Best Canvas that doesn't need Laminating

[ImCanadianEh]

I have an old IPF8400 pigment inkjet printer that I print canvas on.
I am using Epson Exhibition Canvas Matte Media and I vinyl laminate it with a vacuum heat press.

Cons are:

- Two steps to print and laminate the canvas
- It's a little harder to stretch by hand, and sometime it loosens up over time
- Corners usually have bumps that stick out a bit, from the thickness of the medium

I would like to switch to a medium that does not need to be laminated or sprayed, does not crack during stretching, is not too thin and does not look cheap.

What would you recommend?
Thanks
- John

 

[dypinc]

You are not going to be able to find what you want when printing with an aqueous printer.

 

[ImCanadianEh]

You are not going to be able to find what you want when printing with an aqueous printer.

So, pigment inks won't stick to poly canvases?

 

[dypinc]

So, pigment inks won't stick to poly canvases?

If it is canvas for aqueous pigment inks it will stick, but it won't be very durable or waterproof. It really needs an over laminate.

 

[ImCanadianEh]

I'll have to replace my printer one day. What combination 44" printer and medium would you recommend that doesn't need laminating?

I was looking at Innova branded 260gsm Polyester canvas. It's 260GSM and is aqueous pigment and dye ink compatible coating. Any thought on this?

 

[dypinc]

AFAIK you will need to at least go to mild-solvent or latex if you don't want to over laminate. I use Latex for our canvas printing.

 

[ImCanadianEh]

AFAIK you will need to at least go to mild-solvent or latex if you don't want to over laminate. I use Latex for our canvas printing.

Thanks Dypinc. Good to know for the next one. Cheers!

 

[Gino]

It's not the media, but the method.

You aren't really setup to compete with the many printers which do this sort of thing.

 

[ImCanadianEh]

It's not the media, but the method.

You aren't really setup to compete with the many printers which do this sort of thing.

Ive been looking at surecolor r series resin printers, but they are way too big for me. What would you recommend? preferably in 44" size... also what media would you recomend?

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

I have had great luck with Sihl material for aqueous, but the coating it has can be chalky and prone to chipping if kept in a humid environment for a long time. We ran it in an older Epson Stylus Pro 9900 and the colors were amazing. Longevity, not so much. The Epson stuff was good too, but I never laminated it. Didn't know laminating canvas was a thing, but I work more on the tech side, so I might be pretty dumb in that area.

If I remember right, the ImagePrograph (or whatever awful spelling Canon used) is a thermal dye ink printer, not a pigment printer, so colors might not be terribly great.

 

[Gino]

Keep the printer you have for your aqueous needs and get a 54" something. If you go with 44" you'll be sorry the first time someone asks you for a 4' x 8' banner. Our roland is very good for banners and we don't bother wasting laminate on a banner. Banners are only meant to be used for a year or two. Anyone who wants it to last longer should invest in a permanent sign, which on a 54" you could also do.

 

[BigNate]

I liked my old Canon 7300... it was aqueous and awesome for canvas prints - but they were not super durable. the coating to allow the aqueous ink to work will eventually fail. But I have some nice family portraits that have lived inside behind glass that still look great at year 13..... We just printed on the generic canvas from Kelly/Spicers.

I recommend the latex - especially if you are not using it constantly the HPs are really good at not having ink clump in the lines - I am not saying it cannot happen, but latex printheads cost less.... If you are running solvent you should print something often (daily, weekly? often enough to keep ink from drying in the lines)