Gallery-style pictures for the modern British home
Imagine a favourite holiday photo from Cornwall as the centrepiece of the living room, or a family portrait in the hall with the texture of a painting. That is what a canvas print offers, and it is within reach of everyone.
A canvas print is a reproduction of a digital image, printed directly on to artists' canvas. The canvas is stretched tight over a wooden frame, made of stretcher bars, to give a picture that is ready to hang and has a distinctive, tactile surface. Unlike a photo print behind glass, it has depth and texture, and it suits everything from a period cottage to a new-build flat.
How canvas prints are made
It starts with a sharp digital file. Professional printing needs a good resolution, typically 150 to 300 pixels per inch at the size of the print. The image is printed on canvas by a large-format printer.
There are two main printing methods:
- Giclée. Pigment-based archival inks, known for accurate colour and for resisting fading for decades. It is the premium choice for fine art reproduction.
- Latex or eco-solvent. Durable, water-resistant inks that give bright colour and a robust print, often at a slightly lower cost.
The canvas is usually cotton or a polyester and cotton blend. Cotton has a traditional, slightly textured feel. The blend is tougher and less affected by humidity.
The printed canvas is stretched, by hand or machine, over bars of kiln-dried pine or a similar wood, folded neatly round the edges and stapled at the back. A protective coating is sometimes added, either a liquid laminate that resists water and UV light, or a textured gel that imitates brushstrokes.
Where canvas prints work best
- Living rooms and halls. As a focal point above a sofa or fireplace. Large panoramas are especially effective.
- Bedrooms. Calm landscapes or family portraits.
- Home offices. A view, or something to inspire you.
- Offices, cafés and hotels. Local photography or branded artwork.
Because a canvas has no glass, it has no reflections, which makes it a good choice for a bright room with large windows.
The advantages
- Looks. The textured surface and wrapped edges resemble a painted canvas.
- Long life. Good prints with archival inks resist fading far longer than ordinary photo prints.
- Light and safe. A canvas is much lighter than a picture framed with glass, so it is easier to hang, and there is nothing to shatter.
- No glare. The matt surface diffuses light.
- Personal. Your own photos of holidays, weddings, pets and children become something worth displaying, at a fraction of the price of an original painting.
What to consider before ordering
- Image quality. This matters most. Check that your file has enough resolution for the size you want. A small image enlarged too far looks blocky.
- Size and shape. Measure the wall, and think about the proportions of the room and how far away the picture will be seen from.
- Depth. Thinner stretcher bars, of 1.5 to 2cm, sit close to the wall for a modern look. Deeper ones, of about 3.8cm, give a more dramatic, gallery-style presence.
- Edges. With an image wrap, the picture continues round the sides, so you need spare image around the subject. A mirrored wrap reflects the edge of the picture on to the sides. A colour wrap fills the sides with a plain colour taken from the image.
- The printer. Choose a reputable printer known for good materials, accurate colour and firm stretching.
- Protection. Consider a protective coating for a canvas in a sunny room, a kitchen or a bathroom.
Canvas or a framed print?
A canvas print has a textured, painterly look, with picture and support in one. It is light, has no reflections, and suits relaxed, artistic or modern rooms.
A framed print is a paper or photographic print behind glazing in a separate frame, usually with a mount. It gives the best protection from dust and damage, shows fine detail more crisply and suits every style, though glass adds weight and can reflect. It is the right choice for formal settings and for anything valuable or original.
You can also have the best of both. A canvas can be put into a canvas frame, such as a float frame, which gives it a finished edge and a more formal look.
Hanging a canvas
Most canvases come with a sawtooth hanger or D-rings on the stretcher bars. Use a fixing suited to the wall, either a plasterboard fixing or a wall plug and screw in masonry, rated for the weight. Check it with a spirit level.
Keep canvases out of direct sunlight and away from radiators and damp, which can slacken the canvas.
Final thoughts
Canvas prints combine good looks with practicality. They turn personal photographs into artwork, add texture and depth to a room, and last well without the weight or glare of glass. Choose good printing, think carefully about size and edges, and a canvas will give pleasure for years.
EasyFrame offers a wide range of made-to-measure frames, including frames for canvases, and with long experience we can advise on the right one. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.