How Long Do Canvas Prints Last?

by William Kenny

5 Minutes

2024-01-30

Exactly how long do canvas prints last? And are there any good tips for how to protect canvas prints so they'll last longer?

All photo prints start to fade eventually, that’s common knowledge. There’s no miracle remedy for the passage of time – not yet anyway!

But printing your precious photo as a canvas artwork is one of the best ways to make sure those rich colours won't be here today and gone tomorrow. And we've got some great ideas to help make sure your photo print lasts a lifetime.

Read on for answers to these questions and more:

“Why do photo prints fade?”
“Where can I buy long-lasting canvas prints?”
“What can I do to preserve my prints?“

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Two wooden frames stretched with canvas.

“What causes photo prints to fade, anyway?”

You’ll have noticed a tendency to fade not just in photos, but also in curtains, the spines of books, clothes and more. More than one factor causes this:

Ultraviolet radiation (UV). This is the main culprit. Whenever sunlight falls on printed matter, a change happens at a molecular level. Solar UV causes a chemical reaction in the colouring agents of any substance, breaking chemical bonds and leading to degradation, i.e. fading.
Impurities in the air. Particles of smoke, cleaning chemicals and dust can also damage the chemical make-up of your picture surface, speeding up the degradation process.
Everyday wear and tear. Of course, handling and other contact can reduce colour intensity by abrasion (wearing away) of the dye material itself.

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Brooch with photo of couple.

“How does the printing industry tackle this?”

The traditional defence against environmental threats to photos was a glass cover. But we know that people love canvas for its tactile, organic, timeless charm and so glass isn’t the right choice here.

Using solvent-based inks has long been a recourse for print service providers. These offer excellent chemical stability, so they can resist degradation for longer than less stable water-based inks.

However, solvents have fallen out of favour in recent years, both because of their negative effects on the environment and because of new concerns about allergens.

Modern canvas printing firms need to achieve long-lasting performance with a product that’s directly exposed to the elements, and without the use of solvents.

Not all of them are equal to the task.

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Drop of ink in water.

“So where can I buy canvas prints that will really last?“

OK, time to cast false modesty aside.

The photo canvas print from MYPICTURE is the product that made our reputation. Its quality set the industry standard right from the start, and we’ve been working tirelessly since then to refine our production techniques even more.

Order your photo on canvas from our web shop and you can expect your print to last at least 75 years before it begins to fade. And providing you take a few simple precautions with display and handling, well, that’s a conservative estimate.

What’s more, our prints come at the lowest prices in the UK – guaranteed. (OK, that in itself doesn’t make your print last longer, but we thought you’d like to know anyway.)

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Picture of branches on living room wall.

“What’s the science behind the results you get?”

We only use HP Latex Inks for our canvas. Inks that were developed by HP to combine the best qualities of solvent- and water-based printing solutions.

Our inks give you the chemical stability of the former – with proven, outstanding results for longer-lasting display – as well as the hypoallergenic, eco-friendly qualities of the latter.

With the use of aqueous-dispersed polymer technology, HP Latex Inks have found a third way. They produce no harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are non-toxic, allergen-free and non-combustible.

What’s more, all of our tough, durable canvas material is specially certified for HP Latex printing technology. Our pure-white canvas is the perfect medium for our printing process, and it’s built to last…and last.

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Photos on wall with cameras.

“How can I preserve canvas prints even longer?”

All you need is a bit of knowledge, a bit of care and a bit of common sense.

1) Keep direct sunlight away from your print

This is the easiest, most effective precaution you can take.

No matter how much resistance is built into the product, the sun is just so powerful it will always make its influence felt eventually. So always position your canvas to avoid direct glare.

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Light streaming through windows.

2) Avoid smoky, dusty environments

These are another threat to the longevity of your print. So if you’re lucky enough to have a cigar lounge or vintage wine cellar at home, you might want to hang your canvas in another room.

3) Limit exposure to humid air

Canvas, as versatile as it is, will never be the perfect choice for damp or humid spaces.

If you’ve got a hankering to display your new print in the bathroom or kitchen, well, you’re the boss. But be forewarned that the steamier things get, the less likely it is that your canvas will give you a lifetime of first-rate performance.

And you won’t put your canvas in the sauna, right? Please?

How Long Do Canvas Prints Last? Steaming coffee pot.

“OK, now I want to see for myself!”

You can probably tell we’re proud of what we’ve achieved with the Photo Canvas Print. If you want to put our claims to the test, just upload one of your cherished photos to our website and start the customisation process. It shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes of your time.

We’re confident that you’ll instantly be reassured by the look and the feel of our centrepiece product. Because the Canvas Print from MYPICTURE is designed to last not for years, but for generations.

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