Inkjet Canvas for In-Studio Photo Printers: 10 Key Things to Know

Inkjet canvas was first developed to enable printmakers to make a few high-quality reproductions (giclées) of original paintings. Inkjet canvas is now produced in many forms for applications such as photographic prints, home and office décor, and retail displays. Inkjet canvas gives photos and signs a more artistic look. Canvas can also be wrapped around stretcher bars or box frames to provide a simple, frame-free way to hang the images.

Freedom Paper offers more than 20 different inkjet-canvas products from Hahnemuhle, Innova, Kodak, Sihl, Magic, HP, Moab, Canon.

Here are 10 important facts to know before you choose a wide format inkjet canvas for the Canon, HP, or Epson aqueous wide-format inkjet printer in your office or studio.

1. Inkjet canvas differs from classic art canvas.

Almost all inkjet canvas products are made from a blend of cotton and polyester. The all-cotton art canvases used for original paintings have natural flaws, seeds, and inconsistencies. All-cotton canvas is also susceptible to humidity. The printed canvas might shrink when a clearcoat is applied or the print is displayed in a humid environment. All-cotton canvas can also expand and sag on stretcher bars.

Poly/cotton inkjet canvas rolls for wide format printing help printmakers achieve more predictable, repeatable color when making multiple prints of the same image at different times. Poly/cotton canvas can also be more water resistant and less likely to tear when the prints are stretched for gallery wraps.

Today, all-cotton inkjet canvas is primarily used for art reproductions that must meet the highest standards for archivability or to add a rustic or antique look to décor or display prints.

2. Differences exist in the ratio of polyester to cotton in various inkjet canvases.

The ratio of polyester to cotton in a poly/cotton inkjet canvas ranges from 22 percent polyester/78 percent cotton to 65 percent polyester/35 percent cotton.

Production inkjet canvases that have a higher percentage of polyester may feel more like a plastic than a fabric. Premium canvases for high-end art and photo reproductions feel softer and more natural.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter is how an inkjet canvas “feels” because few people will handle it. What matters is how the finished print looks and endures when mounted on the wall and viewed in different kinds of lighting.

3. The canvas texture (or “tooth”) comes from how the canvas was woven.

The ratio of the weave (1:1 or 2:1) refers to the number of threads running vertically and horizontally. In general, a 2:1 weave provides more texture and more strength. But texture and strength also depend on the diameter of the threads and how tightly they are woven. On some canvas products, the visually pleasing texture of the base canvas is diminished when the inkjet-receptive coating is applied.

4. The base color of the canvas and properties of the ink-receptive coating and post-print protective coating will affect the look of your colors.

A natural white, matte canvas looks more like a traditional art canvas. It will produce warmer, more muted colors and tones that more closely resemble artists’ paints.

A glossy, bright white canvas yields the vivid, attention-getting colors and details needed for in-store promotions. But it may also reflect sparkles and glare that detract from the upscale, artsy impression you are trying to convey with print.

A semi-gloss canvas strikes a balance between gloss and matte canvas. The subtle sheen adds some punch to the colors without making the print look a cheap reproduction.

Matte canvas is a popular choice because the overall look of the print can be altered by applying a semi-gloss or gloss clearcoat.

A metallic canvas adds a contemporary sense of luminosity to portraits and images of products with a lot of chrome, silver, bronze.

5. The lowest priced product may or may not be your best choice.

Economy, production-grade canvases were designed to add an artistic look to short-term signs, exhibits, and displays. Production inkjet canvases dry quickly, reproduce bold and bright colors, and stretch easily for the fast production of multiple gallery wraps.

For portraits and art that will last for generations, use a premium-grade, acid-free canvas made without the optical brightening additives (OBAs) found in bright white canvases. When exposed to direct sunlight over a period of time the OBAs will degrade, causing the canvas to revert to its natural color over time. The colors on the printed canvas will look less vibrant.

Using acid-free canvas affects the longevity of the print because if acid is used in manufacturing either the base canvas or the ink-receptive coating, the canvas might yellow or deteriorate.

6. A highly textured canvas might not be the best choice for photographs.

If you are reproducing impressionistic softly colored paintings that were originally produced on a textured art canvas, then you may want the canvas print to replicate that textured surface. A textured canvas could also bring a physical sense of dimensionality to an abstract “painting” that was digitally created in computer software.

But if you are printing family, wedding, or executive portraits on canvas, a smoother canvas will reproduce clear facial details and flawless skin tones. When a high-resolution landscape photo is printed on a highly textured canvas, some ink might bleed into the weave and blur some details.

7. Canvas prints dry more slowly than photo prints.

Because it’s a woven fabric, canvas absorbs more ink than photo papers. (Photo papers have a barrier coating that prevents ink from soaking into the base paper).

When printing on inkjet canvas, be sure to use the right media profile for your ink and printer combination. If the print is oversaturated with ink, some ink might rub off when you use a foam roller to apply a clearcoat.

Even if the canvas print feels dry to the touch, it doesn’t hurt to allow additional drying time -- especially if you are work in an environment in which the humidity is greater than 50%. The printing experts at Hahnemuhle suggest allowing at least 24 hours for canvas prints to handle and coat.

8. The thickness of the canvas can cause production problems.

Thin canvases can tear when stretched. But a canvas that is too thick might not feed through your printer properly—particularly when using an older model printer. Some older wide format inkjet printers weren’t designed to print on canvas and can’t handle materials thicker than 9 mils. Most inkjet canvases are between 17 and 22 mils thick.

9. Liquid top coatings shield canvas prints from abrasion, airborne pollutants, and UV light.

The first liquid laminates were solvent-based derivatives of clearcoats developed for outdoor vinyl signs. Since then, liquid clearcoats (also known as “varnishes”) have been specifically designed for inkjet art and photo canvases. These clearcoats are designed not to yellow over time or crack when the print is stretched for a gallery wrap. \

When the canvas print is displayed in a high-traffic, sunlit area (such a lobby, corridor, or meeting room), the coating protects the print from incidental bumps, scrapes, splashes, and UV light. The coating slow down the rate at which OBAs in the canvas will degrade and inks will fade from prolonged exposure to UV light.

10. Choose a water-resistant canvas if you want to apply a water-based clearcoat or embellish the print after it’s stretched or mounted.

The first liquid laminates were solvent-based derivatives of clearcoats developed for outdoor vinyl signs. Since then, liquid clearcoats (also known as “varnishes”) have been specifically designed for inkjet art and photo canvases. These clearcoats are designed not to yellow over time or crack when the print is stretched for a gallery wrap.

As inkjet printing evolved, water-based liquid laminates were developed primarily for use with aqueous pigment inks on water-resistant inkjet canvas. If you print an aqueous dye or pigment ink on a canvas that isn’t water resistant, a water-based liquid laminate will cause the inks to run.

Use a water-resistant canvas if you plan to embellish the stretched canvas print with acrylic texturing gel or metallic paints to make it look more like a hand-painted original.

Commercial printing companies that make a lot of large photo canvas, typically use a high-pressure spray gun to apply the coating in a well-ventilated spray booth. But if you only make a few canvas prints, you can apply the clearcoat with a high-density foam roller that you find in an art supply store.

Or, you can use an aerosol spray to protect smaller canvas prints. But to ensure a larger canvas print is evenly and thoroughly protected, it’s best to use a roller to apply to liquid clearcoat.

More details on finishing inkjet canvas can be found on our Printing Ideas blog: Inkjet Canvas Offered by Freedom Paper