FAQs

We aim to be in the studio Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Because Monochrome Canvas is a working production studio, not a traditional retail storefront, our schedule may occasionally shift based on production demands, scheduled pickups, and off-site work.

Best practice: email before stopping by so we can confirm availability and make sure someone is ready to help you.

Appointments are strongly recommended. We are often printing, packing orders, or working with equipment, so walk-in support is not always possible.

If you are coming for a consult, drop-off, or pickup, a quick email ahead of time makes everything smoother.

Our doors stay locked because we are a production studio with client artwork, equipment, and orders in progress. If you have a scheduled pickup or appointment, email or text when you arrive and we will come to the door.

Yes, but we prefer scheduled drop-offs so your work is received properly and we can confirm sizes, paper selection, and any special notes.

Monochrome Canvas is located in Downtown Akron, Ohio.
445 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307

The studio is part of a shared creative space with Akron Recording Company. Because the space is actively used for both print production and recording sessions, access is coordinated to ensure a smooth experience for all clients.

Parking: You are welcome to park in the Akron Recording Company lot in any marked spaces.

Entrance: Please use the studio door pictured below. If you have an appointment or scheduled pickup, email when you arrive and we will meet you at the door or buzz you in.

To access the studio entrance, you will need to take stairs.

If you have mobility needs, we can absolutely accommodate you. We are happy to meet clients in the parking lot for drop-off or pickup, or arrange another accessible handoff plan. Just mention it when you reach out so we can make it easy.

Most orders are completed within 1-3 business days.

Turnaround can take longer during seasonal peaks, for large orders, specialty papers, or if a specific material is temporarily out of stock. If timing matters, tell us your deadline up front and we will give you a realistic ETA.

Sometimes, depending on workload and materials. Email us with your size, quantity, paper type if known, and deadline. If we can meet it, we will. Rush fees may apply.

If the print is needed for an exhibition, gift, installation, event, or client delivery, please include that date before production begins. We can help you decide whether local pickup, flat shipping, rolled shipping, or a direct-to-framer handoff is the safest plan.

High-quality JPG, PNG, TIFF, or PDF files work well. If you are unsure, send what you have and we will tell you if anything needs adjusting.

As a general rule, 300 DPI at the final print size is ideal. If you do not know your file's print readiness, email the file or a link, along with the size you want, and we will guide you.

Yes. We review files for obvious sizing, resolution, cropping, and print-readiness concerns before production. If something looks risky, we will contact you before moving forward.

Sometimes, but it depends on the image and the size. We would rather be honest than let you waste money on a print that will not hold up. If needed, we can recommend a smaller size, a border or matting approach, or file enhancement options.

We print for accurate, consistent results, but screens vary widely. If color accuracy is critical, ask about a proof/test print or a color-matching workflow.

Yes. Proofs are recommended for important color work, large sizes, editions, or new files. Email us and we will suggest the most efficient proof option.

We offer museum-quality fine art papers and photo papers, including options like hot press, cold press, watercolor textures, and baryta-style finishes. If you tell us what you are printing, such as photography, watercolor, illustration, or reproduction work, we will recommend the best fit.

We also offer specialty papers not listed if requested. Extra fees may apply.

Yes. Tell us the medium, final use, and the feeling you want from the piece. A delicate watercolor reproduction, a saturated digital illustration, and a deep photographic print may each call for a different surface.

Yes. If you do not see the exact size you need, email us your desired dimensions and we will quote it.

Yes, we offer canvas printing. If you are unsure what format you need, such as loose canvas versus a finished display option, email us and we will recommend the best path.

Yes. We ship orders both within the U.S. and internationally. If you need something shipped on a deadline, include your timeline in your message.

Most giclée paper prints are shipped flat when the size and destination allow us to protect the artwork safely. For pieces larger than 20 x 30 inches, shipping flat can become less reliable because the packaging must protect the surface, corners, and full sheet from bending or pressure.

Large prints and raw canvas are typically shipped rolled. This is often the safer professional option for oversized work.

Rolled prints are wrapped around a tube, enclosed in protective plastic, and fitted inside a box so the artwork is protected on all sides. The goal is to keep pressure off the printed surface while reducing the risk of crushing, bending, moisture exposure, and edge damage in transit.

For the safest result, take the print directly to a professional framer and let them open, relax, and mount the piece with the proper materials. This is especially recommended for large giclée prints, raw canvas, valuable editions, and anything intended for long-term display.

If you are not taking it to a framer immediately, keep the print in its protective packaging until you are ready to handle it. Avoid opening and re-rolling the print repeatedly.

A professional framer is the best choice, but if you need to unroll a print yourself, handle it slowly and conservatively.

• Wash and fully dry your hands first, or use clean cotton gloves.
• Use a clean, dry, flat surface with no dust, grit, moisture, food, or cleaning residue.
• Open the package slowly. Do not pinch, tug, crease, or force the print flat.
• If the print is tightly curled, you can use the tube it was shipped in to help relax it by gently rolling the print in the opposite direction. Secure it loosely for a short period using a clean rubber band or by wrapping it with another sheet of paper and lightly taping that outer layer—never taping the print itself.
• If weighting the print, use clean, smooth, flat materials and distribute the weight gently. Keep anything rough, dirty, or textured away from the printed surface.
• Allow time. A rolled print may need at least 24 hours to relax, and larger work may take longer.

Never spray water, mist, steam, iron, heat, or apply cleaning products or adhesives to the print. Moisture and heat can permanently affect the paper fibers, canvas, coating, inks, and surface texture.

If the print resists, curls sharply, or feels difficult to manage, stop and take it to a framer rather than risking a crease or surface mark.

Yes. Local pickup is available by appointment and recommended for especially delicate, oversized, or time-sensitive artwork. We will email when your order is ready and coordinate a simple handoff.

Please photograph the outside packaging, interior packaging, shipping label, and the artwork before discarding anything. Contact us right away with the photos and your order details so we can review the issue and help with the next step.

Because most prints are made-to-order, we typically cannot accept returns for change-of-mind decisions. If something arrives damaged or there is a production issue, contact us right away and we will make it right.

Email us with the following:

• Desired print size
• Quantity
• Paper type, if known
• Your deadline, if applicable
• Your file or a link to the file
• Whether you need pickup, flat shipping, rolled shipping, or help deciding

If you do not know the right paper, size, or shipping method, just tell us the goal and we will guide you.