Canvas Printing Roland Versa Studio Sign Maker BN-20

 

Recently we achieved a significant series of results from our students in several inter school competitions.   To celebrate this we wanted to ensure that we could produce something special to mark the occasion.  

Our first option was to go to a local stationary provider and take a .jpg of the photograph of the students and ask the stationary provided to produce the image on canvas with a frame.   We in addition wanted to have lettering to recognise the event printed onto the canvas.     The total cost to produce the image on the canvas was $70.00 (NZD) which included the frame.   The next step was to think about the resourcing that we have at our school and consider how we might be able to use one of these to create our own version of the image.

We have used our Roland Versa Studio Sign Maker BN-20 machine for a number of projects, and while our primary use has been to produce stickers related to the school, it has a number of other features.

In the version of the image shown left, it is the same .jpg that was used at the commercial version - except in this case it was printed using the Sign Maker and printed onto canvas.

The two images are essentially identical - however as we produced the image ourselves we were able to spend time altering the image to best suit its display.   

This allows for our version to have more specific detail.   Both versions took an identical time to print, which was just under one hour.

When the two images are placed next to each other to consider display options the two are essentially identical however as noted we have more opportunity to customise our version.

The images were both 1.5m by 800cm tall.   The final aspect of the design was the backing.

In the commercial version (which is above when the two images are shown together) it is backed onto canvass backed by cardboard.

This then led the staff member who was creating this project to consider how we might look at identifying ways to make the backing.

We have previously discussed how we have a large laser cutter here at school.   In this case the teacher wanted to create framing using the school laser cutter.  The frame is made from MDF was created to fit the image perfectly.   In the example shown left the frame was assembled, the frame was then glued and then held in place by masking tape as shown.    A cost point for the school is hard to absolutely determine as the costs of the MDF are minimum, the only legitimate cost would be the ink for the use of the printer.

At the end of the day we have been able to produce something that is very positive for the school that is comparable or superior to a commercial version, which students should be able to replicate easily (especially now as a template for both has been established).