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.

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.