Frequently Asked Questions!

Here is where the most frequently asked questions are asked. Luba tries her best to get back to everyone in a timely manner, but since she is a one-person show, it may not always be immediate. Please see the list below in case your question can be answered before sending a contact form submission.

What are your printing prices?

• Printing prices can be found in the price chart here.

• Large quantity discounts are not possible. I can lower the cost per print if we print many of the same image on a roll, but for single prints, there is no discount available. The larger batch discounts are minimal, maybe a few dollars off the retail price. The printers used are Canon Pro 1000 and 4100 machines which are meant for small batch canvas printing, fine art paper reproductions (“giclees”), and photography.

Can I have a discount because I am a student/designer/whatever else?

• Custom Framing: Yes and no. I’ve already researched competitor pricing around Calgary and have determined that my pricing is quite fair, therefore I cannot afford to give discounts on already discounted prices. So, I work with your budget and go from there!

• Piece Work Framing: Yes and no. You bring me the frame, so you save money there, and if I can find some existing matboard around the shop, there are some savings to be had. Labour can’t be discounted.

• Inkjet Printing: For artists needing larger batch work for shows, we can print many of the same image on a roll and save a little bit. We can discuss this on a case-by-case basis!

I’m an artist selling prints on Etsy, online, or at Comic Expo/art shows. How does printing work and how many prints do I have to order at once?

• I get lots of questions about this because I am one of these artists. Read one!

• Etsy/online shop artists: Place a print order with me only when you sell a print. I will print the artwork within the week and you come pick it up. Specify whether or not you need it rolled or need a flat pack with Clear Bag and backing. I call this “print on demand” service and it does not cost more than the current price list. Very popular service for Print on Demand artists!

• Art show/Comic Expo artists with booths or tables: It can be difficult to figure out how many prints to make at once, but usually nobody orders more than 6 of a single artwork. I can lower the price per print if we are using standard paper and printing on a roll, so this is something we can discuss closer to the show date. It would be good to get these done at least 4 weeks before the show. I will provide Clear Bags and backing for your prints so they look good on display.

• Under $100 Artists: This is a show I participate in and do work for. Yes, I can print, print and frame, and do canvas printing for this show in December, but I need a lot of lead time for it since I am also involved! 4-6 weeks usually. Sometimes I can squeeze last minute requests in. I also sell d-rings, wire, and any other framing materials for the artists involved. I do not charge full retail for these materials but since prices fluctuate, please submit an inquiry and I’ll get back to you!

Do you stretch canvas? What is the price?

• Travel paintings from vacations: Yes, this is a common job that I do. Please note that most of these travel paintings are painted with sub-par materials compared to the materials professional artists use in Canada. They will crack upon stretching, especially along the edges. Paired with sub-par materials and our dry climate, it can be a recipe for extra cracking. The stress of bringing it from a tropical climate to a very dry one does a number on these. I can touch them up with acrylics or oil paint but sometimes it is so bad that there is nothing to be done.

• Price: Labour cost $60/hour plus the cost of wooden bar (depends on size).

• Example size and price, as of January 2024: 36”x48” wooden bar 1 1/2” gallery profile, painting has extra 2” white edging around to accomodate bars, $60 for labour and $130 for wood bar. Total cost: $190 + gst

• Raw canvas, to be painted on, with custom size stretcher bar: Yes, these are considered custom work orders and cost can be configured with just the raw canvas or with gesso applied. Prices will vary due to materials cost fluctuation.

Lead Times: How long do projects take?

• Paper Prints: For first time clients, we will try our best to arrange pickup within a week of initial correspondence. Return clients may pick up their prints 2x a week, Wednesdays and Fridays (as early as 930 and late curbside up to 10 pm), provided we have access to the files via Google Drive, Dropbox, or on the server. Alternate days can be arranged via e-mail or text (403) 470-3267

• Canvas Prints: Printing is done in-house, but the stretcher bars must be ordered; therefore, canvas prints can sometimes take 1-3 weeks depending on the project details and wholesaler stretcher bar stock availability. Effort will be made to try and finish as soon as possible for projects with deadlines, and usually they can be done within 2 weeks or less. Sometimes canvas prints may take less time if the stretcher bar is currently in stock, so it is a case-by-case basis. Ordering a float frame on top of the stretching can make the project take longer than the initial estimate.

• Custom or Piece Work Framing: Project start to finish can sometimes take up to 6 weeks or longer due to materials shortages, busy times (only 1 person works in the frame shop, the sole proprietor Luba), projects with tighter deadlines needing attention first, sick days, or any other reason. If things are going smoothly, I can finish most projects within 2-3 weeks. Time crunch projects can be discussed and every effort will be made to be finished on time, but the default status of framing is "its not a rush".

• Scanning & Photography: Current lead time is 2-3 weeks for this service. Post-processing (editing images after capture) is time intensive and requires labour hours to complete.

• In-person visits: I am by appointment only. Try not to show up randomly at the property. Please limit number of people to two maximum. Leave kids at home or a babysitter because the workspace can be hazardous for them. Thank you for understanding.

• Project Deadlines: I try my best to get things done in a timely manner, but there will always be something that gets dropped because we didn’t set a hard deadline or lost track of time. Apologies in advance! We will pick up where we left off as soon as possible. I probably have ADHD or something haha.

• Cold/Hot Weather or Bad Weather Days: I just had to add this, because, hilariously, sometimes projects are actually delayed due to bad weather! My materials deliveries come from Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver, so during -35 C cold snaps, deliveries are delayed and/or cancelled until the driver can safely come to Calgary. Summer temperatures can sometimes get so hot that the workshop becomes unbearable, so projects are done in the morning and late evening instead of throughout the day. That’s Calgary weather for ya!

September 2024 and onward lead times:

• Custom Picture Framing: 3-4 weeks

• Paper & Photo Printing: Pickups are currently occuring 2 times a week

• Canvas Printing: 1-2 weeks

• Canvas Stretching (Travel paintings for example): 1-2 weeks

• Scanning and Photography + file delivery post-processing: 1-2 weeks

Signed September 7th, 2024