discussion, gear, and photography journal
I recently ordered a canvas print of one of my photos from RedBubble.com, an Australian-based company that provides print-on-demand services. You can buy prints of your own photos from RedBubble, or you can buy prints of any of the many high quality photos uploaded by other RedBubble users.

I've previously ordered greeting cards from them (great quality!), but this was the first canvas print I've bought through RedBubble, and I decided to write this review to allow people to see what a canvas print from RedBubble looks like.

I ordered the large canvas version of this image, which works out at a size of 610x311mm. The completed canvas print was delivered about 8 business days after being ordered online (published times for standard delivery are 10-15 business days), and was securely packaged in cardboard, bubblewrap and plastic.

After unpacking the canvas print, I took a closer look at it, and was surprised at how much detail had been retained in the image. Some canvas prints lose a lot of details due to the texture of the canvas, but the texture of the canvas used by redubble is subtle enough to ensure detail is preserved.

folded canvas on the corner
solid wooden frame
securely mounted hanging wire
image name and artist
felt pad on bottom corners
bottom corner detail on the wall
the result - hanging on the wall

I was pleasantly surpised by the quality of the canvas print, and can certainly recommend RedBubble canvas prints as being high quality and good value for money.

Note that many printing places only offer fixed size canvas prints, with a fixed aspect ratio. However, RedBubble will adjust the aspect ratio of the canvas print to match the aspect ratio of the image. That means you're not limited to specific aspect ratios, but you can use any aspect ratio, including square images, rectangular images, and long panoramic images.

My only disappointment is that the largest canvas print size offered by RedBubble is 610mm along the longest side. However, I believe RedBubble are intending to offer larger sizes in the future.


Update (17 July 2008): Apparently RedBubble only recently started producing their canvas prints with the wooden stretcher frame, as shown in the photos above. Prior to this time, RedBubble made the canvas prints with a gatorboard backing, rather than a wooden frame.

Update (19 September 2008): I've published details of another canvas print from RedBubble.com.

Update: the largest canvas print from RedBubble used to be 610mm along its longest edge. However, from early 2009, RedBubble are now offering a larger size canvas print that is 760mm along its longest side.
If you enjoyed this post, then subscribe to the RSS feed, or subscribe by email to get updates directly in your inbox.
Comments:
Nick wrote at 2008-07-17 03:54

Wow, that's really nice. I might have to consider that with some of my own pictures in the future!

Sooz wrote at 2008-07-17 09:00

This is a great review Martin. Beautiful clear photos of all the details that are important when placing work on canvas. Personally I would love to see RB provide an option to wrap the image around the sides of the canvas but that is just a personal preference. Everything else looks great. Thank you for writing such an excellent review.

Shelley Heath wrote at 2008-07-17 14:00

Thanks Martin, that was a damn good review and answered a lot of questions I had about RB canvas prints. I may even get some of my own printed on canvas now, seeing how great they look

Nigel Honey wrote at 2008-07-17 15:32

Yeah I thought the printing over the edges/sides was the norm. Thanks for the review Martin good review

Bas de Waard wrote at 2008-07-19 09:38

I agree - great article. The canvas material itself is much smoother/finer then I expected. Compare that to a canvas filter in software which makes the image look like it's printed on hessian! I am a little partial to the white sides and would be happy to compromise the edges of my image in order to see them wrapped around. Just need to start taking higher res photos now...

KazM wrote at 2008-07-19 22:52

Great review. I am happy with the cards I bought and in the future I wil consider canvas prints now. Thanks

Adriana Glackin wrote at 2008-07-19 23:17

Thanks so much for the review and the images - it's always good to know info like this before deciding on a printing style.

Jo Mulholland (Ozcloggie) wrote at 2008-07-20 06:51

Thanks for this. Was not aware. As many of my redbubble 'works' are of my paintings, I can now even more confidently recommend them to friends and family, even overseas (the Netherlands).

Alex Jack wrote at 2008-09-05 10:23

Thanks for the photos and the article the photos give me an idea of what the canvas prints look like and this gives me more confidence in going out and buying one

KrisBelucci wrote at 2009-06-02 16:13

Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!

ruthaconner wrote at 2010-10-25 22:43

I would like to know if they use your name on the art work or do they take credit for the work withouth the artist's name????????????????????????????

Martin wrote at 2010-10-26 00:08

@ruthaconner: RedBubble will include the name of the artist on the back of the print, and they certainly do not take credit for the work.

Kev wrote at 2010-10-29 02:25

Hey Martin,
Nice review.
If you're in Australia Photo Canvas Prints give an awesome service, Check out google local reviews. They are much cheaper than red bubble and offer gallery wrap or reflected edges( so you don't lose any of the image )for free. Photo canvas Prints do a proper canvas corner ( not like red bubble) ie the do the fold inside so you cant see it. ( this can only be done by hand which is why companies using cheaper automated methods can't do it. ) They print on to heavyweight 450grm art canvas They custom make their frames to suit your image so you don't lose any of the photo and they coat the canvas print with a protective coating to make them durable and easy to clean. Colours are guaranteed for 75years + They have a price guarantee so you know they are cheap. And if you're a photographer or artist offer great deals to get you going plus they send you their printer profile to use in photoshop.
http://www.photo-canvas-prints.com.au .
Hope this is of help.
Check them out , you wont be disappointed.
Blue skies!
Kev.

robert wrote at 2011-02-04 17:48

Hello Martin thanks for the info, I am in the United states and just wanted to let everyone know that I just tried a canvas printing company for my photography. I had them done at canvasprinters.com, I was very happy with the results, the colors were very nice and actually turned out better than I imagined. I have not used any other companies so I am not sure what the comparison would be. So anyways I thought I would give them a thumbs up. Thanks Robert

Add your thoughts:
Name* (use your real name or initials, not your business name):
Email address* (required, never published):
URL (optional, "nofollow" attributes are used on URLs):
Comments* (no HTML allowed, some BBcode allowed, "nofollow" attributes are used on URLs):
 Check this box if you are a real person*
  
BBcode allowed in comments:
[b]bold[/b]
[i]italics[/i]
[url=http://server/path]link name[/url]
[img]http://server/path/image.jpg[/img]
Fields marked with a * are mandatory.
Note that comments are moderated, and will not appear immediately.
Please do not include your URL in the comment text, and please use your personal name or initials, and not your business name, as that comes across as spam.
learn more about your camera and how to use it
making photo books? save with Blurb discount coupons
Blurb
[ MartyBugs home | blog | about this site | copyright | disclaimer | privacy | appreciation | contact details | site map ]
web by mpot.  all content and images are copyright © 2001-2025 .
all rights reserved.  unauthorised duplication, reproduction or distribution is prohibited.
martybugs.net