Wednesday, February 28, 2018

5 Tips for Picking Out the Perfect Frame


We know that sometimes picking frames can be a bit tricky. With so many different colors, textures, widths and styles to choose from, there's a lot of different factors to juggle all at once. So we're sharing our tips to help you narrow down your choices.

1. Decide What is the Final Size Needed

This may seem a bit counter-intuitive, but when picking frames, you need make sure the final result matches where you are planning on hanging it. Otherwise, you risk finding a beautiful frame, but its final size is either too small or too big for any of your spaces. So find the wall you'd like to hang your picture, and roughly measure how large you'd like it to be. 

2. Decide if You Need a Matboard

Once you have the final size figured out, you can start to narrow in on what combinations you can make with your artwork, matboard and frame. What is the size of your artwork? Does it need a matboard, or will a frame be enough? How thick should the frame be? 
Some tips for deciding if you need a matboard: matboards are generally more traditional, and help give more air and focus to a particular piece. You may want to consider a matboard if you:
  • have a smaller print that you would like to feature in a larger frame size (ie, a 8x10 picture but in an 11x14 frame)
  • have a particularly special piece or an original artwork that you would like to preserve - matboards help keep the plexiglass away from the artwork. This is especially helpful with artworks that have lots of textures and mediums such as chalk, pastel, etc, that may leave residue on the plexiglass resting on top of it.
  • have a signature wall or decor color you'd like to highlight - matboards are an excellent way to help harmonize a room with a pop of color

3. Pick Your Frame Style

Finally, the part that you wanting to get to to begin with! Now that you have an idea of the final combination you're going for, you can finally start considering which style of frame you want. Are you planning on going:
  • Modern? If so, consider pairing your white/off-white matboards with sleek, slim designs, such as thin metal frames. Or, if you have a larger piece, consider white minimalist wood frames in solid, matte finishes.
  • Traditional? If so, consider choosing a matboard of color to harmonize and enrichen your piece. Oil paintings, for example, often have many rich, deep ochres or ombre tints to them, which pair nicely with matboards with darker colors, such as plum, raspberry, rust, etc. If going for a dark matboard, try to keep your frame more basic. Conversely, if you would like to go for a more ornate frame (think gold or with lots of details), try to pick a softer, neutral matboard.
(To help you get started, here are some of our more popular frame styles:)
GA152 Black Satin
GB207 Gold Leaf Legacy
GC359 Kyoto White

4. Play Around with Sizes

Once you have an idea of colors and proportions, play around with them to see what hits the spot. You can use our online calculator with accompanying visual graphics to get a sense of how your matboard and frame are interacting. 

5. Have fun! 


Picking out picture frames doesn't have to be daunting. Like trying on new clothes, it can be a creative experience mixing and matching. For a better idea, you can also visit our youtube channel to see the different textures and finishes, or order corner samples to match with your picture. (Your corner samples become free if you end up purchasing a final big-sized frame from us!)
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USAOnCanvas is an online printing, framing, fine arts and reproduction company. We also supply artist materials such as custom canvases, primed and unprimed, as well as stretcher barswood panels, etc. Check out our supply section today!
KeenArt Media Ltd. 604-421-8000 (KeenART)
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Friday

Wednesday, February 21, 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

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Happy Valentine's Day!



From all of us here at UsaOnCanvas, happy Valentine's Day!

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


Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Blank Round Canvases are here!


We weren't kidding about unleashing new product this year! Based on your feedback, we have now included round blank canvases to our arts supply section!




Acrylic primed on cotton duck canvas and stretched on 3/4" deep frames, these are perfect for any painting project. Available in 5", 8", 10", 12", and 16" in diameter. Order here today!



Got a finished painting you would like to get reproduced on a round canvas? We can do that too! We offer circular frames from 18" to 40", all at 3/4" depth. When you order, just select the Square Version of your circular size (ie, 18x18 for an 18" diameter), and make a note you'd like "CIRCULAR CANVAS" in your order notes. We will send you an updated order confirmation (please note, specialty shapes are 20% more than regular square shapes) and get your round painting made in 7 business days!




Upload your photos now and order your round canvas today!

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USAOnCanvas is a printing, framing, fine arts and reproduction company. Our speciality is canvas printing, both for personal home décor as well as fine art reproduction uses. All our canvases are printed with archival inks and hand stretched over pinewood stretcher frames built by hand, finished off with black or white linen tape on the back. Best of all, we do nearly any size to fit your space! Call us today!

KeenArt Media Ltd. Toll Free: 1-88-533-6278
Working Hours:
8:30 AM to 5:00PM Monday to Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:00PM Friday

Thursday, February 1, 2018

We Heart this Valentine's Coupon!


The first of February marks the beginning of yet another sweet holiday around the corner - you guessed it, Valentine's!

While Valentine's Day is usually associated with romantic pairings and lovebirds, it is also a day to just show anyone you love just how much you love them - whether they be friends or family. No matter how big or small the gesture, a sentimental thought will be sure to brighten anyone's day.

If you choose to give a Valentine's gift this year, we can help you make it especially thoughtful and personalized.





For friends, why not print a 8x8 canvas gallery wrap of one of their Instagram shots? 


For family, why not a metal print of their latest vacation photos? 




And for an especially special sweetheart, the possibilities are endless...but poetic Word Arts, Word Clouds, and Collages are our favourite.


And now we have an even better way to help - with a coupon!



Until February 14th, use the coupon code HEART30 to receive 30% off all regular-priced canvas, metal, plexi, fine art prints and plaque mounts! Order by Feb 7th for guaranteed Valentine's arrival. So heart this coupon code and get started!

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USAOnCanvas is a printing, framing, fine arts and reproduction company. Our speciality is canvas printing, both for personal home décor as well as fine art reproduction uses. All our canvases are printed with archival inks and hand stretched over pinewood stretcher frames built by hand, finished off with black or white linen tape on the back. Best of all, we do nearly any size to fit your space! Call us today!

KeenArt Media Ltd. Toll Free: 1-88-533-6278
Working Hours:
8:30 AM to 5:00PM Monday to Thursday
8:30 AM to 4:00PM Friday