It is important to treat all inkjet or Giclee prints just like you would an original piece of art. Remember that like any original the way you frame it and care for it will affect the life of the image.

Paper Inkjet Prints.

The papers used for printing are coated with a special emulsion to encapsulate the inks. This emulsion will scratch if handled roughly. When framing a quality paper print, be sure to use a reputable framer who uses archival products that will assist in keeping your print looking good for generations to come. Do not frame paper prints behind glass for at least 24 hours after printing to allow for outgassing, the release of fumes from the drying inks. Always use mats or spacers to keep the print from touching the glass. Once framed your print should give you many years of pleasure provided it is displayed correctly.

Canvas Inkjet Prints.

A canvas inkjet print is not like a normal canvas product which an artist might paint on.

Our canvas prints are made from either 100% cotton canvas or a cotton/polyester blend coated with a special emulsion (called IRC – Ink Receptor Coating) to take the pigment inks which make up the image. Our archival canvas prints are all spray-coated with a special UV inhibiting liquid laminate called Aquathane, specifically designed to not only add to the lifespan of the product but to enrich the colours. This coating has been thoroughly tested and proven to be a huge benefit to the longevity of the colours of your reproduction.

When we frame our own prints we have great success in stretching them without cracking. However, the emulsion may crack or be scratched if the canvas is handled poorly. Cracking usually occurs where the canvas is folded too tightly around the points on the corners of your stretcher frame. If you purchase a rolled canvas from us then please advise your framer to use finger tension only when pulling the canvas on the frame. Ensure that your framer uses stretcher frames with slightly rounded edges and bevelled bars and does not stretch the canvas too tightly.

Atmospheric conditions will cause the canvas to expand and contract and if the canvas is too tight cracks may appear on the edges. There should be at least 10mm “give” in the centre of a 16x20” canvas print. Even though the canvas is water-resistant we do not recommend the practice of spraying the back of the canvas with a mist of water to encourage tension simply because overuse may cause long-term damage. Framed properly and once hung, there should be no need for this.

The very nature of a natural product such as cotton canvas means that there will be imperfections (lumps and bumps) in the surface of the canvas caused by the variations in the cotton threads that make up the canvas. This is normal and a feature of cotton canvas. It also means that printing to exact sizes is virtually impossible – the canvas is designed to be stretched so we advise you to have your frames made to fit the canvas just as we do, not the other way around. These variations mean that the surface of the print is extremely fragile and may be damaged if placed face down on a surface or wiped without extreme care. The coating we spray on the prints offers the best protection to scratching but is not an impervious shield against rough treatment.

Care and Cleaning.

Do not display your prints in areas of high concentrations of UV light or heat. Use correct coloured art lighting for best results. Canvas prints should be hung in a clean environment and cleaned with a light feather duster. Solvents etc should not be used. If you are a professional photographer or artist who sells their prints we recommend you advise your clients about correct handling, display and cleaning of their reproductions to ensure they last a lifetime.