Things to look out for before printing

When we think of printing, it sounds like the printer will do everything for you. But, there are couple of things to look out for or consider before printing to make sure the final results will meet your expectations.

1. Always check the resolution of an image before printing. 

DPI or Dots Per Inch is very critical to the quality of the prints. The term stands for how many dots are in one square inch, so higher dpi results clean and crisp image. If you try to print a low resolution image, it will look blurry or pixelated especially if you print it on a large scale.

http://www.phunkemedia.com/images/content/print-resolution-dpi-examples.png

2. Check the color mode of the image.

There are two types of color mode used when displaying an image.

1. RGB - RGB is a spectrum of colored lights - involving Red, Green and Blue - that is used on screens to display colors. RGB has much larger gamut than CMYK(ink) which can portray millions of colors that CMYK cannot produce. RGB colors are known as additive because the palette starts from black and as the colors are added the result is lighter with the white being the very end of the palette. So, if your work is to be presented on a screen, you should be working in RGB.

2. CMYK - CMYK is a spectrum of colored inks - involving Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black - that is used in printing. CMYK has limited gamut compared to RGB. CMYK colors are known as subtractive because the palette starts from white and as the colors are added, the palette is gradually gets darker until it reaches black. Unlike RGB that is based on colored lights, the colors we see with inks are coming from their absorbing and reflecting certain wavelength of lights.
So, if you are going to print an image, it is best to change the mode into CMYK to have the best accuracy between what you see on the screen and what you see on the print.

http://cdn01.pelfusion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/RGB-VS-CMYK.jpg

But hold on! Because you are planning to print an image, it shouldn't lead you to work in CMYK mode from the start. The reason is because CMYK has such limited color gamut, you will have to work within such small area, however, RGB has much larger gamut which can produce vibrant and strong colors which will let you to work in much larger spectrum. When you print, the drivers will convert from RGB to CMYK accordingly to match the colors as closest as possible. You can color proof if you are using Adobe products to see the printed version on the screen which will help you to decide on colors and how the printer will process the image.

https://blog.fotolia.com/us/files/2016/02/Confronto-Gamut-01-1024x1024.jpg

3. Consider the type of paper.

There are many types of papers for printing. Some are matte, glossy, or even textured. Depending on the paper, the presentation will have different effects. Also if you are printing at home, you should know the types of papers your printer can handle. If you try to force printing with a paper that the printer doesn't accept, the result may not be good or even break your printer. Well known printing brands such as Epson and Canon provide their own line of quality papers which allows easier production for those who are looking to print at home.



Other ways you can print is by sending your work to professional print studios as they will have proper equipments and professionals who will do everything for you. Consider visiting different studios and ask for color samples to find the perfect palette you are looking for because each studio may have different printing profiles which will have slight variations of colors.

If you are planning to take your work to a print studio, come over to www.canadaoncanvas.com as the studio offers great products in great quality.

Guidelines for photo taking

        The weather is getting warmer, and sunshine is filling over the earth. You glance out the window and decides to find some good places to get some sunshine with your friends and families. You bring your camera to embrace the new season and start recording your loved ones outside as they enjoy the weather.

But wait! You remember that you are horrible at taking photos. You are the person who doesn't know what to do when someone asks to take a photo for them, or hurriedly leave the site as soon as you return the camera.

But do not worry! This post is for those who want to overcome such struggles and take photos freely without any fear or shame.


Rule of thirds

If you don't know where to start, always remember the rule of thirds. It is the most well known principle which states divide an image into 9 equal parts using a grid and place the important elements on any intersection point or along the lines to give the image more balanced and natural composition. If you have been placing your subject in the center, try this rule and you will see it creates more balance in your image.


http://www.photographymad.com/files/images/rule-of-thirds-vertical.jpg


Golden hour

Remember the golden hour! Shortly after sunrise or before sunset is an amazing time to take photos. The reason is when the sun is near the horizon, the light travels in greater depth of atmosphere which reduces the intensity of direct light but increases the illumination of indirect light from the sky. The light becomes more redder and softer that will create a beautiful effect over your images.


http://www.photographymad.com/files/images/girl-golden-hour.jpg

Be aware of the light

Following to the prior point, always be aware of where the light is coming from. Use the light to guide the eyes of the viewer. Also, using shade and shadow are another way to add more depth in the subject.


http://digital-photography-school.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/light-5.jpg

Perspective

Explore different perspectives. Instead of taking photos from an eye level, try to find interesting angles such as from above, from below, or giving different angles on the subject will create unique and exciting composition. Same subject can look intriguing when you it's viewed at a different angle.



http://www.stockvault.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/perspective-17.jpg

Watch your back! - background

Be aware of what is in the background and focus on the subject of your photograph. If the background has too many details or other elements scattered around, they conflict with the subject of your image and the viewer will likely lose the focus on the subject. Rather, focus on the subject and try to find a simple background that will draw the attention to your subject and avoid unnecessary distractions.

       Also play with the space behind the subject. Use the negative space to embrace the subject that will naturally create energy and tension - a good tension. Often people disregard the negative space, but it can make your subject much exciting and dynamic if used properly.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQmy1X5-iv1Iw6SBEuzt_2K0r4GQJRwgUVZgDV2aY0MvPtxEoa6y8dPjn8l2qSfEn-1AvBIXnQPmafMmEpCNjx_RsnT4ngtNvUr0NdwDDV-ITk4UvfygHJFfzDVlmFYBWC0ZOZ9Qhfyw/s1600/IMG_5401-2.jpg

Take a deep breath and relax

Sometimes it can be very intense while you are taking a photo, but it is important to relax when you are taking photos, as you'll know better the right time to take the photo and the results will look more natural.

Don't look too close through your lens

Try to avoid zooming in as it compromises the quality of the image. Instead, you can crop the image in the editing process or get closer to the subject.

Where you live is full of patterns and colours if you look carefully

Every place is filled with patterns and colours. Discover interesting patterns to enrich your subject, or find contrasting colours to make your subject pop out. Your subject might be wearing a bright red shirt, and you find a dark blue wall. If the subject stands before the wall, the photo would look much more energetic compared to just standing in front of a general red-brick wall.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4307062387_3f564814ca.jpg

Get a proper grip

Whatever your position may be, you want to have a firm grip on your camera if you are expecting a clean and crisp photo. Usually left hand supports the side of the camera (for small digital cameras) or the bottom of the lens (large cameras including dslr) and right hand holds the body while pressing the shutter. Also, have your elbows close to the body that shaking of your hands are minimized. In these days, the cameras come with a stabilization function which makes your photo life much easier.

You are the maestro

Design and direct where or how your photo want to look. You can direct the subject (for some cases) to pose or move to create more dynamic energy that will interact with the viewers. It can be funny, serious, funky, stylish, or other ways you want to take your photo.

https://photobci.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/perspective_20.jpeg


Take many photos as much as you can

Even though you understand all the guidelines above, you won't be able to capture all of them with couple clicks on your camera shutter. You must be willing to take many photos wherever you go, and you will learn and find a way to capture the moments with your colour through the lens. Always explore and experiment with approaching a subject and discover new ways to embrace them.


These guidelines are not rules, but to help you to take better photos. So be free, since these rules are to be broken. Take challenges and build your own.

And after many trials and errors, when you find a great photograph and want to build a hall of your moments, come and visit www.canadaoncanvas.com to print and frame them. They will make your hall much brighter.

Let's Start Your Art Business!

It has become a widespread phenomenon for the individuals to manage their own production of arts and distribute them to public personally and commercially.

Today, we would like to introduce couple of websites that could ease the process and let you concentrate more on the creative work.

Etsy

Etsy is a well-known peer to peer e-commerce platform for handmade crafts and items - including artwork. This website can be a great place to start because there are many unique products - varying from vintage to modern - that attract specific customers. You will be able to set up your personal shop within a shared space of etsy.
There are some fees including listing fee and transaction fee (3.5%; which is relatively low compared to other websites).

Downside of etsy may be is that there are too many competitors at the moment and it is hard to climb up to be the first ones on the shelf to get noticed by the buyers. But there is still a good niche with unique products, so it is a good idea to at least give a try and open your own shop.

www.etsy.com



Amazon

Now here is the giant, the largest e-commerce community. It is known that amazon has 10 times more traffic that etsy which means there is more chance for you to attract more buyers to your shop. The system is very reliable since it's based on one of the largest companies in the globe and has a strong search engine optimization system, so with a right process you have more chance to lead the traffic to your door and introduce your amazing work. There are millions of products, not only just artwork and prints but covering almost every category of products.

Downside of Amazon is that the company takes a high commission fee when an item is sold. The fee varies depending on the item, but it's definitely something to consider.


www.amazon.com / www.amazon.ca



Big Cartel

We have come to a totally different platform. This site is perfect for those who are looking for a dedicated space for your work. In Big Cartel platform, each store works as an individual website which brings attention of buyers solely to your products as long as they stay in your website. And it is very easy to set up a store with a straightforward instruction and also, some room for those who want to take an adventure with coding on their shop.

There is no transaction fee, however, there are different monthly plans (including a free plan!)that allow you to expand your store depending on the number of your products.

Downside of Big Cartel is that the simplified features may lack support for marketing and SEO compared to other big websites out there. Another important note is there is a limit to list your items (300 items max), and if you are approaching with a large scale business, Big Cartel might not be your best option.


www.bigcartel.com



Threadless

This platform is called POD (print on demand), where you (artist) upload your work on their website, and the company does all the work from manufacturing to shipping according to the orders they receive from the buyers.

Threadless is one of the most popular POD platforms for prints on apparels and garments.
The pricing is straigtforward. You set your own price on the products and you earn anything left after the base price. For example, a base price for a tshirt is $15, and you set your price with your print on the tshirt as $30. When the tshirt is sold, what you earn is $15 which is the cut after the base price has been removed.

Downside is, if you want to make a real profit, either you have to set your price high, or sell many with cheaper price. And it is hard to find the balance between the two. However, if there is a good demand of your design, this platform could be a breakthrough into your entrepreneur.


www.threadless.com



Society6

Society6 is another popular pod website offering much more various products. They cover from prints, apparels, homewares, phone cases and laptop skins. Unlike Threadless, you get to only set your price on the art prints and other products have a set profit for the artist. Society6 can be a good starting line for those who are looking to sell prints on the main shelf and maybe explore couple of new products on the side.


www.society6.com 



Take a note that it's good to have several shops open to spread the word and maximize the traffic which will increase your profit eventually. 

Last thing, if you are just looking to print your work for personal collection or gift for your friends and families, come visit www.canadaoncanvas.com as they offer archival museum quality prints and other great services.

How to make your stained glass

Photo by: jojomamma654

1. Make your template. Draw or print out your pattern on a piece of paper in actual size.

2. Choose your glass: Cathedral or Opalescent.

Cathedral:
clear or transparent glass with colorants added.
Opalescent:
white or opal with the color mix. It has a higher density than Cathedral glass requiring more pressure to cut through.


You can purchase stained glass and equipment at a stained glass supply shop or craft supply shop.
Equipment list needed for stained glass project: glass cutter, pliers, copper foil, soldering iron and solder, grinder.

3. Cut the pattern in its separate pieces and label them by color and grain direction. Place the pattern under the glass and trace the outline with a thin permanent marker.

4. Score your glass. Roll a cutter wheel along the marked line to score the glass.

For more detailed instruction and reference images, please visit the following link:
http://www.infoskep.com/subject-how-to-cut-stained-glass.html

5. Cut your glass using pliers for straight pieces, and a glass cutter for curved sections.

6. Grind down the sharp edges of the different pieces using a glass grinder or a glass router to make the edges smooth.

7. Foil the glass. Cover the edges of the glass with 7/32" copper foil then remove protective backing of the foil.

8. Solder the glass in place. Apply small dots of flux to desired areas, melt a small blob of solder on top.

9. Frame your creation!

Photo By: avantrend

Reference
1. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Stained-Glass

2. http://www.infoskep.com/subject-how-to-cut-stained-glass.html

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2pS75SDqmo

MOMA Offers Free Online Photography Course

For those of who cannot afford any time and money for photography lessons (like myself), here's the good news: MOMA now offers free online photography course. I have signed up for the course as soon as I came across the posting about the new course. The course is 6 weeks long and the course materials for each week consist of short videos, readings, discussion, and a quiz at the end. Let's get educated!

Course Info

Although taking, sharing, and viewing photographs has become second nature for many of us, our regular engagement with images does not necessarily make us visually literate. This course aims to address the gap between seeing and truly understanding photographs by introducing a diversity of ideas, approaches, and technologies that inform their making. In this course you will look closely at photographs from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art and hear a variety of perspectives on what a photograph is and the ways that photography has been used throughout its nearly 180 year history: as a means of artistic expression, as a tool for science and exploration; as an instrument of documentation; to tell stories and record histories; and as a mode of communication and critique in our ever increasingly visual culture.

Subtitles available in English

Course Info Source: https://www.coursera.org/learn/photography/

Adding Glamour with Picture Frame Gilding

A gilded picture frame, prior to finishing

If you like your artwork bordered by classy, glossy gold, a gilded frame might be the perfect choice.

Gilding is the process used to apply gold leaf (or sometimes silver leaf) to a surface.  This surface can be a three dimensional sculpture, a ceiling moulding, a small object like a door handle, a picture frame, or any number of other items.

In the case of picture frames, this age old decorative style is most commonly used on detailed, ornately carved or sculpted frames, though it can look just as striking on a plain flat or curved face (and is simpler to apply).

There are two main gilding methods: water gilding and oil gilding.  Both have many similarities, but a few differences as well that make each more suited to different skill levels and products.

Oil Gilding

A book of imitation gold leaf

Oil gilding is the method most suitable for beginners.  It gets its name from the oil-based coating applied prior to the gold leaf.  Essentially, any object that can be painted can be oil gilded, and items prepared in this way are more durable in outdoor environs.

There are only a few steps involved in oil gilded. Once the object has been primed (technically an optional step, though the base colour will affect the final appearance of the gold), a layer of oil-based "gilding size" is brushed on.  The gold leaf is simply laid on top and left to dry.

Water Gilding

Water gilding is the more complicated method of the two.  Though the process has changed a little, at its bones it is the same method used by the ancient Egyptians.

The process got its name from the water that is mixed with other mediums during the numerous steps.  Water is combined with animal-skin glue and clay powder in various quantities.  Water gilded objects can be burnished (rubbed to produce a high shine), unlike oil gilded items.

DIY Gilding

A great DIY Gilding How-To

For the crafty among us, gilding is absolutely a project that can be undertaken at home.  There are plenty of ways to transform this complicated process into one that can be accomplished in a few hours at the kitchen table.

• Imitation gold leaf is much cheaper than real gold and produces much the same effect.
• In the spirit of saving money, any pieces of leaf that don't adhere in the first layer can be used to cover up missed spots.
• Traditionally, the various coatings are mixed by hand, but today they can be purchased from a good craft store, pre-mixed and ready to use.
• Though not completely authentic, a clear varnish can be used over the dried, gilded frame to make it really last!

For more information on this fun treatment, check out our complete article: Gilding Picture Frames.

While you're there, why not take a look at our selection of beautiful gold picture frame mouldings and striking classic silver frames.  We have options for every budget and decor style.

We'd love to hear from you! Have you ever gilded a picture frame or used some other method to create a stunning gold or silver decor piece?  Tell us about your experience in the comments section!

How to Clean Your Picture Frame

Few people enjoy cleaning house, but even those who make it a weekly chore tend to forget some nook or cranny.

One popular oversight is the wall hangings around the home. But failing to clean a picture frame can result in seriously stuck-on dirt, thick grime, and eventually, even irreparable damage to the frame. It's a good idea to add dusting the frames to your weekly to-do list.

Even so, you might find certain frames need a bit more TLC. Frames hanging in the kitchen, for instance, can develop a build up of grease from cooking within just a few days!

Let's break it down.

Cleaning the Frame

If your frames require more than simple dusting, the next step is to wipe them down with a damp cloth.

Always take your picture frame off the wall, first. Even the gentle pressure exerted on the top of the frame to wipe it will put unnecessary stress on hanging hardware and wire.

If just water still doesn't cut it, a spray dust cleaner can be used, as long as the wood is varnished or painted (ie: not raw wood!). Always spray onto the cloth, not onto the frame. The spray can soak quickly into the wood, leaving a discoloration.

If your frame has ornate carvings or designs, you may need a cotton swab or toothbrush to scrub the dust and dirt out of those tiny areas.

(If your frame is made from metal rather than wood, you can add a bit of dish soap to the water. You may want to test this on a non-visible section just to be sure.)

Cleaning the Glazing

Dirt, dust, and the occasional fingerprint will likely need to be cleaned off the glass or plexiglass covering your image.

If the glazing is glass, you can use a soft cloth and window cleaner to wipe the surface. Again, never spray directly on the glass – the cleaner can drip down between the frame and the glazing and damage the print behind.

If your frame uses plexiglass, do not use window cleaner – it can eat away at the material. Instead, dampen a soft cloth with water, and add a bit of dish soap if needed.

For information for disassembling your frame for a deep cleaning, see our full article: “Caring For Your Picture Frame”

Before Framing

Keeping your frame clean is important, but a frame can usually be replaced. It's the images inside that often have more sentimental value.

Make sure your photographs and artwork stay beautiful along with your frame by investing in UV-filtering glass or plexiglass. Before you frame them, and when cleaning the frame, be sure to set the photos far away from any water or cleaners so they don't get splashed. And always ensure the glazing is completely dry before re-assembling a frame – otherwise humidity can cause moisture build up on the inside of the glazing, which can make the images stick or develop mold.

For more information on caring for your special photos, check out our article on “Conservation Framing”.

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How do you keep your wall art in tip top shape?

Any cleaning tricks you're willing to share with the community?

As always, don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any of our products or services. Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to help!