Canvas is an easy, trendy way to add elegance to a room. At one time, it was a difficult material to print and an expensive way to decorate. However, new technology and materials have made this once rare printing material very accessible, affordable and desirable.

What is canvas? Canvas is a very strong, durable fabric created with cotton or linen along with PVC that replaced the traditional hemp textile. It has commonly been utilized for things like bags, tarps, sails, tents and shoes because of it’s durability. Of course, many painters have used canvas for centuries because of it’s light weight and ability to hold paint without distortion.

Painting on a fabric can be tricky though. Being so lightweight and easy to roll or fold, it needs to be stretched to give the artist a more rigid surface to apply the brush. From this necessity, stretching bars were created. As canvas is stretched over a frame to keep it taut, the blank surface becomes perfect for painters to build their works of art.

These days, canvas is used just as much if not more, for printed décor as for traditional painting. Modern prints can include recreation of paintings for a fraction of the cost of their traditional, replicated counterparts. And now photographs can be printed with an ease and beautiful color reproduction that was never more possible. While painters’ canvases are often stretched before they begin, printed canvas is stretched after completion to offer exact sizing while maintaining the traditional beauty.

Prints are most often stretched over a wooden frame, a technique known as a gallery wrap. This method allowed the image to continue from the front of the canvas around the side and partially onto the back so that none of the blank canvas, stretcher bars or hanging hardware can be seen after it’s hung.

The finished look is both elegant and rustic, hearkening back to the days of traditional painting. Mixed into décor that utilizes framed prints as well, images pop in a way that can’t be easily achieved in any other way.

The benefits of canvas printing are clear. In addition to a unique look that reduces glare and increases visibility, canvas gallery wraps are lightweight compared to heavy framed prints. Often cheaper too! Having a print professionally framed can be surprisingly expensive depending on the number of matte layers, type of clear surface (glass or acrylic) and build of the frame itself. Once completed, it’s usually very heavy, mandating sturdy anchoring for safety when hung. In addition, the texture of the surface of canvas often helps minimize imperfections in digital files.

That’s not to say canvas is ideal for every application. While canvas is very durable, the print itself is more prone to damage than prints that are protected by glass. The latex ink, being resistant to scuffing and fading is durable in its own right, but on canvas is more susceptible to scratching from rigid objects. With enough force, the canvas can even be punctured or cut. High traffic areas prone to vandalization or frequent contact may not be the best place for canvas prints.

Located just north of Baltimore, Bay Imagery is right around the corner and we can advise the best use for all the types of prints we offer. From canvas to backlit to paper printing, we will gladly share our expertise to give you the results you expect. Give us a call at 410.687.7703 to talk more about your printing needs.

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