Primered Canvas from Wal Mart

[Mike DeRegnaucourt]

Very nice! Great job!

[Michele Welch]

Thanks!
The settings are just what I need to get through the paint.. it has NOTHING to do with
what is under the paint, because if you go that far, it's too much. I don't remember
off the top of my head, but I think it was the same settings I used for cheap mirrors..
it's just enough to break through the top coating. You never reach the canvas, so it
doesn't burn.

As for prep, I put 3 coats of gesso on them and sanded between coats. If I go too hot,
at least there's some backup there. (gesso has clay in it) They're not thick coats, just
what you'd paint on with a brush. Not really thin coats, either. It's thick stuff, so just
paint it on evenly. Might not even need 3 coats, but it makes me feel better in case
I get thin spots. Then again, if my settings were accurate, I probably wouldn't need the
gesso, either.

The smoother you sand the gesso, the higher resolution you can get.

I use the rattle can stuff.. although not the high temp or engine enamel. Krylon and
Rustoleum are about all I can get here, so I know it's one of those.. but no preference.

Once you dial it in, it's an easy technique to use, and can be quite effective. I find that
it is well suited to old advertisements.. woodcuts.. they look dated to start, and this
keeps the look. Very popular with a distressed frame as bathroom decorations. Finding
good images in the public domain is key..

Thanks for the info Chuck. Did you use gloss, semi gloss, satin or flat paint? I have gesso but it isn't a thick gesso. More like the consistency of glue. I'm doing some canvases now so I'll see how it goes. I've not had any luck with pictures of any sort on any material so it's a crap shoot if mine will turn out. I use illustrator and not Corel and for some reason I can't get the settings or image right to do a decent picture. Any tips you can pass along? Your examples look as if they came straight out of a magazine? Thanks again for all the answers but that's how us newbies learn?

[Chuck Stone]

I think the images I posted were old magazine ads I got off of the web.
The paint really doesn't matter.. I used whatever can was handy. I think
some are semi gloss, some are matte.

I don't think Illustrator/Corel matters.. I think I did the first ones in Photoshop.
But it really doesn't matter. You're just applying enough power to take off the
thin layer of paint. It was all completely new to me, too.

I'd say take a canvas, cover in gesso and spray over it. Then do some testing.
Do thick and thin lines and some text. An inch should do fine. Try some settings.
Then move the test over a little and test new settings on a different spot. Fill the
canvas with tests.. one of them will be right!

[Kim Vellore]

Chuck,
That was an awesome idea, I tried it with three colors, I first painted Gesso, follower by red, then gold then black. Took this dragon tattoo off the web and rastered it at 60% power 100% speed on my Legend 45tt, it turned out nice looking. I only wish I could raster bottom up, since the white of the canvas got covered with soot of burning paint when I wiped it off the white became dull and the gold too got dull. Under different lighting angles the gold shows up real nice.DragonLaser.jpg
Kim

[Bert Kemp]

Kim list your laser in your signature maybe some can tell you how to raster from bot up

[Don Corbeil]

If it's a trotec, you definitely can raster from bottom up in the plate setup tab.

[Mayo Pardo]

The 3 pack of inexpensive canvas from Walmart comes with white on it already. I assume it's a primer. It's very easy to work with however don't use double sided tape to hold it to your laser bed. When you go to lift it out the tape will rip off the white paper on back of the canvas. I only did this on one piece because it wouldn't lay flat.

I tried engraving with no gesso and with gesso and could not really see what benefit it is to use it.
If the canvas was raw, then yes it would definitely help.
If the purpose is to smooth out the canvas then why use canvas at all? Primed MDF would be the way to go.

Is there a perception that graphics on canvas should sell for more money than graphics on MDF or plywood?
With the abundance of digital printers capable of printing on canvas, I don't think that's the case any longer.

[Dan Hintz]

The 3 pack of inexpensive canvas from Walmart comes with white on it already. I assume it's a primer.

I tried engraving with no gesso and with gesso and could not really see what benefit it is to use it.

If the canvas was raw, then yes it would definitely help.

Gesso is, essentially, a primer... sounds like what you got from Wal-Mart was already a gesso-style canvas, so adding more gesso was extra work for no gain.

[Nicolas Silva]

Great Job Linn and Chuck.

[Chuck Stone]

Is there a perception that graphics on canvas should sell for more money than graphics on MDF or plywood?
With the abundance of digital printers capable of printing on canvas, I don't think that's the case any longer.

I've been printing on canvas with digital printers for over 20 years. I have been engraving on MDF and
plywood since I got the laser. I've been engraving on the canvas for about the last year or so.

Is there a perception that it sells for more?
.
I'm doing something other people are not doing. People are buying it.
That'$ all the perception I need.

If there's no difference between your canvas with and without gesso, then
chances are it is already primed, like Dan mentioned.
I've done it without gesso at first (didn't have any) and went right through
the canvas in some places. Backing off the power left areas that weren't
engraved well. Canvas is woven, so it isn't a consistent surface to etch on.

The 'gesso' that has a glue-like consistency isn't really gesso, it's a canvas prep.
But they call it gesso anyway .. probably because artists are used to priming with
gesso. Most of the newer ones are acrylic based.
I add powdered marble to mine just because I have it, and if I overdo the heat, the
marble will stop it from getting to the canvas.

I do this technique on MDF too and it works just fine. It just doesn't sell as well.