So, you’ve found the absolute perfect picture you’d like to hang above your bedroom or over your fireplace for interior decorating.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

It complements your furniture just right and is unique enough to show off your artistic insight, but now you’ve stumbled on to the problem of whether you should use a canvas or an acrylic print. 

Does it Matter What Print Material I’ve used?

Yes! The choice of material you use for printing your art has an impact on a lot of things such as color reproduction, longevity, presence of glares and reflections as well as cost. If you choose the wrong material, you might be quite disappointed with the end result you get.

What is the ‘right Print Material For me?

Well, it depends on what exactly you want to achieve; both types of print material have their respective purposes and they fulfill different requirements. I’ve broken down the exact features of both down below so that you can get a better understanding of what’s right for you. 

Canvas Printing

Canvas prints are made by printing an image directly on a fabric surface made of polyester or cotton- known as a canvas. No paper is involved in the canvas printing process, so you’re left with a textured image that lasts longer, and costs less, than anything produced on paper. 

The textured images produced on canvases are especially popular for use in-doors because they provide a very sophisticated and “artsy” appearance. Most pieces in an art museum are also made of canvases, so there is a certain prestige that they carry. Canvas prints also do not have glares or reflections

However, when it comes to color reproduction canvas prints are not as vibrant as acrylic ones, so canvas prints are probably best used for images where neither color vibrancy nor detailed definition is important priorities. 

Acrylic Printing 

Acrylic printing involves an image printed on photo paper before being pressed between two sheets of acrylic. The advantages of acrylic printing are that it produces far more detailed images and much more vibrant colors. So, acrylic printing is quite ideal when it comes to producing bright photographs in which it really matters that all the details are captured right with enhanced hues due to the acrylic.

Since they are essentially made of paper, an acrylic print will not provide you with the same textured appearance that a canvas one would. Acrylic prints will produce glares and reflections though, so they are best displayed in areas with plenty of natural sunlight. Also, acrylic prints tend to be much more costly than canvas ones, by up to 50% at times. You can have a look at some best acrylic prints available online. 

Conclusion

So, depending on your budget, level of need for detail and color vibrancy and the type of environment you’d like to display your art, either option can prove desirable for you. If you want to have a more detailed look into how canvas and acrylic printing contrast with another, I’d recommend checking this at online wall art sites.