Your Photo On Canvas

Our Blog has Moved!

2010-03-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Check out our new blog!

From here on out, all our updates will be on our new blog. We hope to be continually improving our new Wordpress blog, a platform I personally enjoy better than Blogger. It was about time for an upgrade!

See you there!

New Contests are Coming Soon

2010-03-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I had a lot of fun with the latest photo contest. I'd like to make this a monthly thing, but it isn't easy to keep everything organized. Also, I'd prefer to make the contest voting based instead of juried.

I'd like to organize a new contest very soon, something easy and fun for everyone that can get as many people as possible involved. If you have any ideas, be sure to let me know!

Also, stay tuned for mores pictures and video from WPPI and PMA, two photography trade shows that we exhibited at. WPPI ends today in Vegas, and PMA ended last week.

Our PMA 2010 Experience

2010-03-04T12:44:00.001-08:00

PMA 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center was a bucket of fun and excitement. Everything was great, except perhaps the Convention Center "hamburger", which somehow cost $8.00 despite having no flavor.

Our booth definitely drew some major attention! If you didn't get a chance to see it, we'll be at WPPI in Vegas next week. Any excuse to go to Vegas!

Pictures are worth 1000 words, but to be honest seeing the photos on canvas in person is much, much better. We even showcased images shot by low quality cameras to demonstrate how even small files can be used for canvas prints.

We had lots of photographers that were very impressed by the quality of our work, which was great. We firmly believe that our product is the best (yes, we've ordered from the competition to judge for ourself) and hearing it from professionals makes us feel that much better.

Our Indian Wedding panel was a real crowd pleaser, for obvious reasons. The center image was provided by Dina Douglass of Andrena Photography and the surrounding images were provided by Yogi Patel of Global Photography. If you think the photos on canvas look good here, you would be blown away if you saw them in person! These jaw-dropping, vibrant photos showcase our fine-art background in canvas reproductions.

Thanks to everyone that stopped by our booth to talk with us. We sincerely enjoyed getting to know you, and hope that we'll see you again soon.

Now we're off to Vegas for WPPI! Be sure to stop by booth #901 and take advantage of our exclusive show specials!

Contest Winner

2010-03-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

"Alone" by Lens Artwork

There were many amazing photographs submitted. We had trouble picking a winner, because so much talent was clearly on display. So first and foremost, we'd like to thank everyone for sharing their photos. Photographs are a sensitive expression of art and emotion, so we are honored that you choose to share your photographs.

We choose this particular photograph because it combined technical skill with an artistic, emotive display that was certainly non-traditional.

We would love to do more contests in the future with a full uploading and voting system. Thanks to everyone for participating in our first photo contest, and congratulations to our winner!

Last Round of Entries...

2010-03-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Here are the last few entries to our photo contest. We will be selecting a winner soon, so stay tuned!

Entry #15

Another Day in the Field

www.cmurphy-photo.com

Entry #16

Patriotic Grandkids

Entry #17, #18 and #19

Entry #20

"Someone's Sorrow Left Behind"

http://donnadennisonphotography.wordpress.com/

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Be sure to review past entries as well and leave feedback on who you think should win!

Thanks to everyone for submitting their great photos!

Free Pass to WPPI 2010

2010-03-01T16:12:00.001-08:00

Click on the above image to download the full trade show pass.

Join us at WPPI in Vegas on March 8th!

Thanks for all the submissions

2010-03-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone that submitted a picture to our photo contest! We will select a winner sometime this week after we process all the applications we got in the last couple of days.

All the photos we received were great. Some were very moving, the emotion behind the subject clearly evident, and others were artistic and technically skilled. This represents the very broad palette of photography. It can be a tool for artistic expression or can simply immortalize your grandchild's smile. Both are important.

That's one of the many reasons we love working with photos every day. While some photographs may not show off much technical skill, they are still amazing snapshots of time.

Thanks again to everyone that entered our contest! We look forward to announcing our winner shortly!

Entry 14

2010-02-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken over 110 Freeway in LA. Photograph by Alvaro Lopez.

View more of Mr. Lopez's work at http://trappedlight.com

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Submit your own photo to our contest here

Entry 13 - "Broken Bones"

2010-02-26T13:40:00.000-08:00

"Broken Bones" by Mike Wood, taken near Otter Lake State Park.

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Enter your own photo here

Entry 12 - Escape

2010-02-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

"Escape" by Kat Harris. You can view more of Kat's photos here

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Our photo contest is wrapping up, but be sure to submit your own photos here!

PMA 2010 Wrap up

2010-02-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Our photo contest only has a few more days left, so be sure to submit your pictures for a chance to win a free photo on canvas!

We were proud to attend the PMA 2010 trade show at the Anaheim Convention center this last Sunday to Tuesday. We had a blast! There were some great exhibits, we'll be sure to post pictures of our booth soon.

Be sure to check us out at WPPI in Vegas, booth #901!

Entry 11

2010-02-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

This image was taken near Big Bear, CA

This image of a lone tree on a hill was taken on a road trip to Texas.

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You can submit your own photos to our contest and win a free 20" x 30" print!

Entry 10 - Mirror Image

2010-02-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Lucy and Elvis, very cute :)

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Remember, you can join our photo contest free here

Entry 9 - Arno River

2010-02-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

The photograph was taken by Kevin Warn, a professional photojournalist and commercial photographer. This particular image is of the Arno River in Pisa, Italy.

See more of Kevin's work at www.kevinwarn.com

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Submit your own photo to our contest for a chance to win a free 20" x 30" canvas

Entry 8 - Pelican

2010-02-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

This Brown Pelican was captured at Chica Ecological Preserve by photographer Ron Boyd

You can see more of his work at http://www.ronboyddesign.com

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Submit your own photo to our contest!

Entry 7 - Frozen Mississippi

2010-02-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

This awe-inspiring photo was taken in Alton, IL. In the background is the Clark Bridge, and underneath it is the Mississippi river, completely frozen, its rough, jagged ice sheets creating a truly dramatic scene that photographer Anita Santiago captured perfectly.

Thanks for the submission!

Submit your own photo for free here

Entry 7 - Charlie

2010-02-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

Meet Charlie! :)

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Your can submit your own photo here!

Entry 6 - "Alone"

2010-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

This picture is titled "Alone" and was taken in an abandoned military fort.

For more from this artist, check out LensArtwork.com

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Be sure to join in on our free photography contest!

Entry 5 - Pitbull Drinking

2010-02-12T16:50:00.001-08:00

Charlie, a 1 year old pitbull enjoying a drink of water after a long walk through the woods.

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Submit your own picture to our photo contest!

Entry 4 - Very cute dog picture

2010-02-12T11:41:00.001-08:00

Betty Ann and Mackey, how cute!

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Join our photo contest to win a free 20" x 30" photo on canvas

Entry 3

2010-02-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

Two Photos from Biloxi, MS

www.bamaboywill.com

Enter our photo contest for a chance to win a free photo on canvas

Entry 2

2010-02-09T09:10:00.001-08:00

Photo by David Imboden

www.imbodenphotography.com

Join our photo contest here to contribute your own picture!

Entry 1

2010-02-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

Photo by Addrienne Mertens

First entry for our photo contest

Photo on Canvas Picture Contest

2010-02-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a fun event!

We're doing a new contest giving away a free photo on canvas. Send us your best picture and we will post it on this blog (along with a link to your website if you'd like). At the end of the month, we'll pick our favorite picture, factoring in user comments, and the winner will receive a free 20" x 30" canvas print.

Click here for a complete list of rules and for information on how to enter.

Good luck everyone, there may just be prizes for runner ups too!

Clicks for Canvas - Free Photo on Canvas

2010-02-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

We want everyone to know about our great photo on canvas offers! To do that, we need lots of links.

For a limited time, we're offering a FREE 8" x 10"photo on canvas to anyone that links directly to us from their website.

Just link to http://YourPhotoOnCanvas.com somewhere on your website. Let us know where this link is (send us the URL of the page where you put the link) and we will issue a coupon that can be used for a free photo on canvas.

Rules:

Email me (erick at yourphotooncanvas.com) to claim your free photo on canvas. Please note that we will review submissions to ensure that the website is appropriate and active. Please try to make your link creative and interesting; don't just copy/paste this post into your blog.

Thank you, and enjoy your free canvas! :)

A Great Photo On Canvas Story

2010-02-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

A photo on canvas is often a priceless, sentimental piece of art hanging on a wall. After all, what could be more valuable than a photo of your loved ones? Each photo on canvas tells a unique story. Some are romantic, others are funny, and some hit us right in the heart.

Marcy, a mother of 2, works in a large retail clothing store to provide for herself and her youngest son. Tragically, her husband passed away in an accident several years ago, and she has had to work incredibly hard to provide for her family. Her love and devotion got them through the tumultuous time, and she always reassured her family that everything would be fine.

Her oldest son, Sam, moved out several months ago after getting a job with a local accounting firm. "My mom always, always put us first," he said about his mom.

On her birthday, Sam and his brother decided to get their mother a photo on canvas. After some discussion, they decided on the perfect image. Unsure, they called us to make sure that the image would work, and we assured them that it would come out beautifully.

A few days later, the photo on canvas arrived. They gave it to their mom the next day, and when she opened the box, both her sons were surprised to see tears in her eyes.

The photo on canvas was of her wedding, a picture of her first dance as with her husband. Her sons did not know that it was her favorite picture, one she had drawn comfort from during many difficult times.

Needless to say, Marcy was very thankful for her photo on canvas, and when we heard the full story we were incredibly proud to help. We realize that we do not just put photos on canvas, we put memories on canvas, and it's definitely a job we love!

Contest has ended

2010-02-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Congrats to our three lucky contest winners! Delilah, Sally, and Kathy will all receive a free 16 x 20 photo on canvas.

I wish we could give out photos on canvas to all our participants! But I can say that I will try to organize more contests like this in the future.

As thanks for everyone playing, I convinced the powers to be to create a coupon code that will allow contest participants to purchase the product at cost. Use code "CONTEST" to get 40% off with our thanks for participating!

Click here to visit our site and order a photo on canvas. Thanks!

Your Photo On Canvas - Wholesale Program

2010-01-29T14:00:00.001-08:00

The Your Photo On Canvas wholesale program was created to empower approved resellers with an easy to use on-line ordering system.

The idea is very simple: order a photo to canvas from a special wholesale account login, and resell the product for a markup. What's special about Your Photo on Canvas' program isn't so much the idea, but the execution.

First, the quality of the product is beyond comparison thanks to their 20 year history with fine art. Second, the pricing is truly wholesale. This isn't always true of Internet based programs that claim to be "wholesale" priced but is really just slightly discounted retail. I'm not allowed to publish a price list, but it's a fraction of competing programs.

The ordering process is designed to be slick and easy. There are 31 size options, but not a lot of extra frills; it's designed to be simple and easy.

Finally, one of the coolest offering of the wholesale program is the custom white-labeling. The back of each print will print with your graphic or logo, which you upload through your account. This degree of custom branding isn't available anywhere else. This unique feature doesn't even have an up-charge!

You can apply for the wholesale program here. Note that as of this writing the program is still in beta. You must be an authorized wholesaler to join. This means you need to be a professional that will resell product.

Clever Valentine's Day Gift Ideas - Creative Valentines Day

2010-01-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day isn't too far away, and it can be hard to find a clever Valentine's day gift. Flowers and chocolates are great, but why not give your Valentine something they will really remember?

The Experience of a Lifetime

I've mentioned GreatAmericanDays.com before. This unique valentine's day gift idea isn't a physical gift at all. It's an experience. Why not give your valentine the adventure of a lifetime? They have everything from Zeppelin rides to sky-diving. The only down-side is that it is a bit expensive, and if you don't live in a big city, you might not be able to find any activities in your area.

Valentine's Day Photo On Canvas

Of course a custom photo on canvas is an amazing way to celebrate valentine's day. This clever valentine's day gift idea will last for years and years. Not only is it sentimental, it's a valentine's day gift that will also decorate your valentine's walls as high quality art.

You can turn your sentimental valentine's day photo into canvas starting at just $50.00, so it's a great choice if you want to give something unique but don't want to spend too much.

Fondue Dinner or Dessert

If you live near a Melting Pot (or similar Fondue restaurant), take your Valentine out for a nice Fondue experience. This clever Valentine's day activity isn't like a normal dinner or dessert. Fondue dinners are absolutely delicious, especially when dessert follows. This meal usually takes 2 or more hours, so its a slow, romantic experience that you and your valentine will never forget!

Check out UncommonGoods.com!

UncommonGoods.com sells what you'd expect: uncommon goods! Almost every item on their innovative site has a unique, clever twist that will make your valentine smile. Now is the best time to order so you can be sure you'll get your gift by February 14th!

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Each of these unique Valentines day gifts are sure to please. A clever valentine's day gift isn't just about being different, it's about proving that you're willing to think extra hard to come up with a special, unique gift. But even more important than buying a clever Valentine's day gift is making sure you spend time with your loved one and make them feel special!

Some new upgrades!

2010-01-28T09:06:00.000-08:00

First I would like to say that I'm a big fan of Dominos now. Their pizza doesn't taste much different to me, to be honest, but I'm always very impressed by how easy it is to order their pizza online! Their interface has even gotten better since the last time I used it!

Pizza business aside...we just recently did a few upgrades on our own ordering process. Now, you can switch sizes right on the image editing screen without having to re-upload the image. This was a major oversight, so we're glad that this is now in place! Also, we fixed a couple of bugs with the cropping tool, and changed the "Black Wrap" option so that when selected the cropping tool will fill all available image.

If you really don't want to loose any of your image to cropping, the black wrap option is a great choice!

As always, let us know what you guys think. We're always looking to improve!

Coming Soon - Professional Reseller program

2010-01-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

Are you a professional photographer? Are you affected by the tough economic times and ever-increasing competition? Being a pro photographer is incredibly difficult work, more so than most people will ever understand.

Our new professional photographer canvas program is designed to make life just a touch easier. You'll have access to premium quality canvas prints, completely white-labeled, drop-shipped to your customers for wholesale prices. And when we say wholesale prices, we mean it; we intend to beat everyone else in the industry today without sacrificing an ounce of quality. We've been printing for over 20 years, so our quality is, without a doubt, better than any of the other vendors.

This pro photographer canvas reseller program is designed to be easy to use, simple, and extremely fast. This simplicity means we'll be able to offer the lowest pricing, which in turn means you'll be able to sell more by charging your customers less, and still make a good profit.

Like I said, everything will be white-labeled. This means you'll be able to order from our pro photographer web portal, and ship canvas prints right to your customer. We'll handle everything else. Your customers will fall in love with photos on canvas, you'll make a good amount of extra money even with a small markup, and we'll take care of all the work to ensure you can stay focused on your photography.

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If you're interested in joining the pro photographer reseller program, please e-mail me at erick at yourphotooncanvas.com. We plan on launching the new program by February 19th, 2010

New Photo to Canvas Sizes

2010-01-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! It's nice to have some time to relax, and not just use the weekend for chores and catching up.

We decided to add even more great photo to canvas sizes. We hope that with these new sizes, you'll be able to get the photo on canvas you really want.

First, we added a small 8" x 10" size for only $50.00! This size is wonderful for smaller, creative projects, or if you're on a budget.

Check out our new panorama sizes: 10" x 20",10" x 30", 12" x 24", and 12" x 36". These great sizes are perfect for epic landscapes.

We also added a square 14" x 14" size, a fun size when ordered in pairs or groups.

Check out all our new sizes, and enjoy your week!

Help Haiti - "How Can I Help Haiti?"

2010-01-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

The devastation in Haiti is immense, and I fear that this catastrophe won't get the help that it so sorely needs.

We aren't a big company that can afford to just donate millions of dollars, but we CAN help Haiti's suffering people with donations.

Use coupon code HELPHAITI at checkout and we'll donate all our profits from your order to helping Haiti. As a business, of course we want to make money, but as human beings its our obligation to help those that have nothing. There are people dying in Haiti, they require our help and attention!

I know that its tough to open your wallet to donate, but if you use your coupon code you'll be helping Haiti a lot, and you'll also get a fantastic photo on canvas. Hopefully your great picture memories on canvas will come with a new memory: a memory that you've helped those in dire need.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to support Haiti. If we can donate more that'd be amazing! If you don't want a photo on canvas but still want to donate to help Haiti, please donate to the Red Cross or another charity that will help those in need.

The code HELPHAITI will also get you 10% off, so helping Haiti is even easier.

Click here to order and help Haiti

FREE Photo On Canvas

2010-01-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

This is really exciting! :) We're starting a fun new competition giving away 3 free photos on canvas from Your Photo On Canvas! Each lucky winner will receive a free 16"x 20" photograph on canvas (a $90 value!)

3 Ways to Win:

1. Tweet to your followers! Tweet: RT this to get a chance to win a FREE 16" x 20" Photograph on Canvas @yourcanvas #contest http://bit.ly/4MZvNO to enter. Maximum of 5 entries. Be sure to follow us @yourcanvas!

2. Blog about us, or put a link on your blog. A link to YourPhotoOnCanvas.com from your blog counts for 5 entries to our contest! (E-mail our support department, or comment on this post to get credit)

3. Become our fan on Facebook and we'll enter you in the contest. Be sure to suggest us to your friends :)

We'll pick the three lucky winners at the end of this month, so be sure to enter the contest now!

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Other Information: Contest is open to US residents 18 or older only. Good luck!

Fun Hikes - Amazing Outdoor Photo Locations

2010-01-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

This last weekend, I was aching to get outdoors and get away from suburbia for a few minutes. Even a small amount of time away from the endless clusters of identical looking houses is a healthy thing!

Hikes are relaxing, educational, fun, and even a nice workout, all wrapped into one. Take your family and enjoy the soft chirps of the birds or just smile and enjoy the fresh, natural air. You'd be surprised how much nature you can find, even in the heart of suburban or city life.

Check out www.trails.com and look for trails around your area. I'm sure you'll find some great hikes you never even knew existed, right in your area! You can try it for 14 days for free, but the subscription is only $49.95 per year. I found a great trail in my area that I had no idea existed (and would have never found on my own), so I highly recommend giving it a try.

Hiking is also a great outdoor photo opportunity, and one of the best ways to find outdoor photo locations. Be sure to set your camera to landscape mode, if you have it, to help bring out the greens and blues. If you have a telephoto lens, I'd suggest you bring it along and be ready to swap it out to get great shots of birds or other critters from a distance.

And while you're there, take some close up (macro shots) of flowers, bugs, or even rocks. Get creative! And of course, be sure to get a shot of yourself and your family or friends.

Hiking is an affordable, fun, and rewarding adventure. It's great exercise, and it's a window into the past, before everything was urbanized. Even if you're only on the trails for an hour or two, you'll definitely appreciate the excursion.

GIMP - The Free Photoshop Alternative

2010-01-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

Do you wonder how people can afford Photoshop? Considering that the new version retails for $699, it's amazing how everyone says, "Just open the image in Photoshop", as if we're made of money!

Never fear, Adobe's offering might be the most popular, but it isn't the only one out there! Even if you already own Photoshop, I encourage you to check out gimp.org. Gimp is a free Photoshop alternative, and it's pretty darned good.

It takes some getting used to, especially if you're familiar with Adobe's solution, but all the basic tools are there. And the best part? It's free! (If you like it, you should donate, after all GIMP might just save you $699!) Gimp is even used commercially, so the power is definitely there.

Photoshop and GIMP are great programs, whether you're an amateur photographer or a pro. If you want to put a picture on canvas or otherwise enlarge it, you should definitely open it in GIMP/Photoshop to crop, edit, and inspect the image. You can also play around with colors and other digital effects for some fun, creative, and artistic flair.

Clever Baby Picture ideas - Unique Baby photos

2010-01-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

Baby pictures always make me smile. Being clever with your baby pictures isn't a requirement, the memories will be good no matter what!

Of course, there are some great ways to turn your baby pictures into artistic, fun projects. With these fun projects, you'll be able to keep your creative baby pictures on display all the time, instead of flipping through a dusty old photo album on a rainy day. These creative baby photo ideas make great baby photo gifts, and are just plain fun!

1. Picture On Canvas

The first idea is putting your baby pictures on canvas. This is a great way to transform your favorite baby picture into high quality wall art. This is a really clever baby picture idea! Instead of a small picture in a book, you'll get a huge print that actually looks great in your home, in addition to bringing a smile to your face (and your guests).

2. Photo Story Books

Photo Books (see Snapfish.com) are a very creative and fun way to display your baby pictures. These high quality books make for great coffee table books, and you'll wow your guests with your clever baby photo layouts. Be sure to experiment and get creative here!

3. Online Scrapbooks

Scrapbooks are fun, creative baby photo project. But if you don't want to spend all the time an energy into making a real scrapbook, check out Digital Scrapbooks from Smilebox. This great service allows you to create virtual scrapbooks, and share them with your friends! This is perfect if you have friends or family that live far away, a truly clever baby photo project!

Remember to have fun!

These clever baby photo ideas are supposed to be fun and unique ways to enjoy your memories. Enjoy! And let me know if I missed a great idea!

How to Put Pictures on Canvas

2009-12-28T12:30:00.001-08:00

If you're interested in putting pictures on canvas, you should read this quick how-to guide. The concept of putting pictures on canvas is as simple as it sounds, but to get the most bang for your buck, you should follow a few simple tips so that when you do put your picture on canvas, it will look awesome!

1. Pick a Great Pic!

Putting your picture on canvas all starts with choosing the best picture you can. High end digital cameras can take extremely high quality pictures, but be sure to check the settings on the camera to make sure that it is capturing at a high resolution.

After years and years of testing, we've determined that files that are 150 DPI and higher produce the best pictures on canvas. To calculate DPI, simply divide your images pixel dimensions by the size of the photo on canvas you'd like. (For example, if your image is 1200 pixels wide by 1600 pixels tall, and you'd like to order a 12" by 16" picture on canvas, your DPI would be 100. Still good, but it would be better at 150!)

All the general rules for taking a good picture apply especially for pictures on canvas. After all, they will be large, up to 30" by 40", so the details count! Make sure your subject is well lit and in focus.

2. Cropping is Key

Most picture on canvas websites require you to crop your image (you'd hope they do!). This is important, so be sure you crop wisely. However, try not to be too precise. Leave a little bit of wiggle room, because most cropping software isn't 100% exact, and even the best canvas printers cannot accurately stretch with microscopic precision!

Of course, most printers can be very, very precise, but the best bet is to keep just a bit of extra room along the edges to ensure your crop is perfect.

3. Treat your picture on canvas with care

After you put your pictures on canvas, you have to care for them! Most people forget that pictures on canvas are fine art, printed with the same technology and thus subject to the same care standards.

The good news is that caring for your pictures on canvas is easy! Be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. Even the best photos on canvas, coated with the best materials, will eventually fade in the harsh sun's rays. Also, try not to subject the picture on canvas to extreme temperature fluctuations, from 30 degrees at night to 102 in the dessert heat, for example. Finally, clean your pictures on canvas with a damp cloth when they get dirty, and avoid contact with sticky substances like tape. Good prints are all treated with special coating, which give them some degree of protection, but its important to remember that each picture on canvas is like a piece of fine art.

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These tips should help you put your picture on canvas. Taking a good photo is absolutely key, cropping is very important, and caring for the print after you get it will keep it looking amazing for years and years.

Did I miss something? Let me know!

Keep your kids safe online - How kids cheat the adult filters

2009-12-28T11:02:00.000-08:00

Keeping your kids safe online is a tough job in today's high-technology environment. Free and paid safe browsing filters are a great tool, but not all child protection filters work! You certainly know just how smart your kids are, and while it's true that adult content can get to them accidentally, if they seek it out, it can be difficult to stop it.

Now, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, or how far you need to go to keep your kids safe online. But I do believe in being informed, so rather than list the best tools for protecting your kids online, I'm going to list ways that kids commonly cheat the system, and how you can be one step ahead.

1. Surfing on the Wii & Phone...

You might lock down their computer, but what about their game consoles or smart-phones? Anything with Internet could potentially be abused, so be careful! Gaming platforms like the Wii have parental controls that allow you to disable the Internet browser completely, which is recommended since the browser isn't very good anyway!

As for phones, this can be hard to control since there are so many available phones. On the iPhone, go to the "Settings" application (it looks like gears), then to the "Restrictions" section to control various settings. You can then set a restrictions password to lock the settings.

2. Beating the Internet filters

Your child might be an Internet whiz-kid, but even if he or she isn't, kids know how to use Google, and will find the information they need. If you own a child protection filter, be sure to test it!

One common way to beat filters is through a "proxy" website that basically hides any traffic, making it seem like it is legitimate when it isn't. Be sure your filter can handle such complex tricks. One way to beat this approach is to block the more popular free proxy websites. Also, if the history indicates visiting these proxy websites often, there's a good chance it's for no-good purposes!

3. Beating the filters, part 2

The easiest way for kids to beat your Internet child protections is to simply turn them off. Are you using a simple password, like your pet's first name? You should never, ever use simple passwords, for anything, but especially for something that's important like banking or child safety blocks. Make sure the password you choose for your Internet protection software is secure and that your kid won't guess it.

4. The best strategy...

Is to talk with your kids. Lock-downs can only go so far, but communication is always effective. Perhaps there's a time when your child needs to know they are trusted enough with the entire Internet, or perhaps not. As a parent, the choice is yours, but be sure you talk things over with your child!

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I'm not trying to tell you what to do, nor am I even advocating that extremely strict child-locks are necessary, but I do believe you should be armed with knowledge, as a parent, to make your own choices!

Photo on Canvas Affiliate Program Launches!

2009-12-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

We're happy to announce the launch of our photo to canvas affiliate program. This affiliate program offers 15% commissions and plenty of other bonuses. An affiliate program is, basically, a form of advertising. Instead of paying for each click, this advertising form pays a commission each time something is ordered. This is great if you have a blog or other website and want to make more money than traditional ads generate.

Our Share a Sale affiliate program is a great photography, art, or family affiliate program, perfect for any website that specializes in these categories. The great thing is that everything is tracked by a neutral third party, Share A Sale.

If you're interested in our photo to canvas affiliate program, please visit our affiliate page for more details. Want to make even more? E-mail me after you sign-up and we can discuss even better commissions.

Unique Gift Ideas - Clever Holiday Gifts

2009-12-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

I confess: sometimes, I give gift cards. There's nothing wrong with gift cards, they are extremely useful, and I enjoy shopping around to find what I actually want! But gift cards get boring, and I'm always on the lookout for clever gift ideas. It's not just about Holiday gifts either, there's always birthday gifts, valentines day gifts, father's day, mother's day, etc.

So enjoy this list of my favorite unique gifts!

1. The Amazon Kindle

The Kindle is a bit pricey, at $260.00, but without a doubt, it is worth it! Special electronic ink means the display is as easy to read as a book, and the device has global wireless, which means you can get books without driving to the store or hours of searching.

Personally, I love reading my Kindle, and I definitely read a lot more now than I did before! If you know someone that owns a kindle, you can also buy kindle gift cards so they can get more books on their reader. Check out amazon.com for more info.

2. Give an Adventure!

An adventure is a truly unique gift that no one will expect. This clever gift will literally make your loved one gasp with excitement. I know, because I gave my Mom and Dad a romantic cruise for their birthdays!

Check out GreatAmericanDays.com for a full list of exciting gift possibilities. Some of the adventures get expensive, but this is a clever gift your loved ones won't forget!

3. Photos On Canvas

Yes, this might sound like shameless self-promotion! But in all honesty, photos on canvas make great gifts. Our customers have told us time and time again how great their photo on canvas gift was.

Canvas photos are unique gifts because they are a transformation of a personal, highly meaningful photo into high quality art. Not only do canvas photos bring personality and memories to walls, they are also great decorations!

4. Give a little piece of America

I've always wanted to own land, but will never be able to afford it. Well, with this unique gift idea you don't have to! With OwnAPieceOfAmerica, you can purchase a small (very, very small) piece of land for a loved one. Then, you can present a very official looking deed, showing that they own land in whatever state you choose.

My brother is now a land owner in Hawaii, and he proudly displays his deed to impress his friends. This is a very special gift idea, and it is very affordable, too!

5. Roku

The Roku is a small little box that hooks into your television set. This fun gift idea is perfect for those loved ones that have Netflix accounts. A magical little box, this technological marvel streams media from Netflix right to your T.V., instantly.

Not only is this clever gift extremely useful, it's also very affordable, with the cheapest model starting at just $80. I'm getting one for my parents this Christmas, and I can't way to see it in action!

Art fights depression

2009-12-17T11:16:00.001-08:00

A brand new study has just come out showing that art can make people happier. This study shows that people that frequently are involved in the arts (going to concerts or art galleries, or playing music) tend to feel healthier and less depressed than the norm.

And this isn't just a few people we're talking about, the study was performed on over 50,000 people!

The study indicates that people involved in actually making art tend to receive the most positive effects, such as painters and musicians.

I'm not a painter and I quit piano lessons years ago (I think I still remember how to play Jingle Bells?), but the great thing about art is that it is an emotional pursuit. Not all of us can be great artists, but that doesn't matter so long as you are creating!

Photography is a great artistic pursuit if you can't play music or paint. You might not be a pro anytime soon, but just let your creativity flow, and do your best! And if you have a photo you are really proud of, get it on canvas and enjoy it every day. Your art just might help make other people happier, too!

A Tip with Canvas Photos

2009-12-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

We certainly see some amazing pictures on canvas. But we know you're probably not an expert on all the ins and outs of canvas printing! Here's some great tips for making your canvas photo even better:

1. Right to the Source

When taking pictures for canvas, be sure to set your camera at the highest settings. At the very least, you should be sure that your camera is generating files that are about 1800x2400 pixels (a little over 4 mega pixels). Of course, high end digital SLR cameras take the best photos for canvas, but most digital cameras can take pictures this size if the settings are correct.

2. Take a close look

Open up your digital picture in Photoshop. Does everything look okay? Sometimes, you'll notice small problems or blemishes caused by a bad setup, poor lighting, movement, or random background objects. Remember that your photo on canvas will be large, at least 12" by 16"! Minor scratches or imperfections will be very obvious on the final canvas picture.

Don't worry! Our skilled image editors catch a lot of the most obvious problems, but they can't catch everything! If you are a pro photographer, taking this extra time to make sure the image is high quality will definitely pay off huge.

3. Color is Subjective

Color is a tough subject, especially for professional photographers. Did you know that every computer monitor displays colors slightly differently? Therefore, be careful if you are trying to do minor color enhancements or changes for your canvas photo! Although it might look just right on your computer, there's no way for us to know what you're seeing, so we won't be able to match exactly.

Our experts are highly skilled at making subjective decisions to enhance color and make sure that the picture on canvas will look amazing. If you're getting your photo on canvas from someone else, be sure you understand what process, if any, your image will go through before it gets sent to the printer. Some printers simply send each image as they are received, which can have some unintended, undesirable effects!

4. Care for your Canvas Photo

Photographs on canvas are like fine art. They are made with the same materials and held to the same standards. Remember to keep your canvas photo out of direct sunlight. Clean with a damp cloth, and avoid contact with tape.

Also, try to keep the canvas photo in a temperature controlled environment. Of course, I don't expect you to keep your A/C on 24 hours a day, but extreme fluctuations from hot to cold can cause damage.

Cared for properly, pictures on canvas can last for years and years!

Celebrating 20,000 memories

2009-12-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

I'm so lucky to see so many great pictures come through every day! You guys have some amazing shots! Putting memories on canvas is a lot of hard work, but it's worth it, and everyone at Your Photo On Canvas enjoys seeing all the jaw-dropping pictures come through.

A while ago, we shipped out our 20,000th image for the year. Yikes!

This prom picture just so perfectly captures what it is we do and it makes me smile every time I see it.

But for those of you with a more professional eye, we don't just do prom pictures. We've seen it all: big corporate logos on canvas, wedding shots, birthday picture, incredibly artistic landscape pictures, even artistic nudes. Thanks for getting creative!

If you don't already know, Your Photo On Canvas creates each print with the same quality standard as fine art, so it's great for pros and amateurs alike. Also, each photo is reviewed and optimized by an image editor to make sure the quality will be good. We aren't just saying that either, we've been in business 20 years making fine art reproductions!

Photos on Canvas: what amazing gifts!

2009-12-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hi there, and welcome to the Your Photo on Canvas blog! We're just getting our blog started, but we hope to have some fun, interesting articles for you. Got ideas? Drop us a line and let us know!

Well, it's Christmas time, and that means buying gifts. If you're like me, you'll struggle to think of a unique gift idea for friends and family. What gift is affordable, unique, and long-lasting?

Photographs on canvas! Canvas photos aren't just good for your own walls, they make truly stunning gifts. Why do canvas photos make sure great gifts?

Clearly, the best gifts come from the heart. And photos on canvas are extremely heartfelt, loving gifts because they are completely custom and personal. Maybe it's an old family photo, or a picture of you and your brother fishing as kids. There's a wealth of great memories in your photo books, and gifting a canvas photo is like gifting a memory.

I hope you have a great Holiday season, and remember to get that Holiday shopping done before it's too late!