Canvas print

A canvas print (also known as a stretched canvas) is an image printed onto canvas, which is then framed and displayed.

Printing methods

Canvas prints are usually produced with either an inkjet or dye sublimation printer. With inkjet prints, the ink is on the surface of the canvas, whereas with dye sublimation, the ink penetrates the canvas.

Framing the canvas

After the image is printed, the canvas is trimmed to size and wrapped around a frame. The canvas can be fixed to the frame with a number of different methods:

• the canvas is stapled to the back of the frame
• the canvas is held in place with stretcher bars
• the canvas is glued to the frame (often to a panel of wood at the front and back of the frame)

There are advantages and disadvantages with each method:

• stapling the canvas to the back of the frame prevents the canvas being restretched, without damaging the canvas
• restretching the canvas using stretcher bars can be time-consuming and costly
• gluing the canvas to the frame ensures that it will not need restretching over time, though this is a less traditional form of canvas print

External links

• Hewlett Packard article on stretching and framing a canvas print