What is a canvas print anyway? As canvas prints get more popular, more people are asking this question. Let us explain! Here at MYPICTURE, we sell canvas prints as our signature line. We think they’re a fantastic product, and we want more people to know about them! That’s why we’ve put together a quick Q &A introduction, answering the most common canvas questions we get from potential buyers. We hope you find it helpful! “What is a canvas print?” A canvas print is a type of wall art. The “canvas” bit comes from the base material used. Canvas prints are made from the same hard-wearing fabric that’s used to make sails, backpacks, tents etc... The “print” bit comes from the way the wall art is made. An artistic image is printed onto the canvas material, which is then displayed on the wall. Simple as that! “So canvas prints are different from canvas paintings?” Yes – although they’re made from the same base material. With a canvas painting the image is created directly by the artist. It’s a one-off artwork, made by applying oil paints straight onto the canvas. By contrast, a canvas print is strictly speaking a reproduction of an image. It differs from a painting in several ways: The image is made beforehand, then printed on the canvas Inks are used rather than paints The process can be repeated countless times, which means a canvas print isn’t (necessarily) a one-off “What kinds of canvas prints are available today?” Today canvas prints are nearly always produced with modern printing techniques (e.g. inkjet printers that recreate digital images) rather than printed by hand. There are two types of canvas prints made with these modern techniques: Mass-Produced Canvas Prints You’ve probably seen these on sale in home-furnishing departments and art stores. The printmakers own the rights to a particular image and reproduce it on canvas in large runs. This keeps costs down, because the printers are producing an identical item every time. Personalised Canvas Prints By contrast, each of these is a unique customised item. They differ from mass-produced prints in a few important ways: The image to be printed is provided by the buyer They’re more costly to produce because the printer needs to be reconfigured every time Because they’re made-to-order and can’t be printed in advance, they’re not sold on the high street Here at MYPICTURE we only sell personalised canvas prints. “What kinds of images get printed on canvas?” These are the most popular types of images printed: Photos. From professional art photos and celebrity portraits to personal snapshots. Artworks. In the mass printing sector, classic paintings are often reproduced to be used as home decor. Quotes. Whether witty quotations or heart-warming definitions of words, text-only prints are more popular than ever. At MYPICTURE, most of our canvas prints are made with personal photos taken by our customers. But we’re happy to print any copyright-free image which you can upload to our website! “Are canvas prints framed?” Yes. Just like with paintings, canvas prints are nearly always displayed on an internal frame called a stretcher frame. Once the canvas has been printed, it gets wrapped around a simple wooden frame and attached at the back. The canvas is pulled taut (or “stretched”) over the frame so that it won’t wrinkle or sag. Hence the name “stretcher frame”! At MYPICTURE we use FSC-approved pine for our wooden frames. “What about decorative frames?” Just like with canvas paintings, canvas prints can be displayed with an outer decorative frame too. At MYPICTURE our standard canvas comes with stretcher frame only. But we offer Premium Frames – additional external frames – for a modest extra cost. Our decorative frames use a “floating” or “shadow gap” design. They leave a gap between the printed outer edge of the canvas and the outer frame, for a striking contemporary look. “What is the canvas fabric made of?” Traditionally canvas was made from hemp, but over the centuries this gradually gave way to the more refined alternatives of cotton or linen. Now a range of man-made canvas fabrics have been developed, and it’s these that are used for the bulk of the canvas prints sold today. These new fabrics have the advantage of being just as absorbent as ever but also lighter and more durable. “What kind of inks are used?” Until recently canvas prints were produced using either water-based or solvent-based inks. But now a third type of ink has reached the canvas printing mass market: latex inks. These inks combine the best qualities of the first two types: Chemical stability. Like solvent-based inks, latex inks are superbly resistant to dissolving, giving you vibrant colours and a lifetime of performance. No harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Like water-based inks, latex inks are non-toxic, non-combustible and eco-friendly. Hypoallergenic. Free of allergens, latex inks are safe for all the family. Here at MYPICTURE we use latex inks made by HP for all our canvas prints. “How much do canvas prints cost?” Canvas prints usually cost more than prints on photo paper, but we think the traditional charm and extra durability more than make up for it. The price you pay will depend on the size format of your print, as well as any extras you might choose e.g. an external decorative frame. There is some pricey canvas out there, but it’s possible to find very affordable premium-quality prints. For example, MYPICTURE's prices start from just £6 for a 20 x 20cm print. What’s more, we offer a best-price guarantee for the UK. “What is the best website for canvas prints?” Well, that’s not for us to say! On the MYPICTURE canvas print webpage you’ll find a quality badge from the review site Trusted Shops. Take a look at our current rating to see what people think of our service. Our customers have left tens of thousands of reviews so far. Suffice it to say that we’re very proud of the response we’ve had from the public. And we’re going to keep innovating so we can make our canvas prints even better!