Designer Print Review

#1 Barbara

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

7:52 pm - Thursday, March 17, 2005

#2 Mark

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

4:20 pm - Saturday, March 19, 2005

#3 Geoff Tawn

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?

6:10 pm - Sunday, March 20, 2005

#4 Peter

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.

2:55 pm - Monday, March 21, 2005

#5 Fabio Braghi

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

1:27 pm - Saturday, November 5, 2005

#6 Peter

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?

8:43 pm - Wednesday, March 29, 2006

#7 Kate

fdhfd

9:47 pm - Thursday, July 13, 2006

#8 John Ellis-Cockell

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.

9:54 am - Friday, August 11, 2006

#9 Jon Dale

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

5:45 pm - Thursday, August 17, 2006

#10 Fabio Braghi

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..

9:24 pm - Thursday, August 17, 2006

#11 Roberta Hand

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

6:06 pm - Saturday, September 30, 2006

#12 Roberta Hand

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

6:09 pm - Saturday, September 30, 2006

#13 Fabio Braghi

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.

7:58 pm - Saturday, September 30, 2006

#14 Peter

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

9:57 pm - Saturday, September 30, 2006

#15 Sarah Cossom

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

9:59 am - Sunday, October 1, 2006

#16 John Ellis-Cockell

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.

11:18 am - Monday, October 2, 2006

#17 Roberta Hand

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

11:31 am - Monday, October 2, 2006

#18 Fabio Braghi

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...

11:36 am - Monday, October 2, 2006

#19 Fabio Braghi

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

11:49 am - Monday, October 2, 2006

#20 Chris

Interesting to see this review and the commentary. If you don't like the shiny surface and need to know that your canvas is 'stretched' with corner wedges to the rear, http://www.photo-canvas.com would be able to produce these and still send them out for next day delivery. They don't use or require laminate as it's unnesscary with their deep fibre print process and along with build quality offer a great all round service.

3:49 pm - Monday, January 26, 2009

#21 Fabio Braghi

A couple of more comments on coating: not coating canvas will not keep it as archival as it can be; although some types of canvas with microporous technolgy don't have to be coated, you are sacrificing longevity. You can use a matte coating and not have a shiny surface. As for the soft vinyl lamination, I insist it is not proper for fine art printing; the pigments may eventually migrate to the coating, which is something you don't want to happen. it is not me saying vacuum heat lamination is not advisable; ask reputable manufacturers such as Fredrix and Epson. E-mail them and ask if it is better to liquid coat or laminate to insure canvas/ink stability.

4:03 pm - Monday, January 26, 2009

#22 Kevin Doyle

I ordered a 20" canvas print from Designer Print on the strength of the review on this site. My order was acknowledged immediately and an email query was sent to me about the print size. I responded to this straight away with the answer, via email, plus a query of my own.
My query has been completely ignored along with a subsequent email. The company never answers its telephone, all you get is a recorded voice stating 'we are unable to take your call at the moment, please leave a message'. They don't respond to left messages either. Naturally they have processed my credit card transaction.
If my experience is the standard I would advise avoiding buying anything from Designer Print.

3:55 pm - Monday, November 16, 2009

#23 Fabio Braghi

Kevin,

Sorry to hear about your experience with Designer Print. The good news is that you can take this up with your cc company if they do not process your order. Good luck!

4:29 pm - Monday, November 16, 2009

#24 Kevin Doyle

Thanks Fabio. Designer Print have finally responded (after more than a week) and, hopefully, I'll now get my canvas print.

4:47 pm - Monday, November 16, 2009

#25 Fabio Braghi

Good; at times printers can get really busy. The only thing we do differently is that we do not charge anyone's credit card until we are ready to print.

4:50 pm - Monday, November 16, 2009