Designer Print Review

Designer Print is a UK-based photofinishing service that allows you to turn your favourite images into a work of art by having them printed onto canvas, block mounted, or made into a poster print. Using the latest digital printing technology Designer Print offers a large format printing service, creating canvas prints that will look stunning in your home or office. Or so they claim! I ordered a Stretched Canvas product from the Designer Print website. Find out what I thought of Designer Print’s service and the final product in this brief review.

Website: Designer Print Review

Published: Thursday, March 17, 2005

Reader Comments

1. Is there an american company that does this same kind and quality of work?

   Barbara at 06:52pm on Thursday, March 17, 2005

2. If there is, please let me know and I'll put it to the test!

   Mark at 03:20pm on Saturday, March 19, 2005

3. I see you say there is no file size limit, but what pixel resolution is best. Presumably the maximum for the camera, but if that is 1500 x 2000, i.e. 3Ms going to 8.5M with colour. Will quality vary at different sizes and compressions?

   Geoff Tawn at 05:10pm on Sunday, March 20, 2005

4. Hi Geoff. A photo from a 3megapixel camera could be printed up to 30"x20", or a photo from a 5megapixel camera could be printed up to 60"x40". This is a rough guide and can also depend on the quality of the image, such as the amount of noise or compression.
   Its always best to send the image before you buy. We will get back to you straight away and give you a definitive answer.
   I hopoe this helps.

   Peter at 01:55pm on Monday, March 21, 2005

5. You really do not want to heat seal your canvas. I assume they are putting some kind of film on to it. The best way to seal canvas is to use a spray or cold liquid lamination (It is OK to use infrared drying after the cold coat has been put on). This process prevents it from fading, yellowing and cracking. I have professionally printed on canvas giclees for about 11 years and seen it all. Make sure you ask questions such as the canvas type being used, whether it has a PH neutral coating and is OBA free. The Epson pigments are good, we use them as well. Please read our discussion on Inkjet Canvas Printing

   Fabio Braghi at 12:27pm on Saturday, November 05, 2005

6. I've seen another good site that offers a variation on this idea it supplies a Photowall.
   Take a look at their site http://www.biggerpix.com They are based in the UK and offer free delivery. You can pick from their stock images or upload your own custom image.
   
   Has anyone used their service?

   Peter at 08:43pm on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

7. fdhfd

   Kate at 09:47pm on Thursday, July 13, 2006

8. For true trade prices and high quality have a look at http://www.intelligence-direct.com
   About half the price of most other companies.
   Rolled prints worldwide.

   John Ellis-Cockell at 09:54am on Friday, August 11, 2006

9. Canvas printing? I've tried a few. Best so far is: http://www.modernimagesuk.com

   Jon Dale at 05:45pm on Thursday, August 17, 2006

10. If you want truly superior canvas or watercolor giclee prints please stick with specialists. Companies that offer sign, banner printing etc will likely not understand critical color correction and will not have the eye necessary to output quality work. The field is so specialized that if you need the best possible results you have to go with people who live and breath giclee printing. Ask for experience, client roster, referrals etc...What materials are they using? Are they using giclee quality printers or plotters? Is the canvas OBA free? Is it water resistant? How about the inks? Pigmented, dyes, brand or off brand? What coating do they use? Gamut limitations especially in the blues? Are they reviewing your file or just outputting no matter what? You have no idea how many ways a printer can cut corners by offering off brand, low quality materials that look OK but are inconsistent from batch to batch and not archival.
    If your goal is to print family photos, well, anybody will do..

    Fabio Braghi at 09:24pm on Thursday, August 17, 2006

11. We don't do watercolor giclee prints and we are certainly not common or garden sign or banner printers who offer canvas prints for home or office display only as some kind of sideline. We offer complete satisfaction and you can check our service (and order online) at http://www.modernimages.com

    Roberta Hand at 06:06pm on Saturday, September 30, 2006

12. Oops. That URL should have been: http://www.modernimagesuk.com

    Roberta Hand at 06:09pm on Saturday, September 30, 2006

13. As I mentioned in another post, stick with companies that only do giclees. Another note: ASK what pigmented ink and canvas/watercolor brands are being used. We do and for a good reason. There is a 250% difference in cost between a chinese made canvas and an american or european made canvas such as Epson PremierArt or Hahnemuhle. Brand inks cost twice as much as third party substitutes. You get what you pay for in terms of quality, permanence and batch deviations parameters such as DeltaE. We carry some of the finest Giclee materials.

    Fabio Braghi at 07:58pm on Saturday, September 30, 2006

14. Thank you for adding your comments about our product. If you'd like to learn more about giclee canvas printing visit the following page - http://www.designerprint.co.uk/articles/canvas-printing.htm

    Peter at 09:57pm on Saturday, September 30, 2006

15. Good gallery choices - especially my namesake at: http://www.designerprint.co.uk/canvas-art/sarah.htm

    Sarah Cossom at 09:59am on Sunday, October 01, 2006

16. A lot of sensible discussion but beware snobbery! You don't need to pay the premium for a branded canvas such as Hahnemuhle to be sure of a high quality Giclee print. We only use archival quality canvas regardless of source and branded UV stable pigmented inks to ensure consistency.
    Also beware how different people define Giclee - it is a very flexible term.
    I disagree with Fabio - heat sealing using a soft vinyl laminate is ideal for canvas is applied correctly although rapid dry liquid laminate is also very good.

    John Ellis-Cockell at 11:18am on Monday, October 02, 2006

17. I couldn't agree more! http://www.modernimagesuk.com/how_it_works.asp

    Roberta Hand at 11:31am on Monday, October 02, 2006

18. John, I have personally been printing giclees since 1994 (on the Iris 3047 then). I was in California in the same area where Duganne and Nash Editions started the giclee process. I think I know a thing of two about the field. Heat sealing with a press will crack, even if it is vinyl.
    If you say use quality brand canvas, why don't you say what canvas you use? If I were a customer, I would like to know if my same image is going to be printed today on one brand and in a month on another.
    What is the DeltaE on the canvas you use? White point, OBA free? Do your customers know what they are buying?
    We only agree on one thing though. The term giclee is thrown around pretty freely by companies that print pillows and banners along with fine art giclees. I have seen competitors who print with Mimakis on fabric and then fine art canvas; operators who did not know the difference between one and the other, no critical color correction skills, no eye for art and photography...

    Fabio Braghi at 11:36am on Monday, October 02, 2006

19. And Sarah, you "namesake" URL in the above post returns a 404.

    Fabio Braghi at 11:49am on Monday, October 02, 2006