Stretch canvas 1: preparation

Canvas printed in our system should be carefully handled as inkjet print can be quite sensitive to rough treatment. Your circumstances might be different to ours but I cannot stress enough the importance of a neat, clean work environment. We have often damaged an expensive (usually large) print because some invisible smear of foreign substance has scratched the print surface. Varnished prints will be less sensitive but a piece of grit or glass from a previous job WILL go unnoticed until you have come within 10 seconds of completing the perfect piece.

When our work area is cleared up we lay a protective covering over the work surface. I like to use 5mm thick Fome-Cor as it is soft enough to absorb bumps when you drop a corner on to it by mistake. It is smooth and dirt is easy to spot. It is also non slip without being rough enough to abrade the canvas surface. It is not a negligible cost though, and you may prefer to use a clean blanket which will do a similar job.

If you are using this surface for more than one job in a day then take care that you do not dirty it because of casual neglect. In the course of assembling your stretched canvas you will handle: glue; staples; trimming tools such as scissors and knives; sawdust and possibly splinters from the stretch frame; gum from the backing tape; sharp screws and a host of pointy, hard edged tools.