What resolution should the files I upload be?

The most frequently asked question, this! Generally, the higher the resolution the better but as long as your photo or image is at least 100 dpi/ppi (dots per inch/pixels per inch) at the required output/printing size then everything should be fine. We can take lower resolution files but anything below 72 dpi/ppi will start to affect the print quality.

As a guide, an image of dimensions 11” x 16” (280 mm x 407 mm) at 100 dpi/ppi will be approximately 5 Megabytes in size. At 150 dpi/ppi it would be 11.6 Megabytes.

You can see the resolution figure when opening up your images in a photo editor like Photoshop. It’s found under the ‘Image’ menu and then under ‘Image Size’ in Photoshop but it should also be found under something similar in other photo editing packages.

The best way of telling whether your photo or image is going to be OK for printing at its current resolution is to look at it at 100% on screen, inside your chosen photo editor. If the image looks OK then the print will too.

If you have a low-resolution image, and you need to make it a higher-resolution image, then you may need to adjust the resolution figure. However, bear in mind that just simply typing in a larger number may decrease the quality of the image. When you have made any adjustments, always check the image at 100% on screen. If you’re happy with it, then it should be fine for printing.

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What file formats can you accept?

Aha… the next most frequently asked question! We can accept pretty much any file format but bear in mind you will be uploading your images to our server so in order to save space… and upload/download time, it’s probably best if you send your photos and images as JPEG files.

JPEG format is a ‘lossy’ compression format. By ‘lossy’ we mean that when you save your file as a JPEG, it compresses the image by throwing away data it doesn’t think the image needs… and this is data that you can never get back. Luckily saving files as a JPEG format allows for user adjustment so it’s possible to attain the best combination of file size vs. quality of the final, saved image. Photoshop has a great ‘Save for Web’ option that allows you to see the results of JPEG compression side by side with your original uncompressed file.

Note: always keep a copy of your original uncompressed file as back up.

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What colour mode do you want my photos to be?

For colour printing, we can accept either RGB or CMYK files… but the best and most predictable results will be when the photo or image is in RGB colour mode.

RGB stands for ‘Red, Green & Blue’. CMYK stands for ‘Cyan, Magenta, Yellow & Black.

Digital cameras will produce RGB files, as will most scanners at their default settings.

If you want your image to be greyscale then obviously that’s the way to send it to us. Most photo editors will allow the user to convert the colour of their files to greyscale.

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How are my prints sent to me?

We use Royal Mail Special Delivery for the postage of your canvas prints. The delivery address will be the address you provide us with when you pay for the print.

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How long does it take to get my prints?

As soon as you’ve uploaded your files and assuming there are no problems, your canvas prints should be with you in approximately 10-14 days. Bear in mind that for Christmas orders it always best to allow for a longer turnaround/delivery time, as there is usually a heavier workload during this time.

If there are any problems with your file, we’ll contact you.

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Can I have a different/custom size print to the ones listed on this site?

The sizes we have listed on this site have been chosen because they are the most popular of the smaller format sizes. At this time, this is all we offer.

If you want a custom size you can always try our sister site which caters for large format canvas prints. Bear in mind that there is no framing service for these larger sizes though.

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Are the prints protected/water resistant?

Our canvas prints are very durable and as such are sent out without any added finishing other than a light coating of fixative spray. Further protection is left to the discretion of the customer. The prints are not water resistant however and should not be displayed in a too humid or wet environment, or wiped with a wet cloth.

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Can I send you photos & images I have taken from the Internet to be printed?

No… not unless you actually own the photos/images or have permission from the owner. It’s very easy to think of the Internet as an almost infinite and free resource for images and other files but the truth is that unless the images in question are specifically designated as ‘public domain’ or royalty free etc. then there is likely to be a copyright protecting their use.

We take copyright very seriously here and we could be fined quite heavily for printing other peoples’ work… so please don’t ask us to reproduce any photos or images that are not your own or that you don’t have permission to reproduce… even if it’s ‘for personal use’.

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What do I do if my canvas print is damaged when it arrives?

Obviously we strive to maintain as high a quality standard as possible when we print and package your prints but despite this, things can sometimes go wrong. All prints are packaged protectively with an internal layer of bubble wrapping but if by some chance your print is damaged, it is likely to have been caused in transit.

Because we use Royal Mail Special Delivery as our delivery method, the prints are insured against damage and loss. If you discover a problem email us on careline@canvas-prints.co.uk and we’ll arrange a replacement. The damaged print will have to be returned to us here at Angel Digital before we can send out a new one.

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Do you colour match the print to my photo?

We don’t perform a colour matching service here. All our printers are automatically and regularly calibrated to produce the best prints possible and to that end, if there are any colour discrepancies, it’s more likely to be due to the inconsistencies between monitor types etc.

The service we provide is the best balance between quality and price but if you’re worried about colour matching, there is a ‘Buy Proof’ option available (at A5 size) in order that you can see the print results before purchasing a larger print.

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How do I upload my image(s) to your servers?

Not as tricky as you might think... and there are two ways to achieve it:

1) Use Internet Explorer
2) Use an FTP application like CuteFTP or Fetch... or similar.

Essentially, after you've paid for the print(s) you require on the 'prices/buy' page, you'll be re-directed to an 'upload' page. On this page you be given the necessary username and password and easy to follow instructions to enable you to upload your files. You enter the information provided into Internet Explorer or your chosen FTP application and you're away! Very simple... even our manager's nan can do it!

Whether you use method 1 or 2, either way will work just fine.

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