I had someone ask me about painting on canvas today. What is your experience in doing this? It's for an awning. What is the best to material use? Ink, 1 SHOT? If using 1 SHOT, should it be primed first? Anytime I've ever lettered on any fabric, it came out looking like sheite (not the Holy Muslums), because of the paint creeping, and bleeding. Seems like the more paint applied, the more it bled.
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
While at the Detroit Letterhead meet, we were able to see theater backdrops from 32 different sets. WE were invited to come up on stage to look them over. I noticed that some were canvas and some were muslin.
You might want to try some gesso to prime and then paint.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Back in the deep dark ages.... before vinyl banner material...we used duck cotton.
Mist on a li water to slightly dampen the surface very slightly...but do NOT make it wet...the 1Shot won't creep!
Posted by Jack Keith (Member # 4499) on :
What Si said. I have painted awnings with 1 shot sucessfully. If this an old awning that has been lettered before, you might have a problem with the old lettering showing up at certain angles since it is slightly higher than the canvas background.. Never tried priming but Laura's idea of gesso might be worth some experimenting.
Jack "Did I spel that write?"
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
When I tried my hand at painting I used to stretch my own canvas over frames and then paint them with gesso.
Posted by Mike Milos (Member # 4743) on :
I paint on # 10 and # 12 duck canvas almost every day. We use Sherwin Williams Ultra Deep Base latex paint in our Digital printing machine. We have also used Day-glo fluorescent paint with awesome results. For pieces that are going to be outside for long time we pre treat the canvas with a coat of white latex paint to help waterproof and to shrink the canvas. We have used several of these as year round signs and they look as good as new 18 months later. "Astrup" also may have a better material for a awning as they seem to specialize in awning material and hardware.
Posted by Gene Golden (Member # 3934) on :
If you need to letter directly onto canvas, you can use a screen-printing textile ink and thin it to lettering consistency. No priming necessary, no prep. You may have to double-coat.
[ August 24, 2004, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Gene Golden ]
Posted by Luke Scanlan (Member # 2481) on :
Thanks for the tips. If I get the job, I'll try everone's methods, just out of curiousity.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Use a Beugler with a wide head to outline the letters, fill in with a fitch.....fast and easy Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
I think gesso is an interior type product used as an artists primer.
Make sure ya use a high quality exterior latex primer. Devo's "1-2-3" is my fav.
Posted by shon lenzo (Member # 1364) on :
One Shot has worked well for me on canvas without primer. Just don't thin it much at all. Might need 2 coats. Sometimes I just recoat right after painting each letter, to let it sink in a bit then still adding more paint before it dries. Coating once then recoating after it dries with a slightly thinned down coat has worked the best for me in the past. -Shon
[ August 27, 2004, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: shon lenzo ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Sunbrela is the most common awning fabric around here. As mentioned above screen-printing ink is great (like Naz-Dar PX series) I've screened dozens & dozens of these with excellent long term results. The one time I had to letter one by hand since it was already built, I used one-shot & in hopes to save on returning for a second trip & did what Shon mentions above & recoated each letter as soon as I finished the first coat. I was white on burgandy & I was able to get an acceptable opacity in one visit with my scaffold.
Posted by Luke Scanlan (Member # 2481) on :
I think you're right Sheila. Gesso would probably not work out very well. If a primer is to be used, I'm thinking regular Block Out white. George your idea is great! So long as the copy is large enough. Thanks again everyone.
Posted by Myra Grozinger (Member # 327) on :
I do an awful lot of awnings. I used to use tie-coat (Tubelite, sells it and I spaced how to spell it) as a sealer.
Now I do it differently.
I can't really address this because I don't know what you mean by "canvas". The possibilities are numerous and if you still have some doubt, and if it has a name, tell us.
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