Canvas prints: how to choose and prepare your photo

Start with sharpness, not megapixels

Zoom your photo to 100 percent on a computer screen and look at the eyes, the edges of buildings or the texture of fabric. If that view looks crisp, the image is a good candidate. If it looks smeared or noisy, enlarging it will only make the problem easier to see.

Photos that usually work well on canvas:

• Portraits and family groups taken in good, even light
• Landscapes, shorelines and city views with strong shapes
• Pets, close-ups and travel shots with one clear subject
• Photographs of artwork taken straight on, without glare

Photos that struggle: very low light shots, heavily zoomed phone images, and pictures saved from social media, which are compressed and shrunk.

Check the pixels you actually have

Resolution is the number of pixels in the file compared with the size you want to print. For small canvases viewed up close, aim for about 300 pixels per inch. Larger canvases are normally viewed from a few steps back, so an effective 150 pixels per inch is often acceptable, and more is always safer. This table shows the pixels you need at 150 per inch.

If your file falls well short, tell us before you order and we will give you an honest opinion on the largest size that will look good. Our print-ready files guide explains resolution in more detail.

Crop for the wrapped edge

On a wrapped canvas, the picture continues around the sides of the frame. That means a strip of your image along each edge turns the corner and is no longer visible from the front. If someone's head, a horizon line or a line of text sits too close to the border, it can disappear or look awkward.

Before you finalize the crop:

1. Pick the shape you want, such as portrait, square or panoramic, and crop to that ratio first.
2. Leave breathing room around faces and important objects.
3. Keep the horizon level, because a tilt is obvious on a large wall.
4. Ask us how the sides will be handled so you can plan the crop.

Colour and contrast tips

Screens glow and canvas does not. A photo that looks bright on your phone can print a little darker and flatter, so a modest lift in brightness and contrast often helps. Do not overdo saturation, since strong colours can turn heavy on a textured surface.

Skin tones and blue skies are the colours people notice first. Black and white photos are a lovely choice for canvas because texture and contrast carry the image, though very dark shadows can lose detail, so check them first.

Sizes and viewing distance

Choose a size based on where the canvas will hang. A piece above a sofa or bed looks balanced at roughly two thirds the width of the furniture beneath it. In a hallway, a smaller canvas or a set of several can work better, since people pass close to it. Large canvases are seen from several feet away, so they can come from files with fewer pixels per inch.

Family photos and art

Old prints and slides can become canvases too. If you have a paper photo, a scan is the first step, and our large-format scanning service handles bigger originals. For artwork, photograph it in even daylight, shoot straight on and crop to the edges of the piece.

Looking after a canvas

Hang a canvas away from direct sunlight and damp areas such as bathrooms. Dust it gently with a dry, soft cloth and avoid cleaning sprays.

When you are ready

If you would like a second opinion before ordering, send your photo with the size you have in mind through our quote form. Our canvas prints page lists the options we can quote for customers in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington and across Canada. If you also want a lighter option for a temporary display, see our poster printing guide.