Canvas vs Art Print vs Framed — Which Format Is Right for You?
Canvas vs Art Print vs Framed — Which Format Is Right for You?
Three formats, one question: which is right for your wall? Canvas prints, art prints (unframed), and framed art prints each have distinct advantages — and the right choice depends on your space, style, and how hands-on you want to be with presentation. This guide explains all three formats clearly so you can choose with confidence.
At Olive et Oriel, we produce all three formats at facilities using the same archival printing process. Every piece — whether canvas, unframed print, or framed art — uses archival pigment inks and museum-grade substrates.
Canvas Prints: The Contemporary Choice
Canvas prints are images printed directly onto artist-grade canvas, then stretched over a solid timber frame. The canvas wraps around the edges — creating 'gallery wrap' edges that can be plain white/black or a continuation of the image. Canvas prints arrive ready to hang with no additional framing needed.
Canvas is ideal for: contemporary and modern interiors; large statement pieces where a frameless look is desired; living rooms and bedrooms where you want art to feel gallery-quality; spaces where you want to avoid glass glare from lighting. Canvas has a slightly textured surface that gives art an organic, painterly quality — closer to original artwork than a flat print.
Art Prints (Unframed): Maximum Flexibility
Art prints are giclée-quality images printed on archival fine art paper. Unframed, they offer maximum flexibility: you choose the frame, the matting (if any), and the presentation. You can change frames as your style evolves without reprinting. Unframed prints are also more portable and easier to store.
Art prints are ideal for: gallery walls where you want to source matching frames; situations where you have specific framing preferences; collectors who want to frame to museum standards; and those who want the option to reframe as their interior evolves. Fine art paper captures detail more sharply than canvas — especially visible in photography and fine-line illustration.
Framed Art Prints: Complete, Ready to Hang
Framed art prints combine an archival print with a finished frame — available in black, white and oak finish — and arrive completely ready to hang. The glass front protects the print from dust, UV light and humidity, making framed prints the most durable display format. This is the format museums and galleries use to display and protect prints.
Framed art is ideal for: gallery wall arrangements where consistent frame style is important; bathrooms and kitchens where glass protection from humidity is valuable; traditional and eclectic interiors where the frame is part of the aesthetic; and anyone who wants art that's complete the moment it arrives.
For help choosing between formats based on your specific space, our art size guide covers wall-by-wall recommendations, and our frame selection guide explains which frame colour works where.
Every piece is produced at our two manufacturing facilities on of NSW — crafting Australian wall art since 2015. We deliver to over 40 countries worldwide, with custom sizing available on all prints. Over a decade of experience, every order ships within 24 hours with our satisfaction guarantee.
Ships Next Business Day
Art prints dispatched next business day, Australia-wide.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
If it arrives damaged or doesn't perform as described, we'll replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a canvas print and an art print?
An art print is an image printed on paper — it can be displayed unframed, in a frame, or rolled. A canvas print is an image printed directly onto canvas material, which is then stretched over a solid timber frame. Canvas prints have a slightly textured surface and require no additional framing. Art prints offer more display flexibility and typically sharper fine detail.
Is canvas or framed art better?
Neither is inherently better — they suit different aesthetics and spaces. Canvas suits contemporary interiors and large walls where a frameless look is desired. Framed art prints suit traditional, eclectic, and gallery-wall arrangements where the frame is part of the composition. Both use archival printing processes and last equally long when cared for properly.
Can I frame a canvas print?
Canvas prints are designed to be displayed without additional framing. Putting a canvas print inside a standard frame doesn't work well because the depth of the canvas doesn't fit standard frame profiles. If you want a framed finish with canvas, opt for a framed canvas (shadow-box or float frame) which is designed for the purpose.
Which art format should I choose for a living room?
For living rooms, canvas is the most popular choice for its contemporary feel and no-framing convenience. Framed prints work beautifully for gallery walls and traditional interiors. Consider your existing aesthetic — if the room has lots of timber, an oak-framed print suits. If the room is contemporary and minimal, canvas or a black-framed print is more at home.
What is the difference between art print and poster?
A 'poster' typically refers to standard commercial printing on lower-grade paper, designed for temporary display. An 'art print' in quality contexts uses archival inks on museum-grade paper, designed to last 100+ years. Our prints use the giclée process — the same archival standard used by galleries — not standard poster printing.
Choose Your Format
Canvas, art print or framed — all made in Australia with archival quality, shipped next business day. Browse and choose the format that suits your space.
