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When the first box on our order form is checked, and no options are
requested, your print will be stripped to the emulsion, bonded to 10 oz. canvas,
and stretched over half inch artist stock. The staples holding the print run
along the side of the frame, and are hidden by the picture frame. Approximately
95 percent of our clients order Standard Canvas Stretch.
(click to enlarge)
Should you or your client want to display a print without a frame, there are
two ways to go, Gallery Wrap or Image Wrap.
Premium Services
Gallery Wrap
Gallery Wrap is very popular on fine art prints and posters, and is now
making an appearance on photographs.
With Gallery Wrap, the full image shows on the front, and bare canvas shows
on the side . The staples run along the back of the oversize (one inch) artist
stock, hidden from sight. This makes for a very clean frameless presentation.
(click to enlarge)
As an option on B&W prints, you or your lab can add a 1.25" black border
around your image, which would wrap around the side similar to an image wrap.
Image Wrap
Image Wrap is more popular than Gallery Wrap. With this process, one inch stock is used and the actual image is wrapped around the oversized stretcher. The staples are out of sight on the back. Please note that when formating your image for the printer, one inch from all four sides of the print will wrap around the edge (a 24x30 will show from the front as a 22x28, with the edges wrapped by your image). Make sure fingers, toes, and heads are at least one inch away from any outside edge.
(click to enlarge)
Some artists feel that they need to add an inch to each side of the print,
requesting a 26x32" print from the lab to get a 24x30" for the client. This
requires a custom print from the lab, and a custom size from MuseumBond, both
incurring a higher cost.
We at MuseumBond feel this is unnecessary. The client pays for a 24x30". You
order, and receive a 24x30" from the lab. We canvas a 24x30". The customer is
getting what they paid for. If you are concerned about what the customer will
say after seeing a slightly smaller image on the front, the solution is simple.
You have a 24x30" Image Wrapped display print hanging on your wall. You point
to it and say, "When you order a 24x30" print, this is what you will receive."
They know what to expect.
Brush Texture Brushstroke texture, when properly applied to the right image, can raise your photograph to a level of excellence your competition can only dream about. The prestigious look of texturing will set your studio apart from the others, plus you gain an additional source of profit.
Even though the quest for increased profit may suggest that all your canvassed images feature brush stroking, restraint is in order. Very few images benefit from brush texture. In most cases, the texture will actually distract from the image.
What works-
Large prints with simple, bold elements. If your image has elements that actually have texture, then adding brush texture to your image is a natural way to enhance these elements. An example would be an environmental portrait photographed in an area with trees, shrubs, rocks, or other objects that lend themselves to having texture added. Think of an artist painting a picture. If the artist were to use pronounced brush strokes to create an element, then that same object in a photograph would easily take texturing.
What doesn't work- Small faces, small prints, too much
detail, and high-key backgrounds. Your subjects head size should be 2 inches across or larger, and print size should be 16x16" or larger. Anything smaller and the texture will overpower the print.
Too much detail can be a problem. A good photographer defines his subject by
throwing the background out-of-focus. A print with excessive detail (a tree with
all the leaves in focus) will look even worse if the leaves are enhanced with
texture.
A high-key background has no texture, so having MuseumBond's artist add brush strokes doesn't work. In fact, it distracts from your image because it looks unnatural. Likewise, if your subject is against a monochromatic studio backdrop, texturing is not recommended. If your image doesn't have objects that show texture, adding brush strokes is not recommended.
Texture is a very subjective thing- Our artist paints over each element as if it were an original painting (i.e., our brush strokes trace the image). If you have some other technique you like, please includes an example and we will try to duplicate it. However, some low-end photography chains use a thick laminate with embossed swirls to imitate brush strokes. We don't do Olan Mills swirls, so please don't ask.
Drying Time- Allow an extra 5 -6 days for painting and drying. We apply two, and sometimes three coats, and each takes a few days to dry.
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