A Digital Printing Network

Roland Canvas - Does it fray when cut?

I see that the narrowest canvas Roland makes is a 30" roll. I need to vertical indoor banners that are either 12" or 15" wide. For those that have used this material, what would you suggest as the best way to cut the material - take a saw to the whole roll or print faint cut lines and hand cut it after printing? Does the material fray after being cut?

Thanks for any help!

Tags: canvas

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on October 6, 2010 at 5:22am

Do you mean banner material or does it need to be canvas? If it is canvas, it can fray on the edges, if you want banners and want smooth edges, go with the GMI smooth side banner material from Imprintables. It will print nicely, does not have scrim that will fray, and is easy to trim and cut.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane Hook on October 6, 2010 at 7:12am

Thanks, Steven. I was really hoping for canvas or vinyl coated canvas for making growth charts. Many other companies have 12" by 42 or 48" growth charts made from canvas or vinyl coated canvas, so they either cut them or buy them in 12" widths. Do you know of any idea where they're getting this material?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on October 6, 2010 at 7:28am

not sure on that one. Sorry

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on October 6, 2010 at 10:27am

Diane as a thought you could get the canvas you want and either apply laminate to the backside or use heat applied backing. Twill USA carries a few different type. That would stop the fraying. Those are my thoughts if you do not want to use the smooth banner matrial which I love how it looks and handles.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane Hook on October 6, 2010 at 10:33am

Thanks, Irv. I'm not against the banner material, I had just hoped to find something that looks a little more high-end and was similar to the material used by other companies.

I actually just received a sample growth chart that I ordered from another company, and the material looks like the Roland canvas but is only 12" wide and does not appear to be fraying at all. I'm very curious what material they're using...if they're getting it in 12" wide rolls, where??? :(

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on October 6, 2010 at 11:42am

Can you send picture of the ends. If your sew you can use the IW canvas and sew a border. I like to experiment so I had cut canvas from home depot and laminated it prior to sending through the machine. The lamination was not necessary but I did not want it to snag or hang up anywhere. The difference with purchased canvas was the home depot one the ink sank into the canvas so it was duller. I am not recommending it but just sharing ideas.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane Hook on October 6, 2010 at 11:51am

I don't think I'd be able to sew it since that would take too much time (and I don't have a commercial sewing machine). :)

Here are some pictures of the front (yellow side) and back side of the banner. The vertical sides look very straight as if they had a 12" roll, while the horizontal top and bottom of the chart are a tad crooked, like they cut it with scissors after it printed.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roland R. Irish III on October 6, 2010 at 1:05pm

I've done several jobs like this, and to save material if multiple narrow banners are needed I 'stack' the print and put them as far apart as possible. I cut the material on my signtable (mine is a vertical galvanized steel covered 4' x 16' 'counter''
by printing dotted 'cut' lines in yellow or a light color that is invisible a couple feet away. I use a 4' long aluminum ruler-one of those fance shaped ones that protect your fingers, and a carpenter's razor knife with a sharp blade. There is no fraying-the material isn't 'woven' but is PVC covered 'mesh' if you look closely at it. Then if needed, I fold over the waste along the cut line and use the hem tape...but 99% of the jobs I just throw in grommets where needed with a backing.
The backing is scrap banner cut into 1 1/2" or so squares with double back hem tape-put them behind the banner where you are going to put a grommet and it reinforces the grommet hole and helps to keep the material from puckering when you set the grommet.
As for using Roland Corp for supplier-Fellers Co. has some excellent banner material that is cheaper....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane Hook on October 6, 2010 at 1:09pm

Thanks, Roland...sounds like I might be able to use the canvas after all then! I think I will buy a small roll and test it out.
Yes, I heard Fellers has a good quality printable canvas - called Monet, or something similar.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson on October 6, 2010 at 1:25pm

Neschen Monet canvas - very good stuff. IW makes one that is very similar. You can call your sales rep to see if they have any sample rolls.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roland R. Irish III on October 6, 2010 at 1:26pm

Fellers only has the Monet in 20" and 54", and the catalog lists Aurora for a lighter weight, but they have already discontinued the Aurora line completely-I called them a week ago to get some thin material for photograph reproductions. What you want (go through the catalog and check out how few brands come in 30") is the Vyjet in 30" 13 ounce banner material. It really doesn't feel like a true 13 oz. and is very flexible.