Canvas prints have become an eye-catching way to showcase one’s favourite images, whether for photos a family trip or a chronology of school pictures. Canvas prints are fun, artistic and immensely beautiful – so let’s explore this cool wall art solution and see what’s behind the name.

What is a Canvas Print?

A canvas print is an image printed on canvas using an inkjet printer. This should not be jumbled with a canvas painting. The canvas is stretched onto its frame after it has been printed. The canvas is looped around the stretcher bars and then attached to the frame during this step. Canvas prints can be displayed as they are or put in an additional outer frame. Some people prefer frameless design while others, aiming to achieve a fully-fledged gallery look opt for premium outer framing.

There is a lot of misconception about the differences between mounted prints, acrylic prints, and canvas prints. A mounted print would be a paper print that is backed by a board. The goal of such a print is to conserve the photograph but also set it for framing or wall hanging.

An image printed onto photographic paper can be transformed into an acrylic print. The image then is sandwiched between two panes of acrylic glass (also known as plexiglass). Canvas prints, when compared to the other two print formats, have a more artistic sense to them. This is due to their resemblance to oil as well as acrylic paintings.

What is the composition of canvas?

Traditionally, hemp, cotton or linen have been used to make canvas. These are all robust and long-lasting fabrics. Cotton plus linen has mostly supplanted hemp in canvas production in contemporary times. Most canvas prints for personal use are now made of cotton or polyester. The colour precision is the biggest difference between the two.

Colour penetrates through cotton fibre material, yet it stays on the top of synthetic polyester strands. As a result, polyester prints are much more vibrant, whereas cotton prints don’t fade for longer but are also much more prone to daily wear and tear.

So which is the best option between the two? It all depends on what you are after. Prints on cotton are often thought to be of superior quality as well as closer to what you’d find in a museum. Polyester, on the other side, is a less expensive option that also generates vibrant prints. And they are really durable – if you choose a respected provider, you can expect your polyester canvas picture to remain as good as new for up to 70 years!

Why print on canvas?

Since the 1960s, the photography and printing industries have progressed immensely. Until canvas printing entered the picture, traditional printing on lab photo paper has been extensively used all over the world.

Canvas printing has completely transformed the notion of wall art, making photo printing both adaptable and economical.

Let us look into it a little more and see what the advantages canvas printing has brought to people – photography professionals and enthusiasts alike.

The following are some of the benefits of canvas prints:

1. Durability

Have you ever visited a museum and seen the large-scale artworks painted on canvas?

Have you ever considered how its high-end quality has remained consistent over time?

Canvas prints have a lot of advantages, one of which is their durability. Canvas fabric – including its contemporary polyester cousins – is built to last for decades without deteriorating in quality.

2. Aesthetic Impression

Canvas prints give photo reproductions a one-of-a-kind artistic vibe. These prints can find their way not only into people’s homes but also in businesses, helping companies to promote their products and services. They have all the potential to be an important part of any marketing campaign.

Portraits, life-size family portraits, and landscape photos all look fantastic as canvas prints.

3. 3D Look

Canvas prints have a wonderful three-dimensional appearance. The inner frame that ensures support for the fabric also provides an unmatched material substantiality for the print. It can be safely said that no paper-flat print can compete with canvas prints in terms of overall aesthetics and visual power. This serves to improve the overall appearance of any photo, and they go well with any frame customers choose.

4. Simple Handling

Canvas prints are very easy to display. The best providers add special hanger sets to their canvas prints and it takes just a couple of nails to fix you canvas on the wall. Not a DIYer? Then simply lean your canvas print against any vertical surface and enjoy this freestyle artistic arrangement!

5. Versatility

Canvas prints are very much in style since they are classic and timeless. Whether we choose a modern-contemporary or traditional décor, it will work with any décor scheme in just about any home.

Moreover, canvas prints can effortlessly integrate with a new design scheme after you remodel the house or repaint the walls. Since they are frameless, canvas prints adapt well to almost any background.

6. Affordability

Did you know that canvas prints are one of the most cost-effective wall décor solutions? While some companies in the industry still cater exclusively to the luxury segment, there are also many reliable discount providers that sell canvas at factory prices – My-Picture.co.uk, for example. Their entry price for canvas prints starts at just £6.00. At this price, you can take a couple of tube rides in central London – or spruce up your home with a vibrant personalised picture!

7. Glare-Free Image

Don’t we all adore the satin-matte finish on the prints? Of course, sometimes a glossy finish is a must, but in far too many cases classic framed photos with glass covers have lots of unwanted glares. Well, you won’t have this problem with canvas prints. It’s a completely glare-free print format that can be displayed in sunlit interiors; note though that it’s better to keep canvas prints away from direct sunlight to avoid fading – that is, unless your prints come with an additional protective layer of laminate.

8. Various Print Formats and Sizes

Do you wish to hang a life-size portrait on that empty wall in your living room?

Or perhaps you’d want to decorate your children’s room with miniature photos that document their adventures and milestones?

Canvas prints let you carry out any décor idea you might have. They are available in different sizes, formats, and shapes (such as square, rectangular or panoramic). Just select the format that suits your needs best and go along with it.

When is it not a good idea to use canvas prints?

There may be some situations when printing a photo on canvas isn’t the best option.

• When you want to decorate with frames and use them as vital décor points. Although canvas prints can also have additional outer frames, this solution isn’t available for all canvas print formats.
• When you plan to display the prints in moist and humid environments such as kitchen and bathrooms. Even polyester canvas fabric has porous texture that can absorb humidity and smells, and this will negatively impact the print’s looks and longevity.
• When you aim for an ultracontemporary look and seek a glamorous glossy finish. Then it’s better to choose either an acrylic or a metal print because canvas prints come with a 100% matte finish and give images a slightly dreamy, vintage overtone.

Types of Canvas Prints

1. Personalised Canvas Prints

Personalised canvas prints are made from one’s photos and artwork. Such canvas prints are frequently used to give as gifts or to decorate the home or office walls with personal/family photos. And that’s also arguably the best printing solution that lets you turn your own photos into artworks!

2. Stock Images

These canvas prints are made using stock pictures, as the name implies. When selecting a design for the canvas, one could find the images like these in photo banks, either free or paid. It could be a photo of nature, a famous landmark, a digital design or perhaps a photo taken by a well-known artist. When selecting a photo for printing from a photo bank, don’t forget to check the licence – the artists usually don’t mind limited runs for personal use, but it’s always a good idea to double-check.

3. Single Print

This one is the easiest and most popular canvas format. Just select a photo you want to see printed and have it printed on a separate piece of canvas. One print for each photograph — simple, traditional, and incredibly powerful in terms of aesthetics.

4. Multi Panel or Canvas Collage

In comparison with single canvas prints, these two are much more imaginative. Multi panel canvas prints are printed with one photo divided into sections, with every section being printed on a separate piece of canvas. A canvas collage, on the other hand, is created by combining several pictures into a single print.

How to Check Canvas Print Quality?

A novice in the world of interior design may find it hard to evaluate the quality of canvas prints. But there are a few simple factors to consider before making an informed choice even when you order online and don’t see the product before you buy it. They are:

1. Type of canvas

Check out the type of canvas the printing provider use for printing. Would that be a canvas with a brand? What kind of cloth is it? Is it specially designed for printing with specific inks? For example, one of the most well-known printing providers in the UK, My-Picture.co.uk use a specific canvas type that is very well suited to the HP latex inks they use for printing, resulting in the greatest possible outcome without spending too much money on production.

2. Type of inks

To a large extent, the inks used for printing determine the print’s lifespan and visual performance. The inks should also be safe not only for people but also for the environment so go for companies that print with solvent-free inks.

3. Stretcher frames

Look at the type of stretched bars used in canvas production. The optimal thickness is at least 2 centimetres. You should also check the material of stretcher bars – the gold standard is timber.

And here it is – everything you need to know about canvas prints before starting to experiment with this amazing wall décor solution! Use our advice to design unique wall art and present your own photos with unparalleled artistic flair.