Artistic Photo Canvas - Frequently Asked Questions

HomeFrequently Asked Questions

	Frequently Asked Questions *About the Canvas Printing Process & Finished Product* How long will my canvas last? What equipment and materials are used to make my canvas? What's the difference between “stretched” and “gallery wrapped?” Could I stretch my own canvas? Do you make custom sizes? Do you print on papers/materials other than canvas? Can I see a preview of my canvas before it is printed? Is your workflow color managed? How long will it take to complete my order? Do you Guarantee your work? I have a special request. Can I speak to a representative? How should I care for my canvas? *About Digital Photos, Photo Prints and Original Artwork* What types of originals can you work from? Will my image be reviewed prior printing? Can you remove scratches, dust and other blemishes? Do you charge extra to “touch up” my image? Can you do major retouching? What do I need to know about digital image size and quality? What digital file formats do you accept? Can I scan my own original? How much of my image will be used to accommodate gallery wrapping? Are there other edge treatments available to create a gallery wrap? What do you mean when you ask if I “own the rights” to an image? If I send you a print, what happens to my original? Can I have my image reviewed prior to placing an order? *About Payments, Pricing, Discounts, Shipping & Other Policies* What forms of payment do you accept? Do you offer quantity discounts or Pro pricing? How can I find out about sales and special promotions? Why are your prices lower/higher than “XYZ Company”? Can you ship my order to someone else? Do you offer gift wrapping? What are your shipping charges? How will my canvas be packed? Do you ship internationally? Where is Artistic Photo Canvas located? What is APC doing to help protect the environment? Do you have a Privacy Policy? Are purchase transactions at artisticphotocanvas.com secured? *About the Process & Finished Product* How long will my canvas last? At Artistic Photo Canvas, we adhere to rigorous and established “Giclee” production standards. (Most online labs produce canvases to very inferior “Art Decor” standards, an industry term used to describe canvases designed to last for three to ten years.) In addition to utilizing only the highest quality inkjet canvas and archival inks available, at APC every canvas is sealed with a matte finish protective top-coat to ensure preservation of color, and protection against humidity and other environmental hazards. Through controlled laboratory testing, canvases produced using this combination of equipment and materials have been rated to resist fading or deterioration for more than 100 years. If shown the same care customary for any piece of fine artwork, the canvas you order today will continue to be radiant for generations to come! What equipment and materials are used to make my canvas? We use top-of-the-line, large-format Epson professional inkjet printers combined with the most advanced pigmented archival inks that exist. We print your image at 1440 dpi on super heavy-duty, ultra DMAX, brilliant white cotton canvas. We seal your canvas with an innovative archival top-coat, and use kiln-dried solid wood stretcher bars to mount your finished artwork. Our plotters, inks, canvas and coating formulation are each their respective industry’s leaders. Your search for quality ends at APC! What's the difference between “stretched” and “gallery wrapped?” Our “stretched” canvases are mounted on 3/4-inch stretcher bars and are shipped “frame-ready,” meaning they will fit into the vast majority of pre-made frames and frame mouldings found at your local art supply store or framing shop. Our “gallery wrapped” canvases are mounted on thick 1-1/2 inch stretcher bars, and your image wraps around the sides of the stretcher frame. Gallery wrapped canvases are designed to be displayed without frames and look great from any viewing angle. Could I stretch my own canvas? If you have the tools, workspace and expertise, why not? Simply choose our “Unstretched” finish when ordering. Your canvas will be printed with a “live area” (image area) that exactly matches the size you order plus we'll add a minimum of 2.5 inches of negative space (unprinted canvas) on all four sides to accommodate future stretching. Do you make custom sizes? Yes, we create canvases in literally hundreds of custom sizes! Please contact us if you do not see what you are looking for on our size chart. We will make every effort to fulfill your special request! Do you print on papers/materials other than canvas? When our customers see the amazing quality of our canvas reproductions, they often ask if APC can become their exclusive print lab for all types of photo and fine art papers. Because printing on canvas is a complex process that requires highly specialized equipment and expertise, we've decided to focus exclusively on this artistic medium. While printing on canvas may be all we do, this narrow focus is part of the reason we're the very best at it. Can I see a preview of my canvas before it is printed? We do not send previews (proofs) to our customers. Instead, we back our work with a Total Satisfaction Guarantee! Is your workflow color managed? Yes, APC employs high-end color calibration in every step of the process. Professionals whose monitors are properly calibrated can rest assured that their images will be faithfully reproduced. To those who don't know (or care to know) about the “digital darkroom” or wild world of color management, suffice to say that our imaging experts will make sure your subject's colors are properly restored, if necessary, prior to printing. How long will it take to complete my order? We can fulfill most orders in four business days or less, although turn-around time may vary depending on the complexity of your order and/or the method of shipping you choose during checkout. (For example, canvases ordered with the HandBrushed technique will require about three additional days in production.) If we anticipate your order taking longer than the turn-around time quoted for the shipping option you've chosen, we will contact you. Do you Guarantee your work? We strive to produce high-quality art that our customers love. In fact, we put a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on every canvas we create! If you are unsatisfied with your finished canvas for any reason, simply send it back to us within 15 days. We will do everything we can to fix the problem and send you a new canvas. If we are unable to fix the problem, we will gladly refund the purchase price. In very rare instances, an unusual special request may void the Guarantee. (If that were the case with your canvas, we would notify you prior to producing it.) I have a special request. Can I speak to a representative? We would love to speak with you about any special requests you have. Please send an inquiry using the convenient form on our Customer Service page – or call our Sales Department at 1-888-99-CANVAS. How should I care for my canvas? Our canvases are extremely durable and do not require any special care! While we do recommend displaying your canvas in a dry, temperature controlled location, our prints are designed to withstand many of the environmental factors that may damage other artwork, such as exposure to sunlight or humidity. You can use a feather duster or soft cloth (dry or damp) to gently clean away any dust that accumulates on your canvas. *About Digital Photos, Photo Prints and Original Artwork* What types of originals can you work from? We work with most types of digital files as well as prints, negatives and transparencies (for which we offer professional scanning services at no extra charge). We also accept digital files contained on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. You can upload your digital image (up to 2 gigabytes!) during the order process, or you can choose instead to mail us your traditional print, negative, transparency, CD or DVD. The Place An Order process includes all of the options along with details for each. Will my image be reviewed prior to printing? Absolutely! Our expert imaging staff carefully checks every image prior to placing your order into production. First, we check to make sure that the image you've submitted is suitable for enlargement at the size you've requested. Next, we review your image to ascertain if cropping will be necessary, and if so, we make sure that the composition will be pleasing. If we encounter any issues whatsoever with your image, you will be contacted. You can leave the worries to us. We guarantee your canvas will be stunning! Can you remove scratches, dust and other blemishes? Yes. We can repair most minor damages to your photographs, and many major ones! If you are unsure if the quality of your photograph is acceptable, simply send us a print, or upload the image to us in digital format using our DropBox, and we’ll let you know. Do you charge extra to "touch up" my image? No! Exposure correction, color correction, date stamp removal, red-eye removal, and the repair of minor scratches, dust and other blemishes are all included at no additional charge when you select the Free APC TouchUp when ordering! Many companies charge extra for these services, and if you refuse to pay their retouching fees, will send you “Whatever!” At APC, we refuse to send our valued customers a canvas that is anything less than stunning. Can you do major retouching? We can, and frequently do! Our imaging experts can remove/replace people and objects, replace backgrounds and perform numerous other types of major retouching. To meet your needs, we offer three levels of Retouching: "Minor" for relatively simple tasks, "Moderate" to meet your more challenging objectives, and "Major" for when your desired outcome requires our art department to jump through some serious hoops. Describe your requests in detail on the "Comments/Instructions" section of the order form. If you're unsure which level of Retouching to choose – or want to find out in advance what's feasible – feel free to call us to discuss the unique possibilities for your individual canvas order. We are also happy to discuss the changes you want made to your photograph(s) via e-mail. What do I need to know about digital image size and quality? Much of what you may have heard about minimum file sizes and/or megapixels required to achieve quality at various enlargement sizes are no longer relevant if you go with the superior technology and expertise available through Artistic Photo Canvas. Our superior image interpolation/upsampling technology allows us to make dramatic enlargements from relatively modest file sizes without significant loss in quality! That being said, it still holds true that the better your image quality, the easier it is for us to work with, and the better your results will be. Please rest assured we will let you know if there is anything about your uploaded file that would result in anything less than a stunning final canvas at the size you have ordered. What digital file formats do you accept Although we prefer to work with uncompressed TIFF and high quality JPEG formatted files, we can work with most other digital image formats as well, including the native formats of software applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Corel Painter. Can I scan my own original? If you would like to scan your own photo or original art to convert it to a digital file, we recommend you carefully clean both the original print and the scanner glass. Set the scanning resolution to a minimum resolution of 600 ppi (pixels per inch). If you have the option, try scanning at 800 or 1200 ppi. How you save your image is just as important, so make sure to choose a quality format (such as TIFF or JPEG) and make sure that the “quality” options in the save dialog box are set to the equivalent of “best” or “high.” How much of my image will be used to accommodate gallery wrapping? Regardless of the finished size of your gallery wrapped canvas, we require 1-3/4" on each side to accommodate the image wrap. If you are a professional (or you just really know your way around the world of digital imaging), and you would like to have total control over the final composition of your canvas, here are some tips on how to prepare and preview your image: Upsample your image using your preferred method to your choice of 180, 240 or 360 ppi. (Inspect your image for unwanted pixelization or excess sharpening by zooming in tightly!) Crop your image (retaining 180, 240 or 360 ppi) to the desired dimension of your custom canvas PLUS 3.5 inches in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. Position guides at 1-3/4" in from all four sides. Position another set of guides at 1/4" in from all four sides. The 1/4" sections are “production excess” that roughly represent the parts of your image that will be unseen on the back of your canvas. The 1-1/2" sections represent what will be seen on the edges of your gallery wrapped canvas. The rest of the image inside the guides is what will appear on the front side of your canvas. Are there other edge treatments available to create a gallery wrap? Yes, for customers whose images are not suited to a traditional “image wrap,” we offer two great options that still give you the contemporary look and “ready-to-hang” benefits of a gallery wrapped canvas. One option is for us (or you, if you're preparing the file yourself) to sample/pick any complimentary color for the gallery wrap edges. (Many customers love the look of simple white or black edges.) Another option is to mirror the outermost portions of your image to create a continuous image in which the edges are actually “reflections” of the outermost content of the image. If you're a pro, you can probably do this yourself. If not, we offer these options during the order process. What do you mean when you say I must “own the rights” to an image? Photographs and artwork are protected property of the original artist. If you took the photo or created the artwork yourself, you already own the copyright. If you had a picture taken by a professional, or if you purchased a photo or artwork from someone else, it is very possible that you do not own the copyright. We are happy to reproduce images created by a professional, but we expect our customers to gain permission first. If I send you a print, what happens to my original? The Artistic Photo Canvas artists understand the irreplaceable value of your original photographs and artwork. We will take great care with your print while we use it to create your canvas. All original prints will be safely packaged and shipped back to you with your order. Of course, we cannot assume any responsibility for your photograph or artwork before it arrives in our possession or after it leaves us on its way back to you. If you are worried about your print being mishandled in transit, we suggest you mail us a copy and keep the original under your care. Can I have my image reviewed prior to placing an order? Absolutely! If you are uncertain about the quality of your original(s) or just want some advice on sizes and techniques that would work well with your image(s), we would be happy to give you some expert guidance before you place your order. To get started, upload your file(s) to the Artistic Photo Canvas DropBox, following the instructions on the page. We will send an email immediately, confirming that your image has been successfully received. Later (typically within 48 hours), you will receive a detailed review of your submission along with some helpful suggestions from our imaging experts. *About Payments, Pricing, Discounts, Shipping & Other Policies* What forms of payment do you accept? Our secure checkout gives you numerous payment options. We accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover, American Express and PayPal. We no longer accept checks for online orders, but you can pay from your checking account if you've enrolled it through PayPal. If you don't have a PayPal account and remain uncomfortable entering your credit card information online, simply select the "Pay By Phone" option during checkout and we will call you to complete payment using a land-based voice line. Do you offer quantity discounts or Pro pricing? We have priced our products and services very competitively to ensure that all of our customers receive superior quality and exceptional value. If you would like to order multiple canvases created from a single original, you can save even more with our quantity discounts. And if you have an exceptionally large project in mind, please contact our Sales Department with a detailed description of your project to receive a custom price quote. How can I find out about sales and special promotions? Artistic Photo Canvas does not announce most sales or special promotions to the general public. To receive notice of occasional savings opportunities – and receive a fantastic monthly newsletter filled with information tailored to your interests – we encourage you to join our email list. Your information will never be shared or sold, and you can unsubscribe at any time using the links provided in any APC email. Why are your prices lower (or higher) than “XYZ Company”? We are occasionally asked this question with surprisingly equal sincerity on either side of the variant. And we certainly are understanding of anyone's initial inclination to shop based on price, especially when most people are unfamiliar with the myriad details of creating a quality canvas reproduction. For those of you who have found the much higher prices charged by some companies to be puzzling, we offer the following: Artistic Photo Canvas utilizes only top-of-the-line equipment, materials and technology in its processes. We can safely say that no other company possesses or utilizes anything superior. (You might find it illuminating to read the comments we receive every day from our customers!) The straightforward answer to why other companies charge more is that they simply enjoy a higher profit margin. But our goal at APC is to make high-quality, personalized canvas art affordably priced and accessible to everyone. For those who've found a company on the lower end of the spectrum, here are just a few of the unsavory ways some companies are cutting costs (and shortchanging their customers): 1. Blind automation: Computers, or in some cases human “Button-Pushers” – whose biggest talents are knowing where to find the print button – send your image to print without even looking at your original. (You would be amazed how much most images can be improved with the help of an imaging expert and a little TLC!) At APC, we treat every image as if it were our own. 2. Cheap canvas: There are some really cheesy canvas products available on the market. So cheap, in fact, they can't even be stretched tightly on a stretcher frame without ripping. (Which is why some of our top competitors' canvases are so loose on their stretcher frames. At APC, our top-quality canvases are stretched by hand, tight as a drum!) While we're on the topic of inkjet canvas, many of the cheaper varieties will actually turn yellow over time due to the addition of copious amounts of “optical brighteners.” And still other “canvas” products aren't canvas at all, possessing all the charm and artistic merit of the vinyl banners hawking cigarettes at your local gas station. 3. No protective coating: Many companies are shipping out inkjet canvases without a protective coating. Good archival coatings are very expensive, but the practice of skipping this crucial step in the photo-to-canvas process is very, very bad. As a result, the inks used to produce these inferior canvases are virtually guaranteed to chip and crack under the lightest handling – not to mention fade very prematurely, and smear if you get them even slightly wet. Please trust us when we tell you that failing to properly coat an inkjet canvas is a loathsome cost-cutting tactic. 4. “Made in China”: Some internet labs mislead customers into believing that their facilities are in the U.S. but actually transmit your order overseas, taking advantage of questionable materials, child labor, and the deplorable wages and working conditions in developing nations. These outfits may produce their canvases at a lower cost – and we'd argue, lower quality – but is that how you want to spend your money? (Every APC canvas is proudly made in the USA by American artists and craftsmen!) Can you ship my order to someone else? We are happy to ship your print to anyone you would like – we’ll even include your personal message if you are giving your order as a gift. Just let us know where to send it during checkout, and we’ll notify you when the shipment goes out. Do you offer gift wrapping? The sizes and shapes of the canvases we produce have made it impractical for us to offer gift wrapping. If the canvas you order is intended as a gift (and you choose to ship it directly to the recipient) we do offer the option to include a note card that we print on your behalf using the inscription you provide during checkout. What are your shipping charges? We charge low flat rates and ship via FedEX. Please see the rate chart on the Sizes & Prices page for deliveries within the U.S. and to common destinations such as Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. If you wish to have your order shipped to a country outside North America, please contact us for a custom shipping quote. How will my canvas be packed? Artistic Photo Canvas is the only canvas printing company utilizing its own unique custom-engineered shipping cartons, designed specifically to cradle and protect your canvas artwork from the moment it leaves our production center. Your canvas is guaranteed to arrive in flawless condition! Do you ship internationally? Yes. International shipments do incur additional shipping costs which we will be happy to quote in advance if you provide us with a complete ship-to address prior to placing your order. To obtain a quote, please use the Customer Service contact form. Where is Artistic Photo Canvas located Artistic Photo Canvas is based in Sarasota, on “Florida's Cultural Coast!” We are proud to serve loyal customers from all fifty U.S. states and Canada. Sales tax is only collected on canvases that ship within the state of Florida. We will waive sales taxes for Florida customers that provide us with a valid Florida Resale Certificate. If you would like our address, phone numbers and email info., please click here. What is APC doing to help protect the environment? Artistic Photo Canvas is among the industry's leaders when it comes to adopting products and practices that reduce our impact on the environment. Among other mitigation initiatives, we have committed to using a special (and superior) set of materials to create each canvas. For example, unlike 99% of inkjet canvas buyers, we pay a little more to procure canvas that is produced without optical brighteners or other harmful agents. (Surprisingly, our canvas is a significantly brighter white, and will not yellow, in spite of the disuse of these chemical agents.) In addition (and also unlike the majority of our competitors) the protective coatings we apply to each canvas are water-based instead of solvent-based. Solvent-based coatings not only create toxic fumes that are dangerous to those who apply them, they require the production and use of chemical agents that are known to seep into groundwater. Our solid-wood stretcher bars are made from fir wood harvested in managed forests. (Some of our competitors use plastic stretcher frames, but we find them to be both aesthetically and environmentally wrong.) To help reverse the ravages of deforestation, APC has committed to supporting the efforts of Global ReLeaf, a program of American Forests that has already resulted in the planting and care of more than 25 million trees through 500 projects worldwide. Do you have a Privacy Policy? Yes, and we want you to know that protecting the privacy of our customers’ personal information is very important to us. We encourage everyone who uses this site to read the Artistic Photo Canvas Privacy Policy in its entirety. To do so now, please click here. Links to our Privacy Policy are also located at the bottom of each page on our site. Are purchase transactions at artisticphotocanvas.com secured? Yes. The transactional pages on our site that collect personal information and process payments make use of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol and 128-bit strong encryption to provide the highest level of security available. In addition, our servers must pass robust daily scans for known threats by McAfee Secure, the most trusted name in internet security. This voluntary measure helps to ensure that our site remains a safe and secure place for you to shop. The live McAfee Secure icon on our site provides ongoing proof of our daily compliance with the most up-to-date practices and protocols of internet security.