FAQ
Ukraine fundraising details
For more information on the Ukraine fundraising campaign, please see the dedicated page: Helping Ukraine.
What is a Giclée print?
The word “Giclée” is French for “sprayed ink.” Today, the term is used to describe a sophisticated inkjet printmaking process which creates the highest quality fine art reproductions.
All of our in-house prints are manufactured in this way. Except for stickers and apparel which are produced using eco-solvent inks. Giclée printing offers extra-fine image resolution, helping retain a higher degree of detail from the original fine art or photographic images.
How are your canvas prints made?
Canvases are printed on specialist canvas material using our 12-colour Giclée printing process. This material is then stretched over a handmade wooden canvas frame (made from four separate parts called canvas stretcher bars).
The canvas corners are folded tightly over each edge and then the material is fixed with staples to the canvas stretcher bar frame. Tape is then used to cover all staples, ensuring a smooth, neat finish.
What is a canvas gallery wrap or image wrap?
A ‘gallery wrapped’ canvas is where the edge of the image is wrapped around the side of the canvas. This allows the canvas to be presentable without a frame.
For example, a 12x16” canvas will actually have the image printed onto a 16x20” canvas so that 2” on all sides of the image can be wrapped around the frame. 1 ½” will be on the side of the frame and ½” will be on the back.
From which materials are your canvas frames made?
For inhouse canvas production we use European knotless pine frames. This frame is extremely hard wearing and does not warp, unlike many of the cheap online alternatives.
Each canvas stretcher frame is milled with a curved profile and rounded edges. This shape helps to minimise contact with the front face of the canvas, preventing unsightly impression marks and surface cracking.
Our canvas frames are all fully finger-jointed. This means that longer frames are made from several lengths of wood pressure-jointed together, helping the frame to resist warping. This combination of techniques helps ensure our canvas frames are exceptionally straight, even at the largest sizes.
Where required, wooden ‘wedges’ are added to each corner; ensuring your canvas print remains taut. These tensioning wedges are also particularly useful when re-stretching larger prints, which can relax over time.
What are the size of the mounts (mats) for mounted and framed prints?
Mount size depends on the size of the frame.
- Frames that are 10x10” or below have a 1” mount.
- Frames that are 11x14” or below have a 1.5” mount.
- Frames that are 12x16” or above have a 2” mount.
Does the size listed for frames refer to the overall size?
No, the size listed for each frame refers to the size of the glaze and does not include the width of the frame. For example, A4 prints without a mount will fit an A4 glaze exactly, but prints with a mount will be smaller than A4 to fit the mount window opening.
What are average production times?
Each product has its own service level agreement (SLA) with the manufacturing facility producing it. The vast majority of products are produced within 24-48 hours. Indeed, many photo print orders leave the same day if received before midday.
In general, for our most popular products the following SLAs are in place:
| Production lab | Fine art prints | Framed prints | Canvas prints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 48-72 hours | 48-72 hours | 72-120 hours |
| UK | 0-24 hours | 24-48 hours | 48-72 hours |
| EU | 0-24 hours | 24-48 hours | 48-72 hours |
| USA | 24-72 hours | 96 hours | 72-120 hours |
However, more complex products such as handmade framed prints and canvases can occasionally take up to 7 days to make. Each product has an indicative SLA associated with it in terms of hours and we send multiple production status updates. We will keep you fully informed as your orders work through each individual lab.
How are your products packaged for shipping?
All prints are robustly packaged.
Although there are minor differences between individual labs packaging standards, the following typical approach is consistent.
Photographic prints are flat-packed in individual l packets.
Our unframed fine art prints are hand rolled in protective tissue paper and then shipped in extra thick cardboard tubes unless they are A4 or smaller and being delivered in the UK or mainland Europe (in which case they are shipped in thick cardboard envelopes)..
All framed and canvas prints are wrapped in a protective sleeve with individual plastic or cardboard guards added to each corner. Additional cardboard is secured over the print surface to minimize the risk of breakages or transit damage. Each print is then shipped in a heavy duty cardboard box.
What happens if a product is damaged in transit?
We ask for a photo of the damaged goods, and we’ll then gladly send a free replacement.