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How to Use a Canvas Inkjet Roll

Canvas inkjet rolls are now commonly used to create photographic and painter-like works from digital files. Digital artwork printed on canvas has hung in galleries and museums, and some printer-generated art is surprisingly authentic. Thanks to modern printer technology, individuals and small businesses can use canvas rolls with more reasonably priced inkjet printers to produce high-quality canvas artwork. Using a canvas inkjet roll requires choosing the right type of canvas for the project at hand and then printing the canvas correctly in the inkjet printer to get a successful and attractive print.

Things You'll Need

  • Canvas inkjet roll
  • Sharp scissors
  • Graphics editing software
  • Inkjet printer
  • Fixative spray (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Choosing the Right Canvas Inkjet Roll

    • 1

      Determine how the canvas inkjet roll will be used. Canvas rolls can be used to create different types of prints such as giclee or archival, painting-like, photo, fine art printing and gallery printing.

    • 2

      Select the size of canvas roll needed for your printer. Rolls come in a variety of sizes based on width and length. Typical widths are 17, 24, 36, 44 or 60 inches. For example, on a printer that accepts paper widths up to 44 inches, any width up to 44 inches would be appropriate. Canvas rolls typically come in lengths of 40 feet, 50 feet, and 100 feet.

    • 3

      Select the color and texture of the canvas roll based on your printing needs. Canvas rolls come in colors that range from bright white to antique white. Canvas rolls can be lightweight cotton (photo, poster), poly-cotton blend (photo, giclee), medium-weight (giclee, photo), or heavyweight duck cotton (fine art, gallery). The texture of the canvas roll determines how the canvas will accept different inks, ranging from all-purpose painter inks to archival inks.

    • 4

      Select the coating of the canvas roll depending upon the desired look of the final print. Coating options include acid free, neutral PH (photo, archival printing), gesso or primer (painting and fine art look) and water resistant (painting).

    Loading and Printing with the Canvas Roll in Your Printer

    • 5

      Hold the roll canvas-side up. Open the printer cover and remove the left and right spool ends. Place the spool ends on either side of the canvas roll. Make sure the canvas is rolled straight and taut.

    • 6

      Insert the spooled canvas roll into the printer and close the printer cover. Gently pull the start of the canvas roll through the printer's paper guides. Make sure the canvas is straight. Consider using the printer's form feed button to advance the canvas through completely.

    • 7

      In your graphics editing software, click the "Print" button. Then, click the "Properties" button. In the properties menu, select "canvas" or "roll" for the paper size, "heavyweight" for paper weight, and "photo quality" for the print quality.

    • 8

      Click the "form feed" button on the printer to advance the canvas through the printer. Carefully cut the excess canvas roll with sharp scissors. Allow printed canvas to dry naturally. If archival inks are not used, consider spraying the finished print with a fixative spray.

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Fine Art

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