I've never ordered a print. Where should I start?

The best place to start is by thinking about size and where the print will hang. Look at the wall where you plan to display the image and decide roughly how much space you want the artwork to fill. Some people prefer a smaller print that complements a room, while others want a larger piece that becomes the main feature on the wall. Measuring the space or even taping out the approximate dimensions on the wall can help you visualize what size will feel right.

Another important concept is aspect ratio, which simply means the shape of your photo. Every image has natural proportions - square, wide, or rectangular - and prints need to match those proportions unless the image is cropped. For example, a square photo works perfectly as 12x12, 20x20, or 30x30, but it would not naturally fit a long rectangular size like 30x10 without trimming part of the image. When you upload your photo on the order page, you will see sizes that match the proportions of your image.

Next, think about image quality. Modern smartphones take remarkably good photos, and many phone images print beautifully, even at larger sizes, provided the photo was taken clearly and in good light. Professional cameras still capture more detail and tonal depth, especially when paired with a good lens, which makes a difference for very large prints. Both can produce excellent results. In the end, the most important thing is choosing a photo you love.

You will also want to consider which print style suits your space. Acrylic face mounts have a high-gloss surface that can make colors appear rich and give the image a polished, gallery-style presentation. Because they are glossy, they can reflect light from nearby windows or lamps. Some people enjoy that reflective look, while others prefer something softer. If the room has a lot of light or potential glare, canvas or matte-finish metal prints can be a good choice because they reduce reflections and appear more subdued.

Another decision is whether you want a frame or a frameless presentation. Frames add structure and can help a print fit into traditional decor, while frameless styles or gallery-wrapped canvas tend to feel more modern and minimal, allowing the image itself to stand on its own.

If you are unsure about size, material, or anything else, a helpful approach is to start with a smaller print first. Ordering a small version lets you see how the image looks in print and get a feel for the material before committing to a larger piece. Many customers find this makes it much easier to decide on the final size and presentation for their space.

Finally, for the best possible print quality, make sure you upload the highest-resolution version of your image. Try to use the original file from your camera or phone rather than a version downloaded from social media, or messaging apps, since those versions are often compressed and reduced in size. The more detail your file contains, the better your print will look, especially at larger sizes.

Once you have chosen your image, size, and style, the rest is simple. Upload the file, select your options, and place the order.
From there we will take care of the production and turn your image into a finished print ready for your wall.

How long does it take to complete my order?

Typically 1 to 4 days to have your order either ready for pickup, or turned over to shipping. Large orders may take longer, and busy times are unpredictable. If you need a fast turnaround just let us know - usually not a problem.

What type of printers do you use?

We use Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 12-color printers with genuine Canon LUCIA PRO II archival pigment inks,
paired with custom ICC media profiles that we create in-house for exceptional color accuracy, smooth gradations,
and long-term fade resistance.

Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 12-color pigment ink printer.

What is the best way of contacting you with questions?

Email is the best and fastest way to get answers. We usually reply within an hour.
The same applies to text messages or the contact page.

Are Acrylic facemounts printed directly onto Acrylic?

No, Acrylic Facemount prints begin with a premium print film. The film is perfectly smooth, wide gamut, and subtly pearlescent, producing exceptional clarity, depth, and tonal accuracy that remains stable for decades. Its smooth, pearlescent surface delivers a clean glow and fine tonal transitions, making it especially well suited for this process.

The print is then facemounted to 3 mm cast acrylic using a crystal clear UV filtering adhesive. Combined with the natural UV resistance of cast acrylic, the artwork is protected from harmful UV exposure while gaining the optical brilliance acrylic is known for.

As light passes through the acrylic and reflects off the print beneath, the image takes on a luminous, almost backlit appearance. Finished with diamond routed edges and a rigid aluminum composite backing, each piece is clean, vibrant, and ready to hang.

Do you face mount to thicker acrylic like 1/4 or 1/2 inch?

We only use 1/8" thick optical-grade cast acrylic for our acrylic facemount prints. Acrylic thickness has no effect on sharpness, color, or clarity. The visual quality of an acrylic facemount print comes from the print itself and the mounting process behind it, not from the thickness of the acrylic. Using thicker acrylic simply makes the piece heavier and more expensive to produce and ship, without improving the appearance of the image. 1/8" acrylic provides excellent clarity and durability while keeping the finished artwork practical to handle and display.

Are Matte Metal printed directly onto metal?

NO! Matte Metal prints begin as a subtly pearlescent white print film. A durable matte finish is applied, then fused to 3 mm aluminum composite material. The result is a clean, all-matte surface - nothing glossy, nothing reflective, just pure image tone and a very light texture, giving a subtle industrial finish without shine. Photographers and artists appreciate this surface for its dead-matte look, which eliminates glare and gives certain images like moody, or minimalist work - a natural, understated strength. For those seeking a high-gloss, light-amplifying display, see our Acrylic Facemount prints.

Do Stretched canvas prints come in satin?

Of course. Stretched Canvas prints start with a satin (semi-gloss) finish archival cotton-blend canvas printed using long-life pigment inks for excellent color accuracy, fine detail, and fade resistance that lasts for decades. The canvas print is stretched over 3/4 inch or 1.5 inch deep pine stretcher frames, with mirrored edges for a clean, borderless presentation. The surface has a satin texture that adds depth and dimension without softening the image. The result is a crisp, durable print that's lightweight, ready to hang, and built to showcase your work with lasting quality.

What type of paper or canvas is best for my photo?

Every paper or canvas has its own look and feel - some bring out soft tonal depth, others give punchy contrast and glossy richness. Here's how each of our six papers performs:

Ilford Galerie Matte Paper - Smooth and refined with a dead-matte surface. Produces natural tones and an elegant fine-art appearance. Blacks are softer than on glossy papers, but the overall tone is calm and professional - perfect for portraits, black-and-white, or framed work behind glass.

Ilford Galerie Luster Photo Paper - Semi-gloss finish offering excellent color depth and detail with minimal glare. It's a balanced, versatile choice for landscapes, travel, and general photography. Offers deeper blacks and richer color than matte, without the full shine of gloss.

Breathing Color Metallic Photo Paper - High-gloss, mirror-smooth surface with the deepest blacks and widest color gamut of all our papers. Perfect for vivid, high-contrast images - cars, water, night scenes, and bold color photography.
Note: This paper has a delicate surface and should be handled with care, especially when unpackaging rolled prints.

Hahnemuhle German Etching - Handcrafted in Germany by Hahnemuhle - papermakers since 1584 - this 310 gsm, mould-made paper is known for its rich texture and velvety surface. It delivers deep blacks, superb tonal range, and a tactile fine-art feel that adds real presence to any image. Best for: Limited editions, gallery display, or any work where texture and craftsmanship matter. Unmistakably luxurious - chosen by artists who want their prints to look and feel like original art.
Note: This fine art paper is soft and easily marked. Please handle gently and take care when unrolling to avoid surface damage.

Breathing Color Crystalline Satin Canvas - Semi-gloss canvas with stunning vibrancy straight off the printer. It produces excellent color, deep blacks, and a natural satin sheen. Ideal for gallery wraps, fine-art, decor, and large wall pieces where you want texture with clarity.

Breathing Color Lyve Canvas - A durable, reliable choice for commercial or high-traffic installations. Archival-grade coated canvas offering great color and long-term protection.

What is the best type of image file to upload?

High-quality JPG files are an excellent choice for printing and are what we receive most often.
When saved properly, JPGs produce outstanding print quality.

Higher-bit files such as 16-bit TIFF are also welcome, particularly for images that have undergone heavy editing or contain very smooth tonal gradients. In most cases, however, a finished 8-bit JPG and a 16-bit TIFF will print indistinguishably.

Embedded color profiles are fully supported. Adobe RGB (1998) is ideal for print, as it preserves more printable color, but sRGB is also perfectly acceptable. ProPhoto RGB should only be used if you are confident working in a fully color-managed, 16-bit workflow. When uploading ProPhoto TIFF files, the browser preview may display colors slightly differently due to browser limitations. This does not affect print quality.

If you are unsure about resolution, simply upload the highest-resolution file you have. There is no need to adjust DPI or resize the image. We handle that as part of the print process. If an image is not well suited to the selected print size, we will reach out with recommended sizing or crop options before printing.

Why does my print look darker than what I see on my computer monitor?

This is often because your monitor is set brighter than the standard level used for print. Screens are made to look great for everyday viewing, but that extra brightness can make prints seem darker by comparison. To get a closer match, you can calibrate your monitor to ICC color standards. We use Datacolor calibration devices and software to fine-tune every part of our workflow - from camera and scanner to monitors, printers, papers, films, and canvas - so what you see is as close as possible to what we print.

Do you offer gift cards?

Absolutely.

Purchase a Gift Card

Can I create AI-generated images on your website?

Yes. Our AI image generator lets you create images from a simple text description and order it as a canvas, matte metal or acrylic facemount.

Open the AI Image Generator

Is one pixel in my image equal to one dot on the paper?

Not anymore.

In the early days of digital printing, each image pixel often mapped closely to a single printed dot. A simple 1 to 1 relationship.
A 300 ppi image printed at 300 dpi could produce visible dot structure, resulting in sharp edges but coarse tonal transitions.

Modern printers work very differently. Instead of placing one dot per pixel, they spray millions of microscopic ink droplets in multiple colors, layered and blended to reproduce smooth tone and fine detail.

The printer's 2400 x 1200 dpi specification refers to how precisely those tiny droplets can be placed on the paper. Each image pixel is built from many micro droplets that blend together so smoothly the eye sees continuous tone rather than individual dots.

The result is prints that look smooth and natural even when viewed up close, with no visible dot pattern, just clean detail and accurate color.

Will my print colors match my monitor?

Almost always, yes - especially if your monitor is calibrated.

Our entire workflow is color-managed from capture to print using custom ICC profiles built for each printer and paper type. That said, monitors glow with light while prints reflect it. A few colors that only exist on screen like very deep blues, hot reds, or neon tones simply can't be reproduced exactly in pigment under normal lighting. They'll print as the closest possible match within the printable color range.

Front lighting directed onto the print surface, such as ceiling-mounted lighting or strong natural daylight - helps the print open up, allowing those richer tones, contrast, and depth to really come through when the piece is being showcased.

Under natural lighting (neutral daylight around 5000K), your print will look true and natural. If color accuracy is critical, especially when matching original artwork, we recommend ordering a small print first. It's a simple, low-cost way to confirm everything looks perfect before committing to the final size.

Will my framed print come with a wire on the back to hang on the wall?

All rigid products come with hanging hardware included. We typically use either a wire, sawtooth hanger, D-Ring hangers, Wall buddies, security hardware on request for public areas. Please let us know if you have a preference for hanging hardware or we will use our discretion. For longevity, be sure to use the hardware we supply to hang your picture, and use a professional for large pieces!

Do you need to charge sales tax?

Yes we do, GST is charged to all Canadian orders. If your order is shipping to a province that charges PST, we need to collect this also.

Where do you ship and what does it cost?

We ship to most locations in Canada and the United States.

Shipping is $10 in Calgary, any size - or $29 to most Canadian addresses - up to 7 sq ft. Larger than 7 sq ft may have a surcharge depending on size and where it's going - 0-400$. Each print ships in a custom-sized, styrofoam-reinforced, heavy-duty cardboard box. Larger pieces are shipped in a wooden crate. We use all the major shipping carriers, whichever works best for your shipment.