Textile printing, of course, is nothing new – indeed the technique dates back to the 4th century BC. While printing methods have certainly changed a lot since then, our love for printed patterns remains unchanged. And thanks to developments in printing techniques, it’s now possible to use printed textiles for a wider range of uses than ever before. Take canvas prints, for example. Prints on canvas fabric (which are usually sold ready-stretched on an internal wood frame) have grown to be one of the world’s most popular choices for displaying art prints and photo reproductions.
So what’s behind this popularity, and will it continue to grow? Stitch&Print spoke to Picanova Group, a German-based custom printing company operating e-commerce stores worldwide. What do they think the future holds for textile printing in general and canvas prints specifically?
Why Canvas?
Canvas is one of the most suitable textiles for printing, especially when it comes to the production of home decor. It’s sturdy (even harder-wearing than denim), doesn’t soften with time, and has excellent dye absorption.
A well-made canvas fabric boasts a thick plain weave, making the material superbly durable and resistant to the high pressure levels that are inevitable in printing. Canvas is a wonderfully versatile material too: though it’s now used mainly for wall decor production, canvas also has great potential for lifestyle and home accessories – think tote bags, pillow covers etc.
Canvas Formats for Custom Printing
Traditionally canvas was made of linen, hemp, cotton, or a combination of these materials. But nowadays the most popular choice for canvas production is polyvinyl chloride, sometimes combined with linen or cotton fibers. Picanova note that man-made canvas has a number of advantages over all-natural material.
PVC fabrics are less prone to daily wear and tear – making PVC canvas even hardier than the natural canvas which was used for centuries to make sails and tents. Man-made canvas is also slightly less porous than canvas made from cotton or linen, meaning that the fabric is more resistant to humidity. Picanova’s specialists told us that it’s still best to keep canvas prints away from humid environments entirely – but that if a canvas is going to be displayed in a kitchen, then it’s more likely to withstand the high moisture levels if it’s made from PVC.
3 Advantages of Canvas Prints for Modern Buyers
Canvas prints remain the flagship product in all the webshops operated by Picanova around the world. The US-based store CANVASDISCOUNT.com alone accounts for more than 10,000,000 prints sold – a number which keeps growing every year. So why are people so taken with canvas prints? Picanova argue that there are several reasons.
Firstly, canvas prints are reminiscent of more traditional art formats. A modern PVC canvas can give a digital photo print all the appealing qualities of an oil painting – the slightly textured surface, the vintage character, and the feel of true craftsmanship. So modern canvas prints represent premium wall art made affordable – the perfect choice for a mass-market audience who don’t want to compromise on quality.
Secondly, canvas prints are perfectly suited to large-scale production and quick turnaround, even in the personalized sector. In fact the standard production time for Picanova canvas prints is just 24 hours – testament to the highly streamlined manufacturing processes which have allowed the company to reduce costs.
And finally, canvas prints form part of the worldwide trend for home decor personalization. Now that people can design and order unique decor features direct from their smartphones, customization is incrasingly viewed as less a luxury than a must-have – and canvas is perfectly suited to the mass-customization model, meaning prices can be set at levels attractive to a broad share of the market.
Picanova point out that the days when people are satisfied with mass-produced prints in their homes are coming to an end. Rather, they’re looking for ways to add some genuinely unique personality to their homes, and canvas prints – with their artistic feel, compatibility with precise image reproduction, and affordable prices – are viewed as the perfect solution for 2022 and beyond.
