Showing posts with label giclee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giclee. Show all posts

Friday, October 22, 2021

Celebrating 20 Years of Printing Services!



KeenArt Media has been offering high quality printing services to clients all across North America since 2002. Aside from the quantity of services, the quality is also highly important to this company. KeenArt Media prides itself on being able to reward its clients with beautiful artwork as well as support many artists across the continent by helping promote their works! This family run business understands the importance of community as well as how to connect with other artists, other small businesses, and everyday people looking for somewhere to turn. Reflecting on all that has been accomplished at this business over the last 20 years can seem overwhelming, however this article will help break down all the printing services offered here at KeenArt Media.  


About us - Vancouver Fine Art Print & Giclée On Canvas Prints 


When one hears printing services, they often think of a fax machine or Staples. However here at KeenArt Media, we do more than just print an invoice. We offer printing services on a vast variety of materials, such as fabric, canvas, metal, wood, mounts, ceramics, and fine art papers. We use fine art archival inks on giclée materials! With all these options available, KeenArt Media still offers a quick turnaround time, competitive prices, and free shipping (over $99).



Fabric is an excellent choice of material when it comes to dye sublimation, our printing technique. We offer a vast selection of fabrics including; Mesh, Spandex, Jersey, Twill, Holographic, Woven, and Linen to name a few.  However there are two distinct material bases that are used which are Knit and Woven. The main differences between the two are that knit naturally drapes and flows (for items such as apparel, flags, or tablecloths) whereas woven is more sturdy and hardwearing (for items such as banners, signage, upholstery). The only common factor between these materials is that they must be polyester based. This is because the polyester absorbs and locks the ink into the material, making sure it won’t fade or crack. If you’re unsure about which fabric is best suited for you, we also offer fabric sample packs that include ten 7” x 7” polyester fabrics, however we do not accept fabrics supplied by customers. Our fabrics can be used for any clothing type such as T-shirts, leggings, masks, uniforms, active sportswear, and outerwear as well as items such as promotional banners or home wear such as curtains, tablecloths, or tea towels. All fabrics are recommended hand wash or machine wash cold and hang to dry. Our fabrics can be printed on any custom size no larger than 64” x 44”.



 

Polyester Fabric (above)


Vancouver Fabric Printing - Dye Sublimation on Polyester Fabrics 


Our printing services can be used perfectly for gifts, especially when the printed material is a ceramic such as a mug or an acrylic block. Using dye sublimation, we are able to print on ceramic mugs that feature a polyester coating. These mugs come in both 11oz and 15oz sizes as well as come in rather a pearl coating or a black coating with a white patch. The mugs come both dishwasher and microwave safe as well as come scratch resistant with long lasting durability. The finish of the ceramic mugs is a glossy appearance on top of any image of your choosing. The image can appear on one side for a dimension of 3.15” x 3.15” or wrap around the mug for a dimension of 8.46” x 3.15”. These mugs are the perfect gift for a loved one, a co-worker, or a client. The Acrylic Blocks are small 1” thick free standing clear acrylic blocks that have face mounted a print inside using a clear double sided adhesive. These blocks come in sizes ranging from 4” x 4” to 6” x 9” and can weigh up to 2.3lbs. The prints featured inside come in a glossy finish and the brilliant colour produced can last up to 75 years! These blocks are mainly decorative however they can be used as paperweights as well. We recommend that they are perfect as gifts or in an office space!




Vancouver - Mugs - Photo Gifts 


Vancouver - Acrylic Blocks - Photo Gifts 


Fine Art Printing doesn’t necessarily need to be printed on a fancy material, but can go back to its origins of paper prints. At KeenArt Media, we offer an assortment of fine art papers to choose from that way you will always take home something unique and special to you. Our fine art papers come in papers such as Hahnemuhle (William Turner, German Etching, Fine Art Baryta, or Photo Rag/Brilliant White), Moab (Entrada Rag Bright, Entrada Rag Natural), and Exhibition Fine Art Fiber (High D Max). We also offer Coated Papers such as Enhanced Matte and Double Weight Matte as well as Photographic Papers such as Premium Luster, Premium Glossy, Premium Semi Glossy, and Moab Slickrock Metallic (Pearl or Silver). The photographic papers are best for a professional photography appearance whereas our fine art papers are best used for museum quality archival prints or reproductions. No matter the material, our options in fine art printing are perfect for all artists, photographers, and designers alike! Aside from Fine Art Prints, we also offer Greeting Cards which are perfect for holidays, celebrations, or just staying in touch. Our cards come in 5” x 7” foldable greeting cards, 5” x 7” flat cards, or 4” x 6” postcards. All cards are available in glossy, matte, or elegant linen finishes and use archival pigmented inks when printed on. The cards can be vertical or horizontal and come with a white mailing envelope.


Vancouver Fine Art Prints, Art Print Art Posters Canvas Art, & Framed Art Pictures- Prints Plus Posters 


Vancouver Custom Greeting cards, Postcards, Photo Cards, Picture Cards - Make your own card online 


A Plaque Mount is a modern way to display your art without using a frame. Using a wood fiber plaque, the artwork is mounted on top and sealed with a matte, UV protected laminate. The wood plaques come with a beveled edge that is available in multiple different colours. Plaque mount art is permanent, durable, and long lasting as well as protected against moisture, smudges, and scratches. We offer five main plaque mount styles including Standard/Flat Plaque Mount, Box/Flush Plaque Mount, Float Plaque Mount, Matted Plaque Mount, and Combo/Raised Plaque Mount. 

Dry Mounting uses a poster or a photograph and uses heat to attach the print to a surface. The benefits of dry mounting include preservation, avoids wrinkles or tearing, and easy display. Dry Mounting a print can be done on multiple materials such as Foam Boards, Plywood, Sintra, Matboards, Coroplast, and Mighty Boards. This method is perfect for photos, posters, newspapers or magazines, maps, collages, puzzles, artwork, blueprints, certificates, letters and much more!

A Plexiglass Face Mount is similar to a plaque mount as it is a frameless display of art. However instead of laminating a print onto a surface, a Face Mount displays art between a sheet of aluminum and a sheet of clear plexiglass, then they are all fused together. This is done using a cold press. This permanent bond creates a 3D like effect with enhanced vivid colours. This is a perfect option for photographs or artwork printed on metallic or glossy paper.

Block / Plaque Mounting, Vancouver Mount & display photos on MDF 

Vancouver Custom Size Mounting Boards - PlexiGlass, Foam Cores, Dibond, Gator Board, Mighty boards, Sintra (Plastic), Plywoods, Coroplast, Matboards 



Vancouver Face Mounting Prints On Acrylic/PlexiGlass - Acrylic Face Mounting 


Our Canvas Prints are offered in four different forms; a rolled canvas print, a thin canvas gallery wrap, a thick canvas gallery wrap, and a framed canvas print. Our thin canvases come mounted on a ¾ stretcher bar frame whereas our thick canvases come mounted on a 1 ½ stretcher bar frame. Our canvas fabric is made from an archival poly/cotton blend that is acid free, water resistant, stretchable for framing, and instant drying. These canvases can be printed as small as 6” x 6” up to as large as 144” x 64”, as well as on round canvases. We use the special printing process of Giclée which uses high quality, archival, pigmented inks. When printing on canvas, there are four different edge wraps to choose from including mirror canvas wrap, pixel canvas wrap, image canvas wrap, and solid colours.  



Pricing, Photos On Canvas Prints Vancouver - Photos On Canvas Fine art Prints & Gifts 


We offer original handmade oil paintings here at KeenArt Media. Instead of finding and hiring an artist on your own to paint your images, we already have an artist on hand! All you have to do is select your photograph and we will have an artist create an original oil painting version within the month. Our artists are able to paint landscapes, portraits, florals, abstract, and classical reproductions. All the artists are highly skilled and experienced in oil painting, and you will be guaranteed a beautiful original piece of art! 


    KeenArt Media also offers a program in which local artists can upload their artworks to our website in order to get more exposure, and are able to sell their artwork through our business. This program is available to artists, photographers, and art galleries for free. All the artist has to do is upload their artwork, and set their prices and sizes offered. All information can be updated by that artist at any point in time.


Vancouver Handmade oil paintings from photos to artist Canvas - Oil Paintings Reproductions of famous artists; portraits, floral, landscapes, abstract oil paintings 


Vancouver Artist Gallery program , Giclée Art Print Art Posters Canvas Art & Framed Art Pictures- Prints Plus Posters 


Dye Sublimation is the printing process of using heat to infuse inks into a material. The materials we offer to dye sublimate on aside from fabric, are metal such as aluminum, and wood in particular natural. Each print is given a frameless appearance, is permanent and durable as well as scratch resistant, and easy to clean. The natural wood prints are made out of a maple veneer with a low gloss coating, all wood prints are ready to hang as they have pre drilled keyholes in the back. The metal prints are made from aluminum panels which enhance all photographic highlights as well as create a gloss finish. The metal prints come in three different display options including a table easel, float mount hangers, and a ¾ inset frame. Both the metal and wood prints are available in sizes as small as 2” x 3” up to 60” x 40”.



Vancouver Metal & Natural Wood Prints - Dye Sublimation on Aluminum and Wood 


For 20 years KeenArt Media has been perfecting the art of printing. Printing services of many methods and materials used to create endless options for our customers. From Canvas and Fine Art Prints to Metal, Wood, and Fabric Dye Sublimations to Plexiglass, Face, and Dry Mounts. As well as many gift options such as Mugs, Handmade Oil Paintings, and Acrylic Blocks! KeenArt Media strives to create the best printed products for your home, your clients, and yourself! Our printing services are guaranteed to meet your needs and help assist you in any photo reproduction way possible!



For more information: Vancouver Canvas Photo Prints, Custom Made Picture Frames & Plaque Mounts, Face Mounting Prints On PlexiGlass 


Friday, March 9, 2018

Fine Art Paper Showcase


When it comes to reproducing artwork, choosing the right paper is a huge deal. With different weights, textures, tones, it can be hard to pick the right one to communicate the "whole package" to a client, or to capture the full essence of your artwork. Below we list some of the characteristics of our best selling fine-art paper to help you choose.


These are our top 3 bestsellers: the Enhanced Matte paper, the Hahnemuhle Photo-Rag, and the Hahnemuhle German Etching.










Enhanced Matte

The most economic, smooth and bright, the enhanced matte is our most popular option. Though it is not archival in quality, its brightness and wide gamut allows for a very rich saturation of colors. Thus, this paper is a universally excellent choice...especially for images that really "pop", such as bold, matte graphics, bright portrait photography, or smooth, rich typography.





Hahnemuhle Photo Rag


This is our most popular archival paper. Like the enhanced matte, it has a very smooth coverage that compliments virtually any image. It is slightly heavier in weight and of a pleasant, distinct thickness. It is uncoated, with a very subtle texture that's evocative of hot-pressed watercolor paper, which harmonizes very well with artworks in traditional mediums. An image printed on Photo Rag has the feeling of being nearly like the original - sturdy, polished, and hand-pressed with love.




Hahnemuhle German Etching


If you would like an even heavier and more textured choice than the Photo Rag, we recommend our German Etching paper. With a substantial thickness and coarseness akin to cold-pressed watercolor paper or rougher, the German Etching is an excellent choice for those who really want to capture that "original" look and feel. Because of its rough texture, it isn't capable of capturing as wide of a color gamut as the other papers - so we recommend going with German Etching if you have paintings with rich, dark colors, as opposed to light, gentle washes.






Specialty Fine Art Papers: Moabs, Baryta and William Turner

For those thinking more outside the box, we also have 4 additional specialty papers. Each have been tailored to suit a more specific need or purpose, which we will get into here.









 Moab Entrada, Bright and Natural

The Moab series is an excellent archival match to the Enhanced Matte paper. It is similar in weight, with a very wide gamut, and comes in either warm or bright whiteness. Because of its wide gamut, I would recommend the Moab for any work that has soft colors, gradients, transparencies, etc, as it is capable of capturing that subtlety.  The Moab Bright especially provides excellent contrast for black-and-white work.

Though uncoated, there is a rich, smooth feel to it, evocative of vellum. Though its color and brightness are a win, most artists tend to prefer the Photo-Rag for its slightly thicker density and weight.








Baryta and William Turner


The Baryta is an interesting paper. It is extremely heavy and glazed with a thick coating that enhances the richness of the colors beneath. Its gamut is also very wide, and is excellent for black and white or rich photography. That being said, sometimes the gloss can be a little rigid and off-putting, reserved only for very specific circumstances.


The William Turner is similar to the German Etching, but consider it as its ultimate, Hulked-out brother. Extremely thick and sturdy, one can definitely feel the amount of pulp that was hard-pressed to make it. Its texture is also rich and riddled, excellent for recreating oil paintings and acrylics. However, because it's texture is so thick, it is harder for the printer to capture the same range in its gamut.





 And there you have it, our condensed, more poetic take on our Fine Art papers. If you'd like to learn about their specifications in more detail, visit our website here!









To experience these papers yourself, we do also sell a sample pack of not just the Fine Art papers, but the photographic ones too! Pop one into your cart here for $29 + shipping and handling.




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KeenArt Media is an online fine art printing and framing company, specializing in canvas, archival and photographic prints and reproductions. We are proud to serve and support artists from all over the US. 


KeenArt Media Ltd. Toll Free: 1-888-533-6278 (KeenART)
www.USAOnCanvas.com 
Working Hours: Pacific Standard Time
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Friday