar to the canvas for painting. Photo canvas is traditionally used for art reproductions. However, it is used for photo enlargements or is often used for original decorations in the living area.

history

The first attempts to put photos on canvas were made in the 1970s. A photo emulsion was applied to the canvas and then exposed. After that the canvas had to be developed, fixed and watered. In terms of quality, the process was hopelessly inferior to traditional prints. Because of the high costs and very complex production , the photo canvas was reserved only for small avant-garde artistic circles. Only about 30 years later, thanks to digitization , was it possible for almost the entire printing industry to produce photo canvas economically and in high quality . Leading manufacturers of large format printers such as Seiko Epson Corporation and Hewlett-Packard as well as some paper manufacturers such as Hahnemühle or Canson have also made a significant contribution to improving the quality of the product. Photo canvas is no longer an adventurous undertaking like it was 40 years ago, but a safe and repeatable manufacturing process. Now everyone can afford a good quality photo canvas.

material

A fabric made of hemp fibers is usually used for printing a photo, but polyester or cotton threads can also be used. Polyester is preferable to achieve an even result. The cotton should be of good quality to avoid irregularities such as black residues in the fabric.

As with classic photo paper, there are also three fundamentally different types of photo canvas: matt, satin (semi-matt) and glossy. Because of the low reflection surfaces, matt canvases are usually used. In addition to these properties, there are also different surface structures . Coarse canvas structures are mostly used for art reproduction, medium and fine surfaces for the representation of photographs . In addition, the weight and ingredients of the canvas are important aspects. A high-quality linen fabric weighs between 340 and 500 g per m² and consists of at least 50% cotton . Low weight or completely synthetic components are a sure sign of inferior photo canvas.

Manufacturing

A canvas fabric with a special coating is used for the production of photo canvas . Only with this coating is it possible to represent the enormous color space and richness of detail that modern printers deliver today. In addition, the coating contributes significantly to the service life of the print.

The canvases are printed with large format printers specially developed for art reproduction . These have up to twelve colored pigment inks and almost completely cover the CMYK color space. The pigment inks are made from color pigments . The smaller and more homogeneous the pigments, the better the printing results. Modern large format printers can print with a droplet size of 3.5  picoliters .

A few years ago, water-based so-called DYE ink was used for printing. DYE ink is designed for short term indoor applications. This ink is sensitive to UV light and moisture. The DYE ink begins to disappear from the canvas surface after just six months. The pigment ink, on the other hand, has a shelf life of more than 200 years under certain conditions.

With the best printer conditions, the production of such an image takes about. 40 min / m². After printing, the canvas is cut to size and sprayed with a special varnish (protective varnish ). This step is not absolutely necessary, but it contributes to better surface protection. Otherwise the canvas is sensitive to mechanical influences such as scratching. For outdoor use, eco-solvent ink is used for printing. This solvent-based ink was designed for outdoor use. The ink is extremely resistant and can be used outdoors for several years without any problems. However, the process is not suitable for high-quality art reproductions, as only a small range of high-quality canvas media is available. In addition, pollutants that are harmful to health escape from some eco-solvent inks, which makes indoor use impossible. After printing, the fabric is pulled onto a frame using a stapler and tightened with wedges . There are innumerable types of canvas frames. The most popular are 2 cm standard stretcher frames and 4 to 6 cm thick museum stretcher frames. With the standard framing, the side edges are spanned with the motif, but not with the museum framing. The latter are mostly used for larger formats to ensure better stability .

maintenance

Because the canvases are sensitive to water, they should only be wiped with a dry cloth or dust. Otherwise the canvas is very easy to care for, and there is a color guarantee for decades.

Sources and individual references

  1. ↑ Fabian Lorenz: canvas print history. Retrieved November 13, 2014 .