Printing on Canvas
Canvas art is enjoying a long moment in the sun, so DTF Superstore decided to test out prints on the popular fabric.
As always, to get the process started we began by optimizing the .png or .jpeg image we wanted to use in Photoshop. With canvas art, we always want to make it the image slightly larger to account for image wrapping on the canvas’ frame.
As with any fabric, the challenge for DTF is attaching the print to the canvas.
In our first ‘transfer-to-canvas’ attempt we pressed the print directly onto the canvas and frame. We used a Cricut Easypress Mini heat press to wrap the edges, as our main heat press can only transfer to a flat surface. We placed a wooden board behind the canvas to give it a flat space during heat pressing and a pressing pillow to hold it up for a consistent finish.
We set the press to 2900 and gave the press 20 seconds on each section in both methods.
Our other transfer testing method involved removing the canvas from the frame, doing a DTF print onto the canvas, and then re-stretching the canvas back onto the frame.
Both methods proved that DTF on canvas worked extremely well! But, in terms of the print’s precision on the canvas’ edges, the second method was a clear winner. It was also a quicker process overall.
For other DTF to canvas or other fabric questions and videos of our test runs, be sure to visit DTF Superstore and DTF University.