Canvas Care Tips: How to Keep Your Print Looking Its Best
A canvas print is a little different from a framed photo behind glass; there's no barrier between the room and the print itself, so how you treat it actually matters. Here's what we tell every customer, no matter which finish they went with.
General care, both finishes
- Keep it out of direct sunlight for long stretches. UV exposure fades any print eventually, pigment ink included.
- Avoid bathrooms, kitchens, or anywhere humidity swings a lot. Moisture in the air is canvas's biggest enemy over time.
- Dust with a dry, soft microfiber cloth. Skip paper towels, they're rougher than they feel and can leave fine scratches.
- Handle it by the wood bars on the back or the edges, not the printed face.
- Keep it away from vents and radiators. Constant temperature swings can loosen the canvas tension on the frame over the years.
If you went with Natural Matte (uncoated)
This finish has nothing sitting on top of the ink, so it's the most true to how the print looked coming off our machines, but it also needs a gentler hand.
- No liquid cleaners, ever. Even a damp cloth can smear or discolor the pigment since there's nothing protecting it.
- If dust builds up, a soft dry brush or a can of compressed air is safer than wiping.
- Fingerprints and smudges show up more here, so try to keep hands off the printed surface itself.
- This finish does best somewhere low-traffic, like a bedroom or hallway, rather than a kitchen or entryway.
If you went with the UV & Scratch Shield (satin laminate)
The laminate layer gives you a bit more room for error.
- You can wipe it down with a soft cloth that's slightly damp, just not wet, if it needs a quick clean.
- It holds up better against light scuffs and scratches, though we'd still keep anything sharp away from it.
- The UV coating slows fading, but that's a bonus, not a replacement for keeping it out of harsh direct sun.
- This is the better pick for higher-traffic rooms, or anywhere little hands or pets might get close to it.
However you keep it, a canvas print made this way is meant to last for years, not just look good on day one. A little care up front goes a long way.