Canvas printing reviews in DC Mag

[palizbay]

Can anyone remember the Canvas Printing article from DC Mag earlier this year? Unfortunately I don't have that issue any more - so could someone please tell me who the top 3 companies were for canvas photo printing in that shoot-out?

Many thanks!!

Peter

[ap4a]

I don't recall one from this year, but from the Autumn 08 edition:

CanvasRus - canvasrus.co.uk:

Image Quality: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

£55 (50x50cm)
Colour very punchy but no heat-seal lamination leading to folded edges being damaged on arrival.

DesignerPrint - designerprint.co.uk:

Image Quality: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

£90 (50x50cm)
Colour, contrast and IQ very good, but not quite as good as the top suppliers.

Loxley Colour - loxleycolour.com:

Image Quality: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 5/5

£139 (50x50cm)
Rich colour, overall production and construction standards are exemplary.

One Vision Imaging -onevisionimaging.com:

Image Quality: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

£115 (50x50cm)
Sumptious colour combined with impeccable manufacturing with stunning results.
Editor's choice

PhotoArtistry - photoartistry.co.uk:

Image Quality: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

£120 (50x50cm)
Identical to the designerprint one above (in every way, including identical packaging and delivered in same van with same courier number), but far higher cost

Photobox - photobox.co.uk:

Image Quality: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

£66 (40x40cm)
Colour reasonably accurate but printing is on dark side with dull lowlights. Slowest to arrive. Disappointing range of sizes. No mounting brackets provided.

Tesco Photo - tescophoto.com:

Image Quality: 2/5
Service: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 2/5

£47 (40x40cm)
No protective coating, no option for full bleed around edges, lacklustre quality. Poor service, with no replies to enquiries. Nothing good to say except cheap and a good range of sizes available.

The Digital Room - thedigitalroom.co.uk:

Image Quality: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 4/5

£68 (50x50cm)
Beautiful, vibrant colour, excellent IQ, frame supplied with wedges to maintain canvas tautness over time.
Voted best buy.

Verdict:

Both DesignerPrint and PhotoArtistry produced high quality results, but with identical imaging and manufacturing - DP was better value though. This high level of quality was matched by The Digital Room who were much cheaper making them the best value buy.

For absolutely top quality results, though, the silver halide printing (instead of giclee) and board mounted production processes used by Loxley Colour and One Vision Imaging couldn't be beat. In the tests the outright IQ proved immaculate and the finished gallery wraps were much more robust making them worth the extra outlay. The result was close but One Vision came out on top due to extra finishing options and better prices.

Summary: If on a budget recommended to go with The Digital Room, otherwise go with One Vision Imaging.