Choosing between a canvas print and an acrylic print comes down to more than personal preference. While both turn your favorite photos into custom wall art, they create very different finished pieces. Canvas offers a softer, textured finish, while acrylic creates a smooth, glossy presentation with exceptional color and sharp detail.

If you’re deciding which option is right for your home, compare how canvas and acrylic prints differ in appearance, finish, durability, and display style to find the best fit for your space.

Canvas Prints vs. Acrylic Prints at a Glance

Feature	Canvas Prints	Acrylic Prints
Finish	Matte (most) or satin (large sizes)	Glossy, crystal clear
Surface	Textured poly-cotton canvas	Smooth optically clear acrylic
Color	Soft, artistic	Crisp, vibrant
Display Style	Gallery wrapped or optional frame	Floating panel with exposed aluminum bolts
Depth	1.25″-1.5″ gallery wrap	0.22″ acrylic panel mounted off the wall
Hardware	Hidden sawtooth hanger	Visible silver, brass, or black aluminum bolts
Glare	Minimal	More reflective
Available Sizes	8×10–36×36	8×10–24×36

What Are Canvas Prints?

Canvas prints transform your favorite photos into artwork by printing them on premium poly-cotton canvas that’s professionally stretched over a solid wood frame. Unlike a traditional photo print, canvas has a woven texture that subtly softens fine details and gives the finished print a softer appearance.

Shutterfly canvas prints are produced using giclée printing technology for rich, lasting color and are designed to resist scratching, sagging, humidity, and warping. Most sizes feature a matte finish to reduce glare, while larger sizes have a satin finish with a slight sheen.

Gallery-wrapped edges allow the artwork to be displayed without a frame, or you can choose from several frame styles if you prefer a more finished look.

What Are Acrylic Prints?

Acrylic prints offer a distinctly modern way to display photos. Instead of canvas stretched over a frame, your image is printed directly onto an optically clear acrylic panel, creating sharp detail, rich color, and a smooth, glossy finish.

Shutterfly’s floating acrylic prints mount slightly away from the wall using aluminum bolts, giving the artwork a dimensional floating effect. Machine-polished edges and your choice of silver, brass, or black hardware give the print a finished appearance.

The acrylic panel is UV resistant to help preserve your image over time and is available in sizes ranging from 8×10 to 24×36.

Canvas vs. Acrylic Prints: Key Differences

Appearance

The biggest difference between canvas and acrylic is how the finished print looks.

Canvas naturally softens an image thanks to its woven texture. Fine details blend together slightly, creating a look that’s closer to canvas artwork than a traditional photo print. The gallery-wrapped edges also give the artwork noticeable depth without requiring a traditional frame.

Acrylic has the opposite effect. Its smooth surface keeps every detail crisp while the glossy finish makes colors appear especially vivid. Combined with the floating mounting hardware, acrylic prints gives the artwork a sleek, contemporary appearance.

Finish and Texture

Canvas Print

Acrylic Print

One of the biggest differences is how each material interacts with light.

Canvas has a matte surface that minimizes reflections. The woven surface is visible when viewed up close, giving the print a textured finish.

Acrylic is completely smooth with a polished finish that catches light and emphasizes color and contrast. Because of its glossy finish, acrylic is more reflective than canvas and may show glare in bright rooms.

Color and Image Detail

Canvas and acrylic emphasize different qualities in a photo.

Canvas gives photos a softer look by subtly reducing the sharpness of fine details. The woven canvas texture remains visible throughout the print, while colors stay rich and vibrant.

Acrylic highlights sharp edges, fine details, and bold color. Scenic photography, architecture, abstract artwork, and images with strong contrast often stand out particularly well because the smooth acrylic preserves sharp detail and vibrant color.

Construction and Durability

Canvas prints are professionally stretched over a solid wood frame and built to resist sagging, humidity, and warping. The durable construction makes them well suited for everyday display throughout the home.

Acrylic prints feature a 0.22-inch optically clear acrylic panel with polished edges and UV resistance to help preserve the printed image. Because acrylic is heavier than canvas, especially in larger sizes, careful installation is recommended. To protect the finish, clean only as directed and avoid household cleaners.

Hanging and Display

Canvas prints arrive ready to hang with a sawtooth hanger, making installation quick and straightforward.

Floating acrylic prints mount slightly away from the wall using aluminum bolts, creating a visible gap between the artwork and the surface behind it. The exposed hardware remains visible after installation, and you can choose silver, brass, or black bolts to complement nearby fixtures and décor.

When to Choose Canvas Prints

Choose canvas prints if you prefer a softer, textured finish instead of the smooth, glossy surface of acrylic. The woven canvas creates a more understated look, while the matte finish minimizes reflections from windows and overhead lighting. Gallery-wrapped edges also add depth without requiring a frame, making canvas a natural choice for both single statement pieces and larger gallery walls.

When to Choose Acrylic Prints

Choose acrylic prints if you prefer a smooth, glossy finish instead of the textured look of canvas. The optically clear acrylic preserves sharp detail and vibrant color, while the floating mount creates visible space between the artwork and the wall. Exposed aluminum bolts remain visible after installation, giving acrylic prints a different finished look than framed or gallery-wrapped canvas.

Canvas or Acrylic: Which Should You Choose?

Both canvas and acrylic prints create high-quality custom wall art, but they offer very different finished looks. Canvas emphasizes texture with a matte finish that minimizes glare, while acrylic delivers crisp detail, vibrant color, and a glossy floating display. The best choice comes down to which style you prefer for your space.

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