Home Decor 101 – What Is A Canvas Print?

These days, you can easily see canvas prints in many places. It could be a decor on a home’s wall or even office workplace. And they are now commonly used as gifts on many occasions throughout the year. Whether it is Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a wedding, an anniversary, or simply a beloved family member’s birthday, canvas print gift can be a great choice.

If it is the first time you see this item, the question of what a canvas print is may pop up in your mind. Here’s everything you need to know about this kind of art print.

What Is A Canvas Print?

Canvas prints are pictures or portraits printed using inkjet printers (or similar technology) and then stretched for a tight fit over the canvas. Once the picture is printed, it is stretched across the frame and over its edges.

The two most popular types of canvas prints are framed canvas prints and frameless borders.

What Is Canvas Print Made Of?

Canvas is made using various products such as cotton, linen, and PVC. In the past, it was made from hemp. Because canvas prints are meant to last for a long time, they are made from durable materials. Cotton and polyester are popular materials of choice for canvas prints.

These two materials have similar strengths and weaknesses, but they differ in their appearance. Cotton fibers tend to have a washed-out appearance since the color seeps into their cloth. On the other hand, polyester retains the colors that make the prints more visually appealing and long-lasting.

See more: How Are Canvas Prints Made?

Canvas Prints vs. Framed Prints

Besides the question of what a canvas print is, it is also easy to confuse between framed prints and canvas prints. However, there is a notable difference between the two.

Framed prints blend into the interior décor of the room by seamlessly tying into the rest of the color scheme. You can also change the mood of the artwork or photo depending on the chosen frame.

For instance, a normal black border frame gives more prominence to the photo or artwork by bringing it front and center. In contrast, stylized frames – both traditional and contemporary – allow certain areas of the photo to become more prominent than others.

A canvas print, on the other hand, provides a more methodical approach to decorating room walls. Thanks to their frameless borders, they are compatible with just about any setting. Canvas prints have vibrant colors that seamlessly create focal points to spruce up the room you are trying to decorate.

Printing on Paper vs. Canvas

Photography has changed from the days of yore when it was developed in a darkroom using photographic paper. Canvas prints are becoming popular over paper prints since they are long-lasting. Here are five differences between the two.

What Are The Common Sizes Of A Canvas Print?

We are sure you already have a grasp of what a canvas print is. Now let’s move on to the sizes of the print.

Canvas sizes range from 4-by-4 inches all the way to 36-by-36 inches and beyond. Let’s have a look at a few popular sizes.

Medium Canvas Sizes

• 4-by-6 inches: A tiny print that goes perfectly in tight areas such as corners of cabinets and bookshelves.
• 6-by-6 inches: A tiny, square-sized print that allows you to highlight larger arrangements in a room.

Square Canvas Sizes

• 10-by-10 inches: Slightly larger square which is ideal for a multi-pictured layout
• 12-by-12 inches: Similar to 10 x 10 but a little larger, making it ideal for larger rooms

Large Canvas Sizes

• 20-by-20 inches: Oversized canvas print, which is ideal to showcase a special print or photo in standalone settings or as a gallery wall
• 36-by-36 inches: This is a perfect size if you want to showcase something truly memorable and want it to stand out.

You can refer to our common canvas sizes to help you choose the right canvas size, and canvas print resolution for various locations in your home.

Common Questions About Canvas Prints

If you still have a few questions about canvas prints, the following FAQs have you covered.

1) What Canvas Prints Sizes Should I Get?

Seeking the right frame for a canvas print is important before creating your gallery wall.

By far, the most popular choice is the 10-by-8 and 10-by-10 range because it fits in smaller areas. Larger frames beyond 20-by-20 inches are used if you want to bring more attention to your gallery of choice. And if you really want to make an impression, choose a 30-by-30 inches print, preferably if the room is expansive and has only one photo.

Check out our wall art size guide for more in-depth information on how to choose suitable canvas print sizes.

2) How to Hang Canvas Art?

In fact, there are various ways to hang canvas art that you can go for:

• Nails: This tried and tested approach works best on small and medium prints. You will need to choose appropriately sized nails depending on the print.
• Sawtooth hanger: For larger canvas prints, go with sawtooth hangers.
• Adhesive strips: Easy to do and does the least damage to walls.

3) How to Frame a Canvas?

Put simply, when it comes to the question of how to frame a canvas, you have three choices:

• traditional frame
• floating frame
• no frame

Each frame has its pros and cons. For starters, we recommend going for floating frames if the canvas print will be moving around a lot in the house (or if you have children).

4) How to Stretch A Canvas Print?

If you have the canvas print only, and looking for a way to stretch the canvas, here’s how:

You will need a 1 x 2 slab of wood for framing, a tape measure, a pencil, a circular saw, a corner clamp, a countersink drill bit, a cordless drill, a staple gun, screws, and something to hang the picture with. Here’s a detailed video showing how to stretch a canvas:

5) Will Canvas Prints Fade Over Time?

Although 365 Canvas’s fade-resistant inks are designed to last long, there are a few things that can impact longevity:

• The type of ink used for crafting
• Environmental conditions of the room
• Canvas quality (we use durable materials for longevity)
• Lamination (a surefire way of making your canvas print last for a long time)

See more: Are Canvas Prints Tacky?

6) How To Clean A Canvas Print?

Dust the canvas print with a lint-free, soft, feather duster or dry cloth. For deep cleaning, use warm soapy water and gently rub the affected area.

7) How Long Does A Canvas Print Last?

A professional canvas print shop uses laminated canvas with high-quality prints that can last hundreds of years if properly taken care of.

8) What’s the Difference Between Gallery Wrap and Studio Wrap?

Gallery wrap is a technique for mounting and stretching the canvas over wooden bars to create more authenticity in the painting. There are no visible nails or staples to show the canvas being attached to the wooden bar. Studio wraps are more commonly used to prepare the canvas for framing. Unlike gallery wraps, you can easily spot staples attached to the stretcher bar.

That’s all you need to know about canvas prints. If you’ve got more questions, feel free to get in touch with us at 365canvas.com.