what is a canvas print

Canvas prints are one of the most popular ways to showcase photos and artwork around your home.

Whether you’re showing off a happy family selfie or a favourite piece of art, canvas prints get your most treasured pictures the attention they deserve.

But what is a canvas print? From the meaning of canvas prints to their main benefits, here’s everything you need to know. 

What is a canvas print?

selection of canvas prints displayed on the wallselection of canvas prints displayed on the wall

A canvas print is a type of personalised wall art that involves printing pictures on hardwearing canvas fabric. Typically made from cotton or polyester materials, the printed canvas is stretched over a wooden frame (also known as the “stretcher bar”) and closely resembles an art gallery-style print. 

Canvas prints should not be confused with canvas paintings. Instead of traditional oil paints, canvas prints are made with a high-resolution inkjet printer that perfectly transfers your picture onto the canvas fabric.

What is a gallery-wrapped canvas?

stretching a canvas in a gallery wrap stylestretching a canvas in a gallery wrap style

A gallery-wrapped canvas involves wrapping the canvas fabric around the stretcher bars and attaching it to the back of the wooden frame. This usually extends the picture over the sides, creating a seamless, art gallery-style canvas print that’s perfect for displaying without a frame. 

Frameless gallery canvas prints feel more modern and minimalist than other wall art, while the eye-catching floating effect adds an extra dimension to your pictures. 

How are canvas prints made?

canvas print leaning against a wallcanvas print leaning against a wall

Canvas prints use high-resolution inkjet printers to transfer a picture onto poly-mix canvas materials. These large specialised inkjet printers use long-lasting, fade-resistant latex inks to ensure your picture is displayed in vibrant colour for years to come. 

Once your canvas has been printed, the fabric is then hand-stretched over a premium wooden frame (our frames are 3.8cm thick). The edges are wrapped tightly around the sides of the frame and then securely stapled to the back.

And that’s it! Your canvas prints are now ready for display, and usually feature a premium satin finish that significantly reduces glare. 

What can I print on canvases?

collage canvas print displayed on the wallcollage canvas print displayed on the wall

Due to their large format, canvas prints are best-suited to high-resolution pictures. When a low-quality image is enlarged on a canvas, you’ll end up with some seriously blurry wall art (and nobody wants that). 

So long as the image is of high enough quality, you can print pretty much anything on canvas, including:

  • Photos - family portraits. Magical wedding photos, sunny holiday snaps and all your other camera roll favourites will look spectacular on canvas
  • Artwork - you can print reproductions of classic paintings, illustrations and other artwork you love
  • Personalised text - make a canvas that displays inspirational quotes, favourite poems, song lyrics or other meaningful text

Benefits of printing photos on canvas

canvas print displayed on the wall above a sofacanvas print displayed on the wall above a sofa

Canvas prints offer all kinds of advantages, which is why you might choose them over acrylic photo prints, framed photo prints and other kinds of wall art. 

Here are some of our favourite canvas print benefits:

1. Artistic style

Thanks to their premium texture and modern “floating effect”, canvas prints bring a real art gallery feel to your photos. 

2. Durability

Canvas prints use long-lasting latex inks and a low-glare satin finish, so they’ll display your photos in outstanding colour for years to come. 

3. Versatility

Since every wall space is different, canvas prints come in all shapes and sizes. This means you can always find the right fit for your decor, but check out our complete guide to canvas sizes if you’re unsure what’s right for you. 

4. Easy to hang

Gallery-wrapped canvases look much better frameless, so they’re super-easy to hang and offer a more minimalist feel to your decor. 

5. Reduced glare

Unlike framed prints, there’s also no glass involved, which reduces glare and removes any risk of shattering.

Where can I create canvas prints?

max spielmann colleague in a shopmax spielmann colleague in a shop

There are loads of places you can order canvas prints online, but we’re proud to say that Max Spielmann is the quickest and easiest option. 

You’ll find a huge range of canvas prints available on our website, and most sizes are ready to Click & Collect in just 1 hour. Instead of waiting around for the postman, you could have your amazing new canvas displayed on your wall in just an hour’s time!