Innova Gloss Polycotton Canvas review IFA 56

Innova 390gsm IFA 56

During recent testing of an Epson SC-P7000 printer, Innova asked Keith if we’d like to have a look at their new GOframe canvas mounting system.

We also took the opportunity to try out one of their newer canvas types, which can be used as-is and doesn’t need coating or varnishing

The canvas is Innova IFA-56 and is part of their ‘Graphic Art Range’. Our samples were kindly supplied by Wayne at Fine Art FOTO in the UK.

Innova papers are available from many outlets internationally.

Article Index

• About the canvas
• Using ICC profiles
• Print Quality
• Summary

About the Canvas

The canvas has a good gloss/semigloss finish and from a media point of view, is profiled using a lustre finish media setting.

In the past I’ve used Innova’s IFA 36 ultra glossy canvas which has a surface not unlike a textured photo paper. It’s made a few stunning looking prints, including my 14 metre long view of Leicester. The Graphic Art Range of products are aimed more at production use.

This from Innova:

“Inkjet coated high white gloss canvas designed for photo and graphic art reproduction in print shops using Aqueous printers.”Key features are listed as:

• Natural White
• Aqueous Pigment and Dye Ink Compatible
• Instant Dry, Scratch and Water Resistant
• Polycotton Mix, Canvas Woven Surface
• Flexible Microporous Gloss Coating
• Excellent Colour Gamut
• High Level of Crack Resistance on Edges and Corners
• Easy to Stretch
• Heavyweight

It’s available in a variety of sizes:

ICC profiles and media settings

The Innova site has a good collection of profiling and media settings information available, however since I’ve got the P7000 here for a review, I decided to create a custom media type.As part of the setup process, you can print test images using a variety of media settings – I know from experience that getting the right setting is key to good profiling. I’ve an article about media settings from a few years ago that goes into this in some detail.

One of the media types I tried was listed as ‘Canvas Satin’, but by a whisker, the best was Premium Lustre Photo Paper.

In the custom paper setup dialogue I’ve set the media thickness at 0.5mm.

The image is printed here, from Photoshop.

I’m using a custom ICC profile I made for this canvas, for the P7000  (available on request, free for non commercial use)

Print Quality

The photo below is of the profiling target I created to make the ICC profile.

I’ve included it here to give a feel for the vibrance of colour and surface texture that this canvas exhibits.

The print of the seagull.

The print was then mounted, using the GOframe system.

Summary

The canvas worked very well with the SC-P7000 printer [P7000 review], and exhibits an excellent gamut, up there with many photo papers.

It’s quick drying, although with any print I do like to leave plenty of time to dry before any framing.

It’s nicely flexible and you can feel the stretch when working with it. Although the print above was produced for Karen’s office, I’d have no problem in supplying such prints to paying clients.

The texture is even, and shows very few of the ‘seed’ marks you can get with some cheaper canvases.

A nice medium to use, that along with the GOframe system might just encourage me to produce a bit more work on canvas.

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More print related information

For information about other printers, paper reviews and profiling (colour management) see the Printing section of the main Articles and Reviews page, or use the search box at the top of any page. There are also specific index pages for any articles connected with the following topics:

• Digital Black and White
• Tutorials and 'How to' articles
• Colour Management
• Printer test images
• Why do your prints look wrong?

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