Something occured to me yesterday whilst reviewing an order from one of my clients – why had they spent so much money on 6×4 prints? The answer is obvious really – they’re being bought to be scanned. I’m not sure if this is something I can guard against. There is always going to be someone who will try to scan an image in order to have an electronic copy for whatever reason. Maybe to share on one of the many social network sites or to obtain their own larger prints or canvases.
I certainly hope it isn’t the latter – producing a canvas from a scan of a 6×4 print probably won’t give too great a result. Especially when compared to the original image reproduced on one of my stretched canvases.
The supermarket option is an inkjet print direct onto a pre-stretched canvas. Mine are totally different and consist of a photographic print that is first bonded to the canvas before being stretched over a hand-made wooden frame, secured in place and sealed. They’re made to order for me by a professional photo lab in Scotland but unfortunately they’re not cheap.
Possible solutions
Alternative product?
I could, and most probably will, offer an alternative to the stretched canvas, such as a gallery wrap. These come in much cheaper so will offer a better price for the client. I’ll still keep the stretched canvas for the customer who wishes to have the ultimate in wall-art.
Drop the 6×4 size
I was never too keen on it in the first place. I’ve deliberately set the price point very high to make the larger prints more attractive and encourage the client to upsize.
Sell electronic copies of the image
My current sales channel won’t allow this which is why I haven’t done it yet. I am also concerned about losing revenue by giving the negatives away. e.g. I could easily miss out on a large print or canvas sale because I let a JPG file go for considerably less.
Give the JPG away?
This may not be as daft as it sounds. My thoughts here are to give the file away once the client has placed their order. It will of course be lower resolution than the original but should serve to stop badly scanned images being used. I’ll also have some caveats in place whereby the client will only receive the JPG once they have accepted their order. I don’t want the prints to be returned and their money to be refunded to have them run off with the negatives.
