Canvas or Framed Print for Word Art? How to Choose

Word art comes in two common forms: a framed print under glass, and a canvas with no frame at all. Each has its place. If you are deciding between them, here is how they compare, and when a Letters in Linen canvas from the Canvas Builder is the better fit.

Look and feel

A framed print is crisp and formal. The frame and mount create a border, and the glass gives a polished finish. A canvas is softer and more casual. With no frame and no glass, the surface is part of the room, and in our case it has texture and raised lettering you can see and feel.

Glare and reflection

Glass reflects light, which can make a framed print hard to read from some angles, especially opposite a window. A canvas has no glass and no glare, so the words read from anywhere in the room. That is a real advantage in bright rooms.

Depth on the wall

A canvas has a slight depth, as a physical object. A framed print sits flat behind glass. Raised lettering on a canvas takes this further, creating relief you cannot get under glass.

Matching the room

Framed prints suit traditional, formal rooms, and are easy to group in a gallery wall of mixed pieces. Canvases suit relaxed, modern or natural interiors, and look good alone or in a deliberate set. Our guide to creating a gallery wall shows how to build one from canvases.

Care

Glass can be wiped, but frames can chip at the corners. Textured canvases need gentler treatment. Our guide to caring for textured and raised lettering explains how to look after them.

Cost and timing

A framed print can be quick to produce, and is often cheaper. A handcrafted canvas takes longer, with up to 20 business days of production from confirmation and payment, not including delivery, and each is made to your design. Our gallery pieces start at £25.

Which should you choose?

If you want a quick, formal, glazed piece, a framed print is fine. If you want words with texture, depth and no reflections, a canvas is worth the wait. Open the Builder and see the proportions for yourself.