In the world of photography, the aesthetics of your medium are as important to consider as the composition of your photos. This is why so many professional photographers still shoot on film, or, at the very least, print their photos on high-quality mediums that take advantage of professional-grade DSLRs and their full-frame sensors. If you’re looking to spice up the way you print your photos, you have plenty of options to consider. While glass, metal, and wood are all becoming more and more popular among the photography community, one option well-worth considering is printing your photos on canvas. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re selecting photos to print on canvas to ensure they really stand out.
The benefits of printing on canvas
Printing your photos on canvas offers a variety of benefits. First, canvas is a less expensive alternative to printing photos, especially if you aren’t planning on framing the piece. One other benefit of printing your photos on canvas is that highly textured, busy, or noisy photos can benefit from the natural texture of the canvas itself. These aspects of your photo can be downplayed with canvas printing, particularly when you select a matte canvas option. Finally, printing on canvas may be more eco-friendly, since UV ink is much better for the environment and eliminates dangerous chemical runoff.
What types of images are suitable for canvas?
The next thing you might be wondering about printing on canvas is what images are most suitable for being printed this way. The DPI (dots per inch) of your image should be at least 150 dpi, although 3000 dpi is a more appropriate standard to go by. Aspect ratio is also important to consider, and, depending on the dimensions your camera takes photos in, your photo may need to be cropped to properly print. Because images with some grain transfer well to the medium of canvas, you may want to consider such images as candidates for printing on canvas. Additionally, it’s important to consider how much dark color is in the photo you’re printing on canvas. Because of canvas’ texture, light can be refracted, which might wash out the darker portions of your image. As a result, you may want to print brighter, more well-lit photographs on canvas.
To frame or not to frame?
One component to consider when getting your photos printed on canvas is whether or not you’re interested in framing the piece. Since many people are interested in printing on canvas as a method of saving money, you may be tempted to forgo a frame altogether. Even so, the fact that you don’t need glass and mattes when working with canvas makes framing a canvas print a more frugal option than printing on photo paper. When you’re looking for a suitable frame for your print, consider how a frame can complement your photo. More simple photos may benefit from a more complex frame, whereas the texture or color of your photograph can be augmented by a matching frame. Ultimately, determining what type of frame to pick is an artistic decision, just like deciding to print on canvas or how to compose your photo.
If you’re searching for a great way to make your photographs stand out, printing on a medium like canvas can be worth exploring. By understanding what types of photos are best-suited for canvas, and the technical specifications to consider when you choose to print this way, you can beautifully render your images. Canvas printing is definitely a creative choice if you’re after an inexpensive and artistic way to share your pictures with the world.
Recent Comments