When it comes to poster art and larger photos that collectors display all over their homes and offices, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that these are all printed on paper. Canvas is a much better way to offer beautiful works of art in larger forms and have them last for over a hundred years without wear and tear, unlike paper. Many artists don’t like this, especially since it cuts down on their profit margin and how they can do their art work, but that doesn’t matter much to those true collectors that really want something unique that they can keep for a very long time.
You might be thinking, why does it matter if a large poster is printed on canvas or paper? It actually matters a lot. Think about how long a poster printed on paper will last, a few years? Maybe a decade if it’s kept under glass and framed? Now, consider how long canvas prints will last – over a hundred years, right? So you can easily see that makes a huge difference right away. Of course, the costs that go into making them are completely different as well, and the cost of canvas prints would not override the costs of poster art. Posters will always be cheaper, but if they don’t last but a fraction of canvas prints, it might not be the way to go.
If you consider how canvas prints are created, you will see why the costs are different. Canvas prints are stretched on a solid frame that can be hung just the way they are. Posters have to be matted, framed, and kept under glass. Since the frame that a canvas print is stretched on is extremely sturdy, it’s easy to see why they will last for over a hundred years, while a framed print will not last nearly as long.
Of course, if you just think about the different inks that are used to print both posters and canvas, you will see another immediate difference. Posters are printed with lower quality inks since they aren’t made to last nearly as long. On the other hand, canvas prints are created with archival inks that are made specifically for the purpose of lasting well over a hundred years. The inks are UV resistant, water resistant, and will not fade or break down like the inks that are in posters.
But it’s also the process that goes into protecting the finished product that makes a huge difference as well. Canvas prints are coated with a special sealer that helps to make sure the ink and canvas won’t have any weak spots or cracks when it’s stretched onto the frame. It’s also made to be water resistant, as we mentioned earlier, and you can basically run water over the canvas and nothing will happen – we all know what happens if you were to try that with a poster. This sealer also helps to protect the canvas against dirt, dust, smog, and other environmental concerns, unlike a poster.
However, there is one major difference in the art work quality that is on posters and canvas prints. For anything that has a lot of small details and needs sharper images to keep these details smooth, posters are the way to go. Canvas prints will hold a more rich color longer, but they also do soften lines a bit when they are printed and stretched. But, canvas also does something that posters do not do – they have a texture to them. This means that there are tiny little areas on the canvas that will absorb light, shadows, and offer a different view and depth to the photo from every different angle. Posters will not do this.
For anyone considering having a poster project turned into a canvas print project, consider ZaZa Gallery and our museum-grade works. You will not be sorry that you did, and you’ll automatically know that you are getting something that will last for generations.