How to Make Canvas Printing Work for You, Part 5: Canvas Wrap Options

Finishing and Stretching Canvas

Before we get into the physical stretching and wrapping of canvas, this seems a good spot to discuss ways in which you can prepare the file before printing so that it’s ready to be rendered as a gallery or museum wrap. A gallery wrap, by the way, is where the image continues to bleed onto and over the edges. A museum wrap substitutes a solid border along the edges.

The trick is getting this right before you print. Fortunately, there are quite a few options…

Photoshop actions: Typically, the Clone tool is the primary tool used to create a mirrored border. You can do this manually in Photoshop and then record your actions.

Canon Layout Plug-In: If you have a Canon iPF inkjet printer, the Layout Plug-in software features a tool that automates the process.

OnOne Software, Perfect Resize 8: Formerly known as Genuine Fractals, with Perfect Resize you can create selective, mirror, museum-wrap and other types of wrap borders.

Qimage Ultimate: This imaging software tool offers a number of ways to work with print borders. Click here to see how it’s done.

Alien Skin Software: Alien Skin’s Blow Up software comes with a free Photoshop Gallery Wrap Panel to make a solid border, reflected edges or reflected edges with a fade.

Stretching Inkjet CanvasTypically, there are three ways a canvas print can be stretched: by hand, with stretcher bars and strainers; using canvas stretching machines that provide a range of automation, like the Tensador II and the more automated Canvas Master machines by GAPP Engineering; or using a do-it-yourself stretcher bar system.

Stretching canvas by hand can be very involved and time-consuming, but the raw materials needed are less expensive. For detailed step-by-step instructions by master printer, photographer and craftsman Ralph Cooksey-Talbot on creating your own stretcher bars and canvas frames, including the tools and materials necessary, click here.

While much more efficient for production, acquiring equipment like the Tensador II or the Canvas Master requires an initial investment ranging from about $3,000 to $11,000. If your volume supports the equipment purchase, definitely investigate these machines.

Armando Garcia, director of operations for Soicher Marin, a high-volume fine art reproduction company is Sarasota, Fla., says, “We use the Tensador for just about everything up to 60 inches. When you compare it to doing it by hand, the machine always wins out. I can’t think of a situation where we wouldn’t use the machine, unless it was an original canvas.”

The Canvas Stretch Master from LexJet automates and speeds up the canvas wrap process for production printing and finishing.
The Canvas Stretch Master from LexJet automates and speeds up the canvas wrap process for production printing and finishing.

Garcia adds that it usually takes one of their operators about a day and half to learn how to use the machine to its full potential and cuts the time needed to do a canvas wrap by anywhere from 30-50 percent.

The Canvas Stretch Master is more automated, thus it’s more expensive. However, it also produces about twice as many canvas wraps per hour than the Tensador II and the Canvas Studio Master, about 60 per hour on the high side, with less labor. To find out more about the setup and operation of the Studio Canvas Master and the Canvas Stretch Master, click to the videos below:

Studio Canvas Master Setup

Studio Canvas Master Demonstration

Canvas Stretch Master Setup

Canvas Stretch Master Demonstration

Corner Fold Options

Sunset Stretcher Bars for Canvas
DIY stretcher kits like Sunset Stretcher Bars are a quick and simple solution for canvas finishing.

The third option is the use of a pre-made DIY stretcher bar kit, which include kits by Hahnemuhle and LexJet Sunset. This is a happy medium between stretching by hand and automating the process. Tara Materials also offers easy-to-assemble tongue-and-groove stretcher bars so you don’t have to buy the raw materials and cut them down to size.

While overall material costs are a little more than if you made the frames by hand, each canvas wrap will be faster than doing it by hand, but will obviously take longer than using a machine. For videos of the process, click here.

And, for more videos about printing, coating and stretching canvas, click here.

For the rest of this series, click on the following links:

Part 1: Materials, Finishes and Textures

Part 2: Printer Technologies for Canvas

Part 3: Latex, Solvent and UV-Curable Printing

Part 4: Coating Canvas

How To Video: Canvas Corner Folding Options

Canvas Corner Folding OptionsWhen using the Canvas Stretch Master or Studio Canvas Master, there are a number of different options for folding canvas corners. Three of them are:

Gift-wrap fold: the easiest and fastest of the three folds.

Straight-edge fold: Tends to be neater but takes a little bit longer than the gift-wrap fold.

Alternate straight-edge fold: Takes the longest amount of time due to trimming off excess canvas in the corners before stretching but tends to be the neatest of the three folds.

In the video embedded below, learn how to make three different canvas corner folds.

To learn more about the Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master, you can check out these videos:

Canvas Stretch Master Demonstration

Studio Canvas Master Demonstration

Studio Canvas Master Setup Video

Canvas Studio Master setup video at YouTubeLast month, LexJet was named the exclusive North American Distributor of the Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master, pneumatic canvas stretching machines that are capable of producing up to 60 and 30 canvases per hour, respectively.

While we have already shown you how to set up the Canvas Stretch Master and given you a brief demonstration of how it operates, today we are bringing you the setup video for the Studio Canvas Master.

In the video embedded below, learn how to set up the Studio Canvas Master. Keep an eye out later this week for a demonstration video for the Studio Canvas Master. And, as always, if you have any questions or need anything, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Canvas Stretch Master Setup Video

Canvas Stretch Master Setup VideoLast week LexJet was named the exclusive North American Distributor of the Canvas Stretch Master, a pneumatic canvas stretching machine that is capable of stretching up to 60 canvases per hour.

In that announcement, found here on the LexJet Blog, we included a demonstration video to show you how the machine is operated.

We also wanted to give you an idea of what to expect regarding setup and how to make some minor adjustments to the machine to get optimal results.

In the video embedded below, learn how to set up the Canvas Stretch Master and get it ready for production…

LexJet Now Offers High-Speed, Economical Canvas Stretching Machine

Canvas Wrap MachineLexJet was recently tapped as the exclusive North American distributor of two economical, production-oriented canvas stretcher machines from Meath, Ireland-based GAPP Engineering: the Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master.

The Studio Canvas Master, which retails at less than $3,000, can wrap up to 35 canvas prints per hour while the Canvas Stretch Master, which retails below $11,000, can wrap up to 60 canvas prints per hour. Both are pneumatically operated and available in two models: one that can stretch canvas prints up to 48″ x 48″ and one that can stretch canvas prints up to 60″ x 60″.

“Print shops, photographers and fine art reproduction companies now have a true turnkey canvas printing partner with LexJet. The canvas stretching machines are the perfect complement to our line of canvas products, which includes Fredrix Print Canvas, LexJet Sunset Canvas, Sunset Coatings, Sunset Stretcher Bars and the latest printer technology from Canon, Epson and HP,” says Alex Ried, LexJet product manager.

The Canvas Stretch Master is easy to install, simple to operate and takes up relatively little shop space since it sets up against the wall like a vertical panel saw. Virtually maintenance-free, the Canvas Stretch Master requires only a 120 psi air compressor to run it.

“We just started doing canvas wraps on the Canvas Stretch Master. It’s simple to use, doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, is solidly built and does the job well,” says Adam Rutkowski, operations manager for Linemark, Upper Marlboro, Md. “The machine will be a big help to us as we grow our market for canvas wraps.”

The Studio Canvas Master can be either bench- or wall-mounted, depending on space needs, and is ideal for imaging professionals who don’t require a high-production machine but are looking for an easier and more consistent method for finishing canvas.

Both machines feature guides that ensure even stapling, control points for flexible and consistent tensioning, and adjustments that allow for the stretching of other materials, like fabric. Constructed of steel and high-quality parts both machines are built to provide stability and durability for consistent and uninterrupted production.

The Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master are available for demonstration at LexJet’s Sarasota headquarters and are expected to begin shipping in June. For more information and to schedule a demonstration, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

To see a video demonstration of the Canvas Stretch Master check out the embedded video below…