In an age dominated by digital screens and fleeting moments, the allure of canvas prints stands as a timeless testament to the enduring power of physical artistry. Canvas prints breathe life into your cherished memories and favourite artwork, transforming them into tangible masterpieces that adorn your living spaces.
In this article, we’ll look at different types of canvas prints, discuss what they are, their benefits, and the best canvas printing services for preserving and enhancing your most treasured moments.
Let's get started...
What are Canvas Prints?
Canvas prints are a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.
They involve taking your favourite photographs or artworks and transferring them onto high-quality canvas material, which results in a stunning, textured print that closely mimics the look and feel of an original painting.
The Benefits of Canvas Prints
Canvas prints offer several advantages that set them apart from conventional photo prints or digital displays.
Firstly, the texture of canvas lends a tactile dimension to your images, imparting depth and character that flat photo paper simply cannot match. Moreover, canvas prints are durable, which ensures that your cherished moments remain vibrant and vivid for generations to come. High-quality canvas prints also resist fading and damage.
Beyond their physical attributes, canvas prints also provide a versatile means of decorating your living spaces. Whether adorning the walls of your home or serving as standout pieces in your office, they effortlessly elevate any environment, adding a touch of elegance and personalization.
At Posterjack, we have a diverse selection of canvas sizes to several edging and framing choices. We can transform your photos into amazing canvas prints. Get started now!
The Different Types of Canvas Prints
[Handcrafting Stretched Canvas Prints in the Posterjack Print Shop in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.]
Although there are many types of canvas prints, each with their own unique characteristics that we’ll look at in a moment, if you choose Posterjack, your canvas print will be:
- Made in Toronto
- Handcrafted using premium-quality materials
- Printed using inks that will not fade for 200+ years
- Printed using our proprietary PJ-PRINT™ software which allows us to print your images at a large scale and keep them looking super-sharp
1. Stretched Canvas Prints
[Behind the scenes look inside our Toronto print shop, expertly stretching the Canvas Print around the thick kiln-dried Canadian basswood frame.]
Stretched canvas prints effortlessly fit into a wide range of decor styles, making them an ideal choice for those seeking versatile and timeless decor solutions for both the home and office.
One of the standout features of stretched canvas prints is their simplicity. With the canvas neatly stretched and securely mounted onto a wooden frame, these prints arrive ready to hang, eliminating the need for additional framing or complex installation. This ease of display is particularly appealing, especially for those seeking an uncomplicated and hassle-free means of adding art or personal photographs to their living spaces.
Another thing that makes stretched canvas prints so incredible is their versatility. They serve as a blank canvas (pun intended) for your creativity, accommodating a wide array of art styles, colour schemes, and design preferences. Whether you're decorating your home, office, or a commercial space, these prints can seamlessly integrate into your vision, adding a touch of sophistication and personalization.
2. Gallery Wrapped Canvas Prints
[Posterjack Canvas Minis with the coloured edge option.]
Gallery wrapped canvas prints can have two different meanings. The first simply being another term for a stretched canvas print, which we've just described above. The second definition of a gallery wrapped canvas print is describing a type of edge treatment for a canvas print.
As an edging option, the image that is being printed will be wrapped over the edge of the canvas stretcher frame, resulting in part of the photo or artwork being displayed on the sides of the canvas print. Because of this, it's the least popular style and we don't generally recommend this options unless you don't mind losing the perimeter of your photo over the sides of the canvas print.
In addition to a wrapped canvas print, two other edging option you can choose from are a mirrored edge and a coloured edge.
The mirrored edge is our most popular style and works best with the majority of photos. Known as the faux gallery wrap, the image being printed remains on the face of the canvas print and the edge is created by reflecting the perimeter of the photo on the sides of the canvas. None of the original photo is lost to wrapping.
The coloured edge option provides a nice finished look for images that are not well-suited foe the mirrored edge. Your entire image remains on the surface of the canvas, with the sides of the print being finished with a solid colour of your choice. This is a fantastic option if you want to add a pop of colour to your canvas print or want to have it coordinate with the room's existing style and decor. Or, for a more neutral look, you could choose black, white, or grey. Your colour choices are vast!
3. Framed Canvas Prints
[Posterjack Canvas Prints with solid hardwood floater frames.]
A framed Canvas Print is a beautiful way to enhance your photo or artwork. The type of frame we make for our Canvas Prints is called a float frame, which is a box frame which the photo/artwork sits in. There’s a small gap between the frame and the print, giving the illusion of the photo floating within the frame. One of the main advantages to this style of frame is that the photo is not hidden in any way. With traditional frames, the edges of a photo can be hidden by the frame or matting.
If you intend on displaying your photo in a room with a lot of natural or overhead light, a float frame with a Canvas Print can be a better option than a traditional framed photo because your image won’t be displayed behind glass, so there won’t be any reflections or glare against your photo. Floater frames for our Canvas Prints have a depth of two inches, are made with solid hardwood, and available in three different painted finish colours: black, white, and espresso.
Note that because we handcraft all of our Canvas Prints in-house, the hand-cut stretcher frames which the canvas wraps around can vary in size ever so slightly, which means there can also be a small variance in the gap size between the print and the floater frame, from 1/8” to 1/4”.
4. Photo Canvas Prints
[Family photos printed on canvas.]
A photo canvas print, often simply referred to as a canvas print, is a reproduction of a photograph or image that is professionally printed onto a canvas material. This canvas material is typically made to mimic the texture of traditional painting canvases, adding a tactile dimension to the printed image. The canvas print is then stretched and secured over a wooden frame or stretcher bars, transforming the two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional piece of art suitable for hanging on walls.
Photo canvas prints are a popular choice for displaying personal photographs in a visually appealing and durable format. They offer a unique blend of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship, bridging the gap between digital imagery and tangible artwork. Canvas prints are known for their durability, resistance to fading, and versatility, making them a favoured option for both office and home decor, as well as a personalized, custom gift.
If you choose Posterjack to print your photo on canvas, you will receive the best of the best. Canvas Prints are, after all, a big part of what’s helped us grow to become Canada’s Photo Art Experts. In addition the the premium-quality materials and equipment we use, our proprietary PJ-PRINT™ software ensures your images are going to look crisp and vibrant in any of the 35+ sizes we offer.
It’s also worth mentioning our automatic rating system. When you upload a photo to our website, you’re automatically provided with a photo quality rating. This will help give you a better idea on what to expect before you print, and if your photo quality is unacceptable, our system won’t allow you to proceed with your order. Our priority is ensuring you’re happy with your print!
5. Giclée Canvas Prints
[Photos and artwork being printed in our print shop in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.]
Giclée canvas prints are high-quality, fine art reproductions of original artwork or photographs. The term "giclée" (pronounced zhee-clay) is derived from the French word "gicler," which means "to squirt" or "to spray." This name is apt because giclée prints are created using inkjet printing technology, where tiny droplets of ink are precisely sprayed onto a canvas or fine art paper.
Key characteristics of giclée canvas prints include:
- High-Quality Reproduction: Giclée printing is known for its exceptional accuracy and attention to detail. It can reproduce colours, textures, and fine details with remarkable precision, making it a popular choice for artists and photographers looking to replicate their work.
- Archival Quality: Giclée prints are created using archival-grade inks and materials, ensuring that the prints have a long lifespan without fading or deteriorating. When properly cared for, giclée canvas prints can retain their vibrancy for many decades. Posterjack Canvas Prints are rated to be fade-resistant for over 200 years!
- Variety of Media: Giclée printing can be done on various types of media, with canvas being a popular choice due to its ability to mimic the texture of traditional painting canvases. Fine art papers, like the Hahnemuehle Photo Rag we use in our Fine Art Prints, are also commonly used for giclée printing, offering different textures and finishes to suit various artistic preferences.
- Artistic Applications: Giclée canvas prints are frequently used in art galleries, museums, and exhibitions to showcase and sell fine art reproductions. They are also popular among art collectors and enthusiasts.
Overall, giclée canvas prints are prized for their ability to reproduce artwork and photographs with exceptional quality and longevity, making them a preferred choice in the world of fine art and photography reproduction.
6. Rolled Canvas Prints
Rolled canvas prints, a product where an image is printed on the canvas material but not stretched over a wooden frame, are not part of Posterjack's offerings. While they might initially attract those beginning to explore canvas print options due to their perceived customization and cost-saving advantages, they come with their share of drawbacks.
Rolled canvas prints arrive as a flexible, rolled-up piece of canvas, necessitating framing or mounting for display. This extra step incurs additional expenses and is not ideal for someone who wishes to have a ready-to-hang option. To make a rolled canvas print display-ready, you will need to invest in framing or stretching services, increasing the overall cost compared to initially choosing a stretched canvas print.
Moreover, rolled canvas prints lack the structural support of stretcher bars, making them more prone to damage, including creases, scratches, or bends. Preparing them for display involves selecting an appropriate frame or stretcher bars, stretching the canvas, and ensuring proper alignment and tension, requiring more time and effort. This intricate process may not suit those seeking a quick and hassle-free art display solution, especially considering that rolled canvas prints do not offer the same three-dimensional presentation as stretched or framed canvas prints, potentially resulting in a less impactful visual display.
7. Split Canvas Prints
[Posterjack customer, Brian S, shared this photo, saying, “Super pleased with the print quality and Posterjack's attention to details and careful packing for delivery.”]
A split canvas print, also known as a multi-panel canvas print, is a style of displaying an image or artwork that involves dividing it into multiple canvas panels.
The primary purpose of a split canvas print is to take a single image or artwork and break it into sections, each printed on a separate canvas panel. When these panels are arranged side by side on a wall, they form a complete and continuous image.
While split canvas prints can be a unique and visually striking way to display photographs or artwork, they do come with certain disadvantages to consider:
- Image Splitting: The primary feature of split canvas prints is the division of a single image across multiple canvas panels. While this can create an eye-catching effect, it may not work well for all types of photographs or artwork. Some images may lose their impact or cohesiveness when divided, particularly if they rely on a continuous visual flow.
- Limited Versatility: Split canvas prints are generally best suited for images that are intentionally composed with the split in mind. This limits the versatility of the format, as not all images can be effectively split without compromising their visual appeal.
- Installation Complexity: Hanging split canvas prints can be more complex than single-panel canvas prints. Achieving proper alignment and spacing between the individual panels requires careful measurement and mounting. This may be a drawback for those seeking a quick and straightforward hanging process.
So, although split canvas prints can offer a unique and visually distinctive way to display images, they may not be suitable for all types of photographs or artwork. It's important to consider the nature of the image, installation complexity, and personal aesthetic preferences when deciding whether to opt for a split canvas print.
While Posterjack does not provide split canvas prints as a standard offering, you can still achieve a split canvas print effect by using a photo editing app. By using a third-party app to divide your image into sections, you can then upload each resulting image to our website to order multiple Canvas Prints. This allows you to effectively create a DIY split canvas print display, giving you the flexibility to design a unique and personalized visual arrangement for your images and still take advantage of the unmatched quality of our Canvas Prints.
8. Fine Art Canvas Prints
[Posterjack customer, Darren B, shared this photo, saying, "Awesome experience. I was unsure how my image would look printed at such a large scale. The person I was in contact checked the image and gave me an honest knowledgeable response. When it came it looked awesome. You guys will be my go to as I get more done.”]
Fine art canvas prints are high-quality reproductions of original artworks or photographs that are professionally printed on canvas material. These prints are designed to closely replicate the look and feel of traditional paintings and are favoured for their ability to add a touch of sophistication and artistry to interior decor.
Key characteristics of fine art canvas prints include:
- Canvas Material: Fine art canvas prints are typically printed on canvas material that mimics the texture and appearance of traditional painting canvases. This canvas is stretched and secured over wooden stretcher bars or frames.
- High-Quality Printing: The printing process for fine art canvas prints utilizes advanced inkjet technology to reproduce colours, details, and textures with exceptional accuracy and vibrancy. The inks used are often archival-grade, ensuring long-lasting durability and resistance to fading.
- Variety of Artistic Styles: Fine art canvas prints can showcase a wide range of artistic styles, from classic and traditional to contemporary and abstract. Artists and photographers can choose the style that best suits their vision.
- Customization: Fine art canvas prints can be customized in terms of size, framing options, and even colour correction to match the artist's or photographer's specifications.
- Durability: When properly cared for, fine art canvas prints can last for many decades without significant fading or deterioration, making them a lasting investment.
- Versatile Decor: These prints are a versatile choice for enhancing the aesthetic of homes, offices, galleries, and other interior spaces. They add an artistic touch to decor and can serve as focal points or complement existing design elements.
- Collectible Value: Fine art canvas prints are often produced as limited editions, signed and numbered by the artist. This adds value to the prints as collectors' items.
Fine art canvas prints have gained popularity among artists, photographers, collectors, and interior designers for their ability to combine artistic expression with the durability and versatility of canvas material. They provide an accessible way to enjoy and display art and photography in a format that exudes sophistication and elegance.
9. Hand-Embellished Canvas Prints
[Posterjack customer, David C, shared this photo, saying, "I use Posterjack prints on canvas and whiteboard as a basis for further painting. I use acrylic paint to further develop the imagery and have even used ceramic sculpture bonded using the west system of epoxies to imagery on whiteboard. Presently, Posterjack is the ideal solution for the development of my ideas.”]
Hand-embellished canvas prints are a specialized form of art reproduction in which an artist adds unique and personalized touches to a canvas print. These enhancements can include brushwork, paint, or other artistic techniques that add texture, depth, and individuality to the print.
While hand-embellished canvas prints offer a unique and personalized form of art reproduction, they also come with certain disadvantages to consider:
Higher Cost: Hand-embellished canvas prints tend to be more expensive than standard canvas prints due to the additional time, labor, and artistic expertise required. This can make them less budget-friendly for some buyers.
Variability: The level of skill and artistry of the embellishing artist can vary, leading to inconsistencies in the quality and execution of hand-embellished details. Not all hand-embellished prints may meet the same standard of craftsmanship.
Durability: The hand-applied enhancements, such as paint or texture, may require special care to maintain over time. The longevity and durability of these enhancements may vary depending on the materials and techniques used.
A note of caution: If you're considering hand-embellishing your own canvas print, doing so will void any warranty should your embellishments damage the inks or materials of the original Canvas Print.
Discover Your Perfect Canvas Print Style at Posterjack
[A panoramic photo printed on canvas with a mirrored edge.]
We’ve looked at several types of canvas print styles, each with their own unique charm. The following canvas prints, offered by Posterjack, have the power to transform your cherished memories and beloved artworks into tangible masterpieces that grace your living spaces.
Stretched Canvas Prints: These prints are your versatile, timeless companions, ready to hang and ideal for homes and offices alike.
Gallery Wrapped Canvas Prints: Offering a modern, frameless look with the image wrapping around the edges, they add a contemporary touch to your interiors.
Framed Canvas Prints: These prints not only enhance your photos and artwork with a beautiful border but also eliminate glare and reflections, making them perfect for well-lit rooms.
Photo Canvas Prints: The quintessential canvas print, professionally reproducing your favourite photos with exceptional precision and vibrancy.
Giclée Canvas Prints: High-quality fine art reproductions that utilize inkjet technology for remarkable accuracy and durability, a preferred choice among artists and art enthusiasts.
Fine Art Canvas Prints: High-quality reproduction of artwork and photography, these prints are designed to closely replicate the look and feel of traditional paintings and are favoured for their ability to add a touch of sophistication and artistry to interior decor.
While rolled canvas prints and split canvas prints offer unique options, it's essential to weigh their pros and cons. Rolled canvas prints require additional framing and may lack the visual impact of stretched or framed options. Split canvas prints create stunning visual effects but may not suit all images and can be more complex to install.
Hand-embellished canvas prints elevate your decor with sophistication and artistry, offering versatility and collectible value. However, hand-embellished canvas prints come with higher costs and potential variability in quality.
Now, it's your turn to discover the perfect canvas print style at Posterjack that suits your personal and professional spaces. Explore our wide range of options, from timeless stretched canvas prints to contemporary gallery-wrapped pieces, or opt for the elegance of framed or fine art canvas prints. Transform your cherished memories and beloved artworks into captivating masterpieces that will endure for generations. Your memories and creative expressions deserve nothing less. Explore now and make your space truly yours!
Note that all of these canvas prints types are available from our main Canvas Prints page. The techniques that define each of these print styles are automatically incorporated into our printing process, and for the Framed Canvas Prints, you will be presented with the option to add a frame to your order during the checkout process.
