Friday 29 January 2016

Tips to Hang Multi-Panel Canvases

Print Arcade : Multi-canvas prints of art work or photos on different size canvases give you an opportunity to unleash your creativity and create your own master work.  Here’s a simple guide to how to identify and hang those to give an awesome effect to your room:

1. Select complimentary images and sizes

Choosing a variety of sizes, with both horizontal and vertical pieces can create visual impact. A set of 3 or 4 vertical canvases(40x100, 40x120 cm) or a 4x4 matrix of smaller 30x30 can create a great visual impact.

2. Identify the most suitable wall

Grouped art is better displayed within the parameters of visual markers, e.g. the centre of mantelpieces, between windows, centre of fireplace, equally placed between door frames, etc.  It is very crucial that the size and position of canvas pieces identified align with your wall of choice.  This is where the next step of creating templates is so crucial for multi canvas art work

3. Create templates for each of the canvas prints

Use ultra low-tack masking tape to carefully affix the templates to the wall. This enables you to find the best position for assembly.  Do not rush into making nail holes as you may damage the wall with nail holes that you may want to change later.

4. Play with the layout to create the best visual response

By viewing the group of pictures as one large one, you will be able to see them as a cohesive unit. It usually works well to make the largest print the main focus at the centre of the display, placing it at eye level with the smaller pictures branching out from it. It is important to ensure the grouping remains tight.

5. Don't hang the canvas prints too high

When hanging a collection of canvas prints it can be easy to let them spread higher than intended. Use the mantle or piece of furniture closest to the wall as a guide to ensure the complete unit can be viewed easily from standing eye-level and doesn't disrupt the balance of the room. The usual height used by museums and picture galleries for hanging pictures is 64” (or 160cm). Your central or main canvas should be at that height

6. Stand back to see the final arrangement to ensure the spacing and composition is right

When you are happy with your selection and positioning you can start hanging your cheap canvas prints. Use the templates to establish where each print needs to go.

7.   Select right hook for your canvas print based on its weight and width and the thickness of your wall

A single hook will work well for your smaller canvas prints (30x30, 40x40 cm). However, additional support and a more elegant appearance can be obtained by hanging the artwork on two hooks or nails, rather than one. This should definitely be done for your central large canvases (anything 60x60cm or above).  A variety of hook sizes are available that are designed to support weights from 2.25kg up to 45kg. However, we recommend you use with the canvas wall hanging system or D rings to help improve the stability of larger, heavier pieces.

8.   Determine the right position for your hook

Place the canvas print on the floor, facing downwards, and pull the hanging wire towards the top edge of the canvas frame at two equidistant points. Measure the length between the two points and the distance from one of them to the top of the canvas frame. Note that the wider the gap between the two points, the closer the picture will hang to the wall. Apply the measurements to the wall by measuring down from your earlier pencil mark.

9.   Nail the hook into the wall

Stick a small amount of masking tape over the area where you are about to nail the hook. This will prevent any chipping.  Hammer the hook or nail at an angle to ensure the wall bears the majority of the weight.

10.        Make final adjustments

Review the canvas positions and straighten them as required

If you have created your own multi-canvas masterpiece, post a picture of that on facebook.com/printarcade and share your creativity!

Friday 22 January 2016

How Best to Hang Your Mother-In-Law?

Yes, we know you love your Mother-In-Law and would like to put a beautiful photo of hers on a canvas! J The million dollar question is how best to hang the canvas. Here’s a simple guide to how to go about hanging Single Panel Canvas Print of your Mother-In-Law:

1. Select the right location for the picture

A small picture (say 30x30 or 40x40 cm) won't be presented at its best if it is hanging on a large empty wall. You may want to go for a bigger canvas (say 120x120 or 120x100 cm) or a group of smaller pieces for a better result. You should use the furniture closest to that wall to act as a visual marker for positioning.

2. Select the height at which the canvas print will hang and then mark the wall with a pencil just above the top of the canvas frame, in the middle. 

The usual height used by museums and picture galleries for hanging pictures is 64” (or 160cm). This is classed as eye level for the average standing adult.

3. Select right hook for your canvas print based on its weight and width and the thickness of your wall

A single hook will work well for smaller canvas prints (30x30, 40x40 cm). However, additional support and a more elegant appearance can be obtained by hanging the artwork on two hooks or nails, rather than one. This should definitely be done for large canvases (anything 60x60cm or above).  A variety of hook sizes are available that are designed to support weights from 2.25kg up to 45kg. However, we recommend you use with the canvas wall hanging system or D rings to help improve the stability of larger, heavier pieces.

4. Determine the right position for your hook

Place the canvas print on the floor, facing downwards, and pull the hanging wire towards the top edge of the canvas frame at two equidistant points. Measure the length between the two points and the distance from one of them to the top of the canvas frame. Note that the wider the gap between the two points, the closer the picture will hang to the wall. Apply the measurements to the wall by measuring down from your earlier pencil mark.

5. Nail the hook into the wall at the pencil mark

Stick a small amount of masking tape over the area where you are about to nail the hook. This will prevent any chipping.  Hammer the hook or nail at an angle to ensure the wall bears the majority of the weight.

6. Check if the canvas print is hanging straight or do minor adjustments

Stand back and admire the photo of your Mother-In-law on the canvas.  Straighten it up if she is leaning too far to one side or the other.
Hope the above guide helps you get the best results and the brownie points! J

Our next blog will give tips around hanging multi canvas photo prints!

Friday 15 January 2016

Ten Tastic - InExpensive Canvas Decoration Ideas for Kids’ Room

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts”.  – Khalil Gibran

This great message from Khalil holds so true for your special kid– with his/her own skills, likes, dislikes and unique personality. The same holds true when it comes to decorating their rooms – you may lovingly support them but they will have their own thoughts on how their room should look and feel like.

Print Arcade
How best to find the right balance in terms of decorating the kids’ room without burning a big hole in your purse? Cheap canvas prints with multiple sizes and finishes provide a very good option.  Here are our Top 10 ideas to get you started:


  1. Photos on Canvas: There is no better way than to use some of the hand-picked personal photos of your kids to give the room a personal feel and let it make a statement about their personality
  2. Collage of Birthday photos: Kids’ love seeing how they have grown year on year and there is nothing better than doing a collage of birthday party photos on canvas to show case the same
  3. Kids and Pets on Canvas: For many families and kids, pets are integral part of life. Kids love animals and cheap canvas print options ensure that those memories find central place in kids’ room
  4. Kids’ Art on Canvas: Right from the first incoherent set of lines which act as an outlet of their expression to the great portraits, our kids never cease to surprise us with their creativity. Showcase the young artists and their masterpieces on canvas!
  5. Special Occasion: The Fancy Dress, the award presentation, the community service etc. – all provide those cherished memories which can go on Canvas prints. Ever tried dressing up your babies like Ann Geddes – those memories can be translated on treasured Canvas!
  6. Nature and Kids: Jumping in the muddy puddle, rolling on grass, picking flowers and leaves etc. – there are multiple ways through which kids connect with nature and provide us some of the best opportunities to put them on canvas
  7. Space and Night Sky: Star gazing, solar system, sun, moon, planets etc. – all form part of kids’ night time visual imagery and imagination – bring the solar system in the room by printing high definition pictures on to Canvas
  8. Superheroes and Fairies on Canvas: Kids love superheroes (especially boys) and fairies/princesses (especially girls) and there is nothing more impressive than your kid in superhero/fairy costume OR with a superhero/fairy framed on a tall canvas
  9. Sports & Games: Play, sports and games are integral part of kids’ lives and provide ample opportunities to put those magic moments on canvas.
  10. Celebrity Photos: Remember the time the Footy sportster let your kid take a selfie or the time your kid got up and close with his favourite singer – these are evergreen memories to put on Canvas

Go ahead and decorate your kids’ room this Christmas and New Year leveraging cheap and beautiful canvas prints and let this be your memorable gift to them!

Friday 8 January 2016

Unique idea for canvas wall art prints

Making a canvas wall art print unique is not as easy as it sounds to most people but with the right tips it can be. The main way to make canvas wall prints unique is with the use of color but also the combination of themes can be used to make mash ups to make art unique, one of the best first tips is to keep you style. Let’s go over these tips.
Color:
            The choice of color is everything in making a canvas wall print unique. One of the easiest and fastest ways to make canvas unique with color is the use of opposite colors. Instead of cool colors on an ocean for example try using warm colors. Another way of using colors is by making certain objects on the canvas stand out with vibrant colors. This is an easy way to add details to a canvas wall print.
Mash Ups:
            By combining to great known pieces of art into one great canvas is a great way to make a unique print with endless combinations. For this you can take into account any known cartoons into one great mash up or even movies.

            There are hundreds of ways to make canvas wall prints unique with these two simple tips. Choosing the right color is one of the most important things to do and experimenting with it is also vital. Finally combining two or more known works of art into one great print will also work wonders. 

Friday 1 January 2016

Canvas prints that make amazing gift ideas

Canvas prints make some of the best, cheapest and versatile gift ideas since there are hundreds of thousands of designs out there. Let’s go over some of these points that make canvas prints incredible gift ideas.

Versatility:
            There are literally millions of designs out there when it comes to canvas prints. There are designs of famous movies like the amazing Star Wars movies to inspirational quotes that will help you through a tough day.

Price:
An amazing fact about canvas prints is that they are not expensive at all unlike framed prints. The cheap canvas prints are usually less than half of what a framed print would be. The saved moved could be used to personalize the prints.

Personal:
            With all the options out there you can make sure that you will find the right canvas print for that person. By choosing a canvas print over a framed one gives you the freedom of choosing the best frame for the canvas if needed.


            There are many advantages of getting a custom canvas print as you can see mainly that there are thousands of designs for any occasion and they are easy to personalize. With the low price they have you can even chose two or maybe one and personalize it with the extra money you saved. Canvas prints is the way to go when it comes to choosing the right gift without having to go through the hassles since there are many pieces of art.