Displaying your favourite memories doesn’t have to be complicated.

We know, we know. You’re thinking about quality, price, style, glare…it’s not as easy as biting the bullet. 

That’s what we’re here for! This week, we’re tackling the topic of canvas prints vs framed prints, making your decision easier than ever.

Canvas prints are a form of wall art. 

It’s these prints that welcome guests into your hallway and tie together your bedroom décor. Canvas prints are modern, relaxed, and affordable.

Despite being a budget-friendly option, custom canvas prints really do make a statement. Especially gallery-wrapped canvas! With gallery canvas prints, your chosen image is displayed all the way around the frame, creating an immersive look.

Other popular canvas print types include:

• Panoramic canvas prints: the show-stopper
• Collage canvas prints: the multitasker
• Retro canvas prints: the oldie but goldie
• Slim canvas prints: the minimalist gem

You can’t beat the frameless look that canvas wall art gives. If you’ve got a statement piece of wall art you’re itching to show off, or a beautiful scenic photograph that’s been trapped in your camera roll for months, canvas will give it the spotlight it deserves (with no glare!).

You can also frame your canvas print for a more refined look. However, if minimalism is more your thing, we’d recommend sticking with an unframed canvas print.

One more thing to remember about canvas, as obvious as it may sound, is that it’s permanent. You can’t swap the image out when you get fed up with it, unlike a framed photo print. 

Ahh, the photo print we all know and love. 

Framed prints are timeless classics. The traditional, reliable crowd-pleaser, but with plenty of variety.

For special keepsakes, formal portraits and black-and-white photographs, you can’t beat a framed photo print. They display your memories in incredible detail, and the right frame size and style can elevate your décor to Pinterest level (high praise!)

Speaking of keepsakes, engraved framed photo prints add an extra meaningful touch for a personalised gift.

So, framed prints are a go-to for a reason! The sky is the limit with these types of photo print. 

But that doesn’t mean they’re right for every person or situation. If you’d like to avoid issues of glare, cost and weight (framed prints can get pretty heavy!) canvas might be the one for you.

In a rush? Here’s a quick overview!

Canvas vs framed photos is a subject worth unpacking in detail. Let’s get into it!

If you’re a lover of matt, you’re spoilt for choice! Canvas and framed prints both come with the option of a matt finish. 

Known for keeping it simple, canvas is always matt. A texture you can trust every time. If you’re the type of person who gravitates towards natural, handcrafted décor, canvas might be the one for you.

Flexibility-wise, framed prints are the winner here. Take your pick…semi-gloss framed prints to make your memories shine, or matt framed prints for a subtle, sophisticated look. 

Your creative input doesn’t end there, either. Decide on a frame type and colour that suits your specific taste, and if boredom strikes, simply swap out the frame! 

Colours can look incredibly different on framed vs canvas prints. As you can imagine, printing onto a smooth surface like paper makes for vivid, accurate colours, whereas canvas is rougher and flatter. 

Rough and flat may not sound like the best of compliments, but don’t be fooled. It’s the rough texture of canvas that creates warm tones in bold abstract art prints and soft colours in landscapes and portraits. It’s all about the look you’re going for.

Keen for your colours to pop? Framed photos won’t let you down. They’re crisp, sharp, and great at showing off the subtle details of your favourite moments, including wedding memories and family photoshoots.

When you buy a framed photo or canvas print, you expect it to last. So, you’ll be pleased to know that both options are durable.

The most robust, without a doubt, are framed photo prints. If they’re away from direct sunlight, that’s most of the upkeep done! Glazing does the real heavy lifting, keeping your photo safe and sound, away from fingerprints, dust, moisture, and UV light. 

At Max Spielmann in particular, you can expect toughened safety glass for A4 frames and acrylic glass covers for larger frames. 

Canvas is trickier to manage, but definitely doable, especially if you clean it regularly. For canvas to last a long time, it needs to be placed in the right area. More on this later!

It’s no surprise that framed prints come with some glare, especially in direct light. A frustrating point to keep in mind, but not a hopeless one! 

Either choose a matt framed print (problem solved!) or place your gloss framed print somewhere away from windows and bright lights.

The other solution? Opt for canvas! It doesn’t reflect light, so glare isn’t an issue whatsoever.  No matter what your lighting situation is, canvas has your back.

When it comes to weight, canvas prints are notoriously lighter. There’s no heavy frame to deal with, no glazing, and the inner wooden frame is hollow. 

If you choose a framed photo print, expect it to be significantly heavier, depending on what type of frame you settle on. For some people, that’s a downside. For others, it represents quality. You can be the judge!

Canvas is easier to hang on your wall, but framed photos are more versatile.

If you don’t want to deal with wall hooks, canvas prints will be your best friend. They arrive ready-to-hang, making them the obvious choice if you’re mega-busy, or if DIY is not your thing!

That said, framed photos won’t take up much of your time. Either hang them up with a wall hook or use the backstand to place them wherever you’d like in your home.

Canvas is the more expensive of the two, especially framed canvas. There are still ways to keep canvas affordable though, from choosing a slim canvas print to leaving your canvas unframed.

When it comes to framed prints, you’ve got a wide range. Some are mid-range, some are premium. Depending on your budget, you can customise as you go, choosing a frame that fits your ideal price range. 

It’s the thought that counts! Both options make lovely, personalised gifts.

Overall, we’d say framed photo prints are the winner because of their presentation. However, don’t discount canvas prints. Canvas is a more casual, modern alternative that’s bound to bring a smile to your loved one’s face.

There’s a lot of information to process here, so let’s strip it back for a second. 

Here are 3 tips for choosing between canvas and framed prints that will dramatically cut down your pondering time…

Let’s start with the obvious: what are you printing?

Keepsakes and special gifts usually look best framed, while family photos and formal portraits belong on canvas.

Sometimes, there’s an overlap. Portraits and landscapes can look great on either type of print.

If you’re stuck, think about how you want your photo to look. Let’s say you’ve got a photo of an incredible mountaintop view. What’s more important to you, the softness of the landscape or the finer details of the trees? 

For softness, choose canvas. For details, choose framed.

Is it a statement piece for your bedroom or an inviting dining room display?

Both styles of print can thrive in most rooms, so it’s more about the specific design of your home.

Framed photos add a special touch to:

• Narrow hallways
• Gallery walls
• Studies
• Formal living and dining rooms
• Bathrooms
• Conservatories

Canvas prints stand out beautifully in:

• Bedrooms (especially custom wall art)
• Minimalist homes
• Rooms with bright lighting (both natural and artificial)
• Casual photo collages
• Open-plan rooms

The only hard-and-fast rule is to keep canvas out of your bathroom and conservatory. It doesn’t do well with high moisture and fluctuating temperatures, and trust us, it’ll show!

Forget the facts for a minute. When you think about framing vs canvas, what feels more “you”?

If you’re big on contemporary décor, you might be more drawn to canvas. Lovers of tradition tend to prefer framed photo prints for their classic, formal feel.

We could talk about style all day, but what it comes down to is this: which type of print is calling your name?

Here at Max Spielmann, both your canvas and framed prints are made with expert UK craftsmanship. The stars of the show? Vibrant Epson inks! 

Premium products start with premium materials, so we prioritise quality right from the start of the journey. 

When you order a canvas print, your chosen photo is lovingly printed onto a durable 350gsm poly-mix canvas, before being hand-stretched and wrapped around a 3.8cm wooden inner frame (or a 1.8cm frame for slim canvas prints).

For framed prints, your memories are displayed on premium 220gsm Fuji photo paper and placed in a high-quality frame of your choice (and believe us, there’s lots of choice!)

The manufacturing process might be long, but your journey as a customer is short. Our same-day canvas prints and same-day photo prints let you enjoy your artwork in no time!

Whatever you decide, we’ve got the product for you. Shop our premium range of canvas and framed prints.