I frequently get asked about the difference between the archival canvas prints and the archival paper prints that I have available for sale on my website’s shop. Both the canvas and the paper prints are done using the same printer but the difference lies in the framing and mounting process and the presentation of the piece after being framed.

the printing process

My prints are all done in house at my studio on Kent Island, Maryland. Having the ability to print my own work gives me final control of the finished piece, I frequently find myself doing test prints to ensure that the color matches what I saw while out capturing the photograph and the retouched image that the computer is displaying. All of the prints, both paper and canvas are done on an Epson p9000. The printer can handle a variety of media - from standard weight proofing paper to 1.5mm thick poster boards. The printer can accommodate rolls of paper or canvas up to 44” which allows me to make oversized prints up to 44”x96”. The ten inks that the printer uses give the prints an incredible dynamic range and are archival for up to 200 years. There is very little risk of the prints fading due to exposure from UV light.

Printing an oversize canvas - 38”x77” on the Epson P9000 at my studio.

selecting the right media for your print

When choosing to have a print done on paper or canvas, it is important to think about where the print will be displayed. During the framing process, paper prints are traditionally covered with glass which will result in glare unless a museum quality glass is chosen. Canvas prints are traditionally not covered by glass and the result is no glare. I frequently ask customers where their prints will be displayed and if the room has abundant ambient light. If the prints are destined for a room with abundant light, I will frequently steer customers in the direction of a canvas print or recommend using museum quality glass when having a paper print framed to eliminate and reduce glare.

The two photographs above show framed paper prints displayed in a room with abundant natural light from a large window. The prints on the left is has standard glass and the print on the right has museum quality glass - both prints were photographed from the same angle but as you can see the amount of glare is significantly less on the print with museum glass. For paper prints, I always encourage the use of museum glass - the only issue with museum glass is that the cost is significantly higher - approximately three times higher than the cost of standard glass.

The photograph above shows a framed canvas print displayed at the exact location as the two paper prints in the previous photograph - in a room with abundant natural light. Note that there is no glare from the ambient light on the canvas print.

the canvas print framing process

The main difference in framing a paper print versus a canvas print is that paper prints are traditionally framed with a matte surrounding the piece of art and glass to protect the print. Canvas prints, and even paintings on canvas do not typically have a matte border or glass in front of the art.

My framer and I have developed a method of handling the canvas prints during the framing process. mounting and varnishing the canvas prints. Years of working with hundreds, if not thousands, of canvas prints has allowed us to perfect this process to ensure the protection and longevity of the finished piece.

After delivery from my studio to the frame shop, the canvases are mounted to a flat rigid board using an adhesive. The board used is a thin PVC composite material that will not warp or bow with fluctuations in temperature or humidity - it will stay flat under different conditions. This method was developed to replace the process of stretching a canvas using wooden stretcher bars and staples.

Once the print is mounted and flat, the framer coats the print with a varnish that protects the canvas from minor abrasion, water, dust and also provides additional protection from UV light. In a dust free room, multiple coats of the varnish are applied using a a lint free roller. After drying, the print is trimmed to the edge and is ready for the final stage - adding the frame.

The term “gallery wrap” that is typically associated with a canvas print refers to the stretching process. Gallery wrapped canvases have the image stretched over the edge of the stretcher bar and can be hung without a frame. Gallery wrapped canvases leave the edges of the print exposed and vulnerable to damage. A frame added to a mounted canvas print will protect the edges of the print and also add rigidity and structural integrity to the final piece. The addition of a frame may add cost to the final piece but it is a much better way to display a canvas print for the long term and adds a more finished look to the art. A variety of frames in different styles, shapes and colors are available from my framer.

Scroll through the gallery of photographs above to see a selection of canvas prints installed in homes, offices and restaurants in the Chesapeake region.

the paper print framing process

Paper prints can be done on my Epson p9000 using a variety of different paper types. I stick to using either an Epson watercolor/fine art paper or a matte paper with a ultra-smooth finish. When paired with epson inks, these papers have incredible dynamic ranges and color gamuts.

Paper prints are mounted to a flat rigid board using either a heat activated adhesive. Unlike the canvas prints, the paper prints are not varnished after mounting. Typically a matte that is cut proportionally to the size of the print is used to create a border between the print and the frame. A matte is not required for framing a paper print - the edge of the print can go directly to the frame just as it does with a canvas print. Matte boards come in a variety of colors and thicknesses. 4 ply is a standard thickness and 8 ply is considered double thick. The use of a thicker matte board or even multiple mattes can add depth to a finished piece. The opening on the matte boards that will fit the print is cut using a computerized matte cutter.

After the matte is cut and place on top of the print, the next step is to cut and join the frame. Frames are selected based on a number of different factors - the colors/tones in the print, matching the decor/feel in a room and budget. There are hundreds of different moldings available through the distributors that my framer works with. I stick with a handful of frames that tend to work well with many different prints and decor styles - blacks, brushed silvers, natural woods tones, etc..

When the frame is cut and joined, then the desired glass is cut to fit within the frame and the piece is assembled and the hanging hardware is added.

An example of framed paper print with a white matte, museum glass (glare reducing) and a black frame.

Black Friday Framed Prints Batch 2- © Jay Fleming 03.jpg

Paper Print Example - © Jay Fleming02.jpg

For additional questions about the framing process please call Jay at 410-279-8730