Experienced artists know that the quality of a remarkable painting or printing depends not only on what the work is about but also on what medium it has been elaborated. In today’s rapidly changing world, using paper to illustrate art is getting old.
The use of canvas in printing and painting is becoming common with the passage of time. However, the question is, what is canvas made of?
What is Canvas Made of?
The canvases are heavy fabrics that have the function of providing robustness and protection to certain objects. They are used for the manufacture of sails for boats, shops, canopies, and backpacks.
Although, with the passage of time, this material has become popular to the extent of being utilized for the surface of painting, printings, and even for the production of shoes and bags.
Nowadays modern canvas is usually made of cotton, although it can also be obtained from various materials such as polyester or PVC. Historically speaking, the canvas used to be made of hemp as it was one of the fabrics with the greatest resistance.
What is a Canvas Print?
After understanding what is canvas made of, it is necessary to understand the term canvas printing. The world learned about the fact that printing can also be done on canvas around 30 years ago. The method was recognized when it was possible to digitize paintings and the resulting image was transferred to a new medium.
The process involved replicating copies of man-made masterpieces for the sake of consumer requests. Only a few could afford to buy the originally painted artworks by the artist. However, such methods made it possible for them to get any painting they desired.
Canvas for Painting:
You probably are aware of the fact that artists did not always use canvas for painting. There were times when pictures were painted on a wooden surface. Imagine, even the famous "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci was painted on a wooden board. Of course, everything has changed since then. Most of the paintings from the old era have been transferred or copied to canvases.
Yes, there is such a technology in the restoration of paintings. When the canvas appeared, the admirers of painting appreciated its merits immediately. After all, no matter how well the trees were dried and prepared by the artists in the earlier era, with high humidity, it inevitably deformed, and the pictures used to lose its appearance. However, not all the pictures got deformed.
Proper storage and moderate humidity significantly reduced the risk of board deformation. The main advantage of a canvas is that the cost of it is much lower than that of a wooden board. Painting on canvas is easier and it is easier to transport it from one place to another. You can also roll it if needed. And of course, the most important advantage of the canvas is the wonderful surface on which the painting looks more expressive and juicy.
Looking at the history, in Western Europe, painters began to paint on canvas from the beginning of the 16th century. The original canvas painting was first displayed in Italy, and then the Flemish and Dutch artists were also able to appreciate the advantages of the canvas for painting.
Types of Painting Canvas:
Choosing a canvas for painting is not an easy task as it requires attention and time. You need to know exactly what you need. All the types are differentiated on the basis of material, the presence of a primer, and the type of paint that the artist will use. You also need to take into account the features of attachment to a wooden frame.
Canvases can be made of such materials:
• Linen: This matter is the most popular one. Among its main advantages are the resistance to environmental stimuli and strength. Due to the peculiarities of the fabric, the artist is able to preserve the surface, which gives the canvas an unusual appearance and texture. When buying such a canvas, give preference to the one made of threads of the same length, without knots, then the surface will be smoother. Flax is perfect as a canvas for oil painting.
• Cotton fabric: Compared with linen canvas, it is less resistant to moisture and not so durable, cracks may appear after treatment with a primer. Over time, the picture will begin to sag. The advantages include a more affordable cost than flax.
• Synthetic materials: They are made of polyester, they are very durable and not susceptible to moisture and external stimuli. They consist of organic cotton and synthetic fibers with a ratio of 50:50. Synthetic fiber can absorb paint, which may cause it's spreading and ruin the design and texture.
Is Canvas Cotton?
Cotton canvas is as popular as linen. Just like linen, it is available in the qualities of fine-grained, medium-grained and coarse-grained. Also note that in addition to the grain of the fabric, there is also density that must be considered. You need to pay attention to this when buying a canvas.
The thickness of the thread, the characteristics of weaving, and the density of the fabric are important characteristics relating to the quality of the canvas. Cotton fabric has several significant advantages.
Firstly, cotton gives a very flat surface. It is usually a pleasure to work on such a canvas for some of the artists, therefore, it can be recommended for the beginners and for educational works. A great and cheap alternative to flax!
Framed Prints vs. Canvas Print:
Considering the modern décor of a house, the traditional style of only keeping the framed prints are not common anymore. It is more fashionable to keep both the framed prints and canvas print side by side.
Where framed prints focus on bringing the focus of an eye towards the character of the photo, canvas print focuses on adjusting the print with the décor of the room. Where a framed print brings the concern of keeping the frame in an alignment of the color of the sofas or the bed in the room, canvas print takes away this concern from you.
Printing on Canvas vs. Printing on Paper:
Although the method of printing on canvas just hit the market, it is being widely adopted. However, there is a certain percentage of people who still prefer printing on paper due to the benefits it has over canvas printing.
As they know what to expect after getting their pictures printed, printing on papers is their top priority, however, they lose the factor of texture and low cost which canvas printing offers.
Therefore, along with the question of ‘what is canvas made of’, we successfully explained all the matters you could have related to canvas printing. With a good texture, low cost, and ability to merge with the surrounding, canvas printing and paintings are becoming the bright star.
VoilaPrint has provided Custom Printing services across USA and Canada for financial services, franchises, non-profits, and thousands of other businesses for over two decades. Contact us at (866) 942-1677 to know more about the Custom Canvas or Framed Prints.
