Canvas vs Acrylic Prints: Making the right choice

The efforts behind every picture and its true emotions are only justified with the right printing solution. Whether you want to enhance your home decor with finished photography or are an amateur enthusiast building your portfolio, you must choose a suitable printing surface. 

It is essential to understand different printing surfaces to know which styles will complement your image perfectly. Although Canvas prints and acrylic prints lighten up your space and give them an exciting outlook, it is often confusing to choose between the two. The unique displays of canvas and acrylic prints have varying advantages depending on the picture you use. 

Therefore, in this article, we discuss the differences making it easier for you to find out which one will be the right choice based on your needs. 

What’s a canvas print, and how is it made?

In simple terms, a canvas print is where the image is printed on a canvas sheet and is stretched across a frame or gallery wrapped for display. It is also understood to be the combination of refined digital print with a canvas surface. These canvas prints are made by printing the picture through an inkjet printer on a canvas surface, after which the stretching process includes wrapping the sheet around the frame. Alternatively, many opt for a colored border frame instead of extending the image until the edges. 

What’s an Acrylic print, and how is it made? 

Acrylic prints consist of printing a photograph on photogenic paper. Its printing process is done in two ways:

• In the first method, the image is printed on photogenic paper, which is then placed or sandwiched between two acrylic sheets. Here, the two sheets aren’t of the same kind. The back sheet is usually black in color, and the front sheet is transparent, based on your image style. We often refer to this method as face mount.
• In the second method, a very professional printer is required to print the notion directly on the acrylic sheet and seal it with a thick black coating.

However, the end result will deliver depth in the image’s visuality, whichever method you choose.

Major Differences: Canvas vs Acrylic Prints

1. Material: 

• The Canvas material is created out of cotton or polyester, or hemp fabric that is highly durable but each of them has its own pros and cons. The cotton fabric gives an artistic feel and is high in quality, although hemp or polyester are considered to be durable and cheap. 
• Acrylic prints consist of thick photographic paper, and the front and black sheets are made of plexiglass, giving a glossy look. 

2. Appearance: 

• Canvas prints give a textured look. In the case of cotton canvas, the ink sinks deep into the fibres making it look old-world traditional and in other materials, the color stays on the top, giving a vivid color appearance. 
• Acrylic prints are premium in nature and give a high-end definition to the image with color accuracy and sharpness. 

3. Strength and Durability:

• Many Canvas prints are laminated with a UV coating which is an excellent choice for quality protection and resistance from sun exposure. It also adds up to scratch resistance, and good quality wood protects the frame from breaking down due to moisture and heat. A premium canvas print is known to last 70+ years.
• The nature of the acrylic printing process automatically has added benefits and longevity. It is resistant to scratch and breaks and can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. The plexiglass used gives sunlight protection and keeps the frame as good as new.

4. Portability:

• Canvas prints are light in weight and can be moved across or shipped easily without any hassle. 
• On the other hand, acrylic is generally heavier in nature and requires firm mount surfaces.  

5. Pricing:

• Canvas prints come with beauty and affordability. It is undoubtedly cheaper than acrylic due to its material and processing. Generally, a canvas print is half of the cost of acrylic.
• Acrylics give an optimal look, and we consider them an investment in your artwork collection. Their price is inclusive of the vividness and image finish, along with offering a prolonged product life. 

Factors that also contribute towards making a decision:

1. Your chosen image: 

You need to decide on a treatment process that best suits your chosen image. If the picture features bright and bold colors, Acrylic is the one for you due to its light-capturing properties. The perfect hues and balanced shadow with no change in color and a 3D finish is best achieved by an acrylic print. However, if you’re looking for a textured look with a faded and creative look, Canvas is the one for you. It often resembles oil paintings and gives a realistic feel. 

2. Decor/ Interiors:

You will need to ask yourself many questions regarding the space where you hang the frame-up. What will the lighting be like? Will there be surrounding frames, or it is hung solo? How is the area used? Will the image contrast the interiors or needs to mend in? 

Acrylic will be the best option in a well-lit space. However, if it’s an old cabin or any area will low light, the Canvas print will be a good choice. 

Wrap up:

Customizing your wall could be a task, but sometimes it’s good to get creative and try different prints to add spice around your space. The comparative analysis does not mean one is better than the other, but it offers you clarity when in a dilemma. It gives you a clear idea of what could work well for you. And if you’re a photographer with a specific niche of captures, experimenting with both canvas and acrylic prints helps you know what suits you the best. 

Lastly, it’s always worth it in the end, giving your images that extra magic. So what are you waiting for? Give your pictures a modern touch with Acrylic or retro with Canvas.

Also, check the difference between Canva and Visme.