Printer Challenge: Reproduce the 30-foot Painting, African Menagerie

Last fall, Christopher Glassman, general partner at Casual Graphics in Hays, Kan., got a call to reproduce an enormous painting by Brian Jarvi titled “African Menagerie.” The painting, which captures 210 species living in Africa now, was 17 years in the making. It’s been part of a traveling exhibit and Jarvi wanted a more manageable version for smaller venues, as well as prints for reproductions, books and other uses that might come up.

“Chris is the consummate professional,” Jarvi says. “We were very fortunate to have somebody right there who was so skilled. The reproduction is probably superior to anything we’ve had done prior, and with that said, the Menagerie was probably the greatest challenge, as well.”

Shop the LexJet Memorial Day Sale

Today through Monday, May 29, take 30% off MSRP select LexJet products. During our Memorial Day Sale, you can save on a variety of our best-selling products for canvas, outdoor signage, photo reproduction, coating and more!

Click the product links below to learn more about these products and start saving now:

Aqueous

Solvent/Latex

Coating

You can shop all weekend and into the Memorial Day holiday, or call your LexJet rep today to learn more at 800-453-9538.

VIDEO: Insider Tips for Rolling Coatings on Canvas

If you’re in the business of printing canvas, you likely understand the importance of adding a coating to aqueous-printed canvas media. A coating stops the canvas from cracking and provides consistent results when stretching the finished piece.

Even if you’re using solvent or latex ink, a coating is not necessary, but it can be helpful to create a certain look, like a satin or glossy finish that can intensify colors in the finished print.

A favorite application process is with a simple roller, which works great with Sunset Gloss and Sunset Satin Coatings.

Top Tips: DIY Spray Booth and Easy Canvas Coating

If you’re a photographer or fine-art printer, chances are you produce a lot of canvas prints. And with that, the need to apply a protective coating, which can be messy and expensive.

However, you don’t need to set aside a large space or spend a lot on a spray booth. In fact, we’ve created a guide to show you how to build a three-sided spray booth for less than $70, that can be accomplished in an afternoon using PVC pipe and plastic sheeting.

You can see the booth in action in the video above, which illustrates the application of Sunset Satin Coating using a high-volume, low-pressure spray gun. To see how easy it is to build a DIY spray booth, check out the video below. You can download a PDF with all of the detailed instructions HERE.

Fine Art & Photo Repro Pros Prefer Sunset by Fredrix Matte Canvas

Printers who specialize in producing fine art and photo reproduction have their own set of requirements that canvas must deliver, such as high white levels, ease of use and excellent image and color quality. That’s why many providers who offer high-end gallery wraps, for example, rely on LexJet Sunset by Fredrix Matte Canvas.

“We’ve been using the Sunset by Fredrix canvas for about four months now,” says Chris Capel from The UPS Store, Aurora, OH, who uses the canvas on his new Epson SureColor P9000 printer. “The image quality is outstanding, and flesh tones are beautiful.”

Sunset Coatings Featured in Sign & Digital Graphics Magazine

blog-sunset-coatings-news

In the February edition of Sign & Digital Graphics magazine, LexJet’s Sunset Gloss Coating and Sunset Satin Coating were highlighted in the publication’s “Product Reviews,” under “Coatings for Canvas.”

In November, we released the next generation of the two coatings to offer easier application, a clear, crisp finish, greater UV protection and a formula that is NMP-free and complies with safety and health regulations.

We’re thrilled to receive the press coverage, and we’d love to hear from our customers, too. Have you tried the new Sunset Gloss Coating and/or Sunset Satin Coating? Please tell us about your experience in the comments below.