Acrylic Prints vs. Canvas Prints : Which Is Best?
Canvas Prints vs. Acrylic Prints: Finding Your Perfect Fit
When you are looking to create a new piece of personalized photo artwork, you need to consider the material on which to print your photograph. Two of the options we offer are canvas prints or acrylic prints. If you are undecided about which is best for your custom artwork, read on for a little insight into the differences between the two.
There's more to the process than making an ideal composition when it comes to photography. Whether you’re a professional photographer looking for high-quality printing solutions for your images or an amateur who wants to learn about the industry, it’s important to understand that different printing options are best suited to different photos.
While hours of preparation and planning can go into capturing the perfect picture, your labor will be fruitless unless you choose a printing solution that does your image some justice. Both acrylic prints and canvas prints offer a superb way to display your photographs, but they differ from each other significantly when it comes to their unique benefits.
If you need some help demystifying these professional printing solutions, we’re splitting down the features of canvas vs acrylic prints to help you decide which one’s right for your shots.
Difference Between Acrylic and Canvas Prints
When comparing acrylic and canvas prints, consider material, appearance, durability, pricing, and intended usage. Keep these things in mind:
Construction
Acrylic photo prints are constructed using two distinct processes. The first process prints your image directly onto the acrylic and seals it with a white back coating. The second, referred to as facemount, prints the image onto paper and then is sandwiched behind the acrylic.
Canvas prints are made by printing your photo directly onto a canvas, which is then stretched and secured around a wooden frame. Alternatively, you can choose your custom photo gifts to be mounted within a frame.
Decisions, Decisions
When deciding which type of treatment will best enhance your custom photo gifts, take the following into account:
Your Image
Does your photo feature bright, bold colors? The light-capturing properties of acrylic will enhance those hues, making them appear more vibrant. Acrylic provides a 3D look to your photographs with sleek, glossy finishes and crisp edges. If your subject matter is more sedate or classic, canvas prints enhance that beauty.Canvas surfaces provide a softer finish with a slightly textured look.In fact, canvas prints often mimic the qualities of oil paintings, making them striking choices for portraits and landscapes.
Décor
What are the characteristics of the space in which your new print will hang? Is there a lot of light? How is the area used? What kind of decorating style is already dominant?A downtown loft with lots of light and large spaces provides an ideal backdrop for an acrylic print to shine. Forrooms with subdued lighting or a relaxed feel, a canvas print is probably the better choice. A rustic cabin in the woods would perfectly offset a canvas print of any size.
Durability
Sometimes events occur. If your print is going in a playroom, classroom, or somewherewhere it will need to stand up to life’s hard knocks, acrylic is the way to go.The inherent qualities shield your image from moisture, UV rays, and accidental knocks. Canvas is better suited to more quiet areas in your home, as it can fall victim to rips or frame damage. Canvas prints, however, cause less collateral damage if the unthinkable happens.
Portability
If you must bring your prints with you, canvas prints are ready to road-trip. Lightweight and easy to display, canvas has the advantage over acrylics, which are inherently heavier and typically require sturdy mounts. Consider the difference in weight if your art is being shipped, especially internationally. We offer rolled canvas prints just for this situation!
Your Budget
Without a doubt, canvas beats acrylic for affordability. Canvas prints provide beauty and style for a fraction of the cost of acrylic photo printings because of the differences in materials and processing.If you are looking to maximize your art budget, choosing canvas will allow you more art for your dollar. That said, the pricetag on acrylic prints is an investment in your artwork. It may be the only way to go to get the optimal look for that dazzling photo.
We recommend you try both canvas prints or acrylic prints and see which one you fall in love with.Variety is the spice of life, after all.
How to Print Photos on Acrylic Canvas?
Printing your photos on acrylic or canvas might sound high-tech, but the process is straightforward thanks to modern printing technology. In fact, photos on acrylic canvas (i.e. printing your images on either acrylic sheets or canvas fabric) has become a popular service that many online providers offer with just a few clicks. Here’s a look at how it works and the benefits of each method:
Printing on Acrylic
It needs high-resolution printing and a glass panel to make an acrylic print. There are two main techniques:
Direct Printing (UV Printing)
In this method, specialized flatbed printers print the image directly onto the acrylic sheet using UV-cured inks. The ink is laid on the back of a clear acrylic panel and cured (dried) instantly with ultraviolet light, fusing the image onto the acrylic. The result is a beautifully glossy image embedded in the acrylic surface.
Face-Mounted Acrylic
This is a more premium (and slightly more involved) process. The photo is first printed on high-quality photo paper — often using a laser printer or fine art giclée printer — and then that paper print is sandwiched between a clear acrylic front and a backing. Essentially, the printed paper is mounted flush to the acrylic using an optically clear adhesive. The acrylic front adds depth and gloss to the already sharp photo print, yielding exceptional vibrancy and detail.
Benefits of Acrylic Printing
Acrylic prints bring out incredible color richness. The combination of professional photo paper and acrylic (in face mounts) can produce a vibrant, dynamic feel with lifelike depth. Because of the solid layer, the image is air- and moisture-proof.
Maintenance is simple using a soft cloth to clean an acrylic print. These prints give a very contemporary, gallery-like presentation that can elevate the impact of your photograph.
Printing on Canvas
For canvas prints, the process is a bit different and more familiar. It essentially turns your digital photo into the look of a traditional artwork:
Giclée Inkjet Printing
High-end inkjet printers with pigment-based inks make most canvas prints (giclée printing). The printer prints your photo on canvas with millions of tiny ink droplets. This is done at high resolution to capture all the detail and color.
Stretching and Framing
After printing, the canvas is cut to size and stretched over a wooden frame (stretcher bars). The canvas is taut and stapled or bonded to the frame rear. The classic gallery-wrapped canvas print with clean edges. The image can either wrap around the sides of the frame or you can have solid colored edges – depending on your preference. Once stretched, the canvas print is ready to hang, no additional frame needed (though you can frame it in a decorative frame if you want a more polished look). It seems like a museum painting due to the canvas texture and lack of glass.
Protecting against UV rays and scratches using a clear coating is common. This varnish also improves color depth and reduces ink smudge. After that, the canvas print is complete.
Benefits of Canvas Printing
Canvas prints are popular for several reasons. First, canvas's rough surface gives images an organic, artistic look that makes even recent photos feel like high art. The matte coating eliminates glare and reflection, so you can hang a canvas anywhere, even facing a bright window.
Acrylic Print vs Canvas Print: Which is Better for You?
Acrylic and canvas prints have pros and cons, so which is best depends on your choices and the display environment. Let's analyze the decision variables to assist you pick the right format:
Desired Aesthetic (Look & Feel)
Think about your style. An acrylic print may impress trendy, sleek, and vivid tastes. The glossy coating of acrylic gives photos a modern, high-definition image with crisp detail and vibrant colors. It makes artwork shine out in a living room, office, or gallery wall.
If you like a softer, classic style or have traditional or rustic decor, a canvas print may be appropriate. Canvas's “painted” look with softer lines and textured charm is ideal for portraits, family photos, and artwork with a subdued, creative vibe. Canvas prints complement numerous decor styles without dominating. For “acrylic vs canvas” style, ask yourself: shiny and bold or textured and subtle?
Longevity & Durability
Both formats can last for decades but consider the environment where your print will hang. Acrylic prints are resistant to sunshine, dampness, and fading, making them ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and other bright spaces. The acrylic-protected image is easy to clean and won't tear. Acrylic can scratch if not handled with soft cloths, yet it's tougher than canvas for incidental impacts. Canvas prints are durable but prefer a milder setting.
Canvas is permeable, so moisture and dust can damage it in high-traffic or damp regions. If you hang canvas in a bright or humid spot, use protective coating and avoid direct sunlight and steam. It's easier to touch up or restretch a canvas than a solid acrylic panel. For longevity, both can last a lifetime with proper care, but acrylic might edge out if conditions are less than ideal.
Budget Considerations
If you’re trying to maximize size or quantity of prints for your money, canvas is the budget-friendly winner in the acrylic vs canvas print debate. You can generally get a much larger canvas for the price of a smaller acrylic. This makes canvas prints great for creating gallery walls or gifting to family and friends without overspending. Acrylic prints, being a premium product, will cost more per size – so you might reserve acrylic for one or two statement pieces that you’re willing to invest in.
As one source put it, consider whether a particular photo is “worth printing on acrylic” based on how much detail and pop you feel it needs. If the answer is yes (say, a stunning landscape shot from your travels), the extra cost might be justified for the brilliance it adds. Otherwise, for a more economical display or a cozy vibe, canvas does a beautiful job at a fraction of the cost.
Display Location & Purpose
The setting where your print will live is a big factor. For a formal setting or gallery-style display, acrylic prints often shine. In a corporate office, lobby, or contemporary gallery, the high-end, professional look of acrylic can make a strong impression. The luxurious finish will wow visitors.
Acrylic is particularly suitable for colorful artwork or photography shows that need a dramatic look. Canvas prints are popular for home décor, especially in living rooms, bedrooms, and quiet spaces. They have a homier, artful feel – for instance, a series of family portraits on canvas can make a warm statement on your staircase wall.
Also Consider Lighting
If the area has a lot of natural light or potential glare, canvas might be easier to view (no reflections). If the area is controlled lighting or you plan to spotlight the art, acrylic will dazzle. Also, think about size and installation: huge prints (say, above a couch) might be more safely done on canvas (lighter to hang), whereas medium prints that you want to float off the wall with a frameless look might be great in acrylic. Ultimately, match the medium to the mood of the room and the nature of the photo. Both can look amazing in a home or office, but your personal context will tip the balance.
Bottom line
There’s no wrong choice – it’s about what suits you and your photo. If you still can’t decide in the acrylic vs canvas print dilemma, you could even print a smaller version of your photo on each medium to see which you prefer in person. Many people mix and match in their decor (for example, a wedding print on acrylic as a showpiece, and a gallery wall of travel photos on canvas). Next, we’ll look at why no matter which you choose, CanvasChamp can be your trusted partner in getting it done right.
We recommend you try both canvas prints or acrylic prints and see which one you fall in love with. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Also, choosing CanvasChamp means getting the best bang for your buck without sacrificing quality. You’ll benefit from their expertise, enjoy tons of customization, and have peace of mind that your precious photos are in good hands. They’ve turned the process of ordering custom prints into an easy, enjoyable experience – backed by a track record of excellence.
Conclusion
Acrylic and canvas prints are great methods to display photos, each with their own benefits. Whether you choose acrylic's shine or canvas's classic appeal, you may save your memories. Choose what suits your taste, space, and image. And remember, you don’t have to navigate the choice alone – CanvasChamp is there to help with expert advice, quality products, and unbeatable value.
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