Most people chose to display various things on their walls, from framed family photographs and certificates awarded for education achievements, to artwork, clocks and even favorite items like decorative masks.
Visual items give us a lot of pleasure, even if they do seem to become part of the furniture over time. Some, like clocks, exist mainly for practical use, though it’s still usually important to choose a design that fits in with the décor and is good to look at several times a day.
Other objects make us feel happy or proud, and some in particular are also a nice way to keep memories alive, remind us of places we have been and things we have done, and importantly, to maintain a connection to loved family, friends and pets who sadly are no longer with us.
Personalized wall décor using photographs on canvas
Prior to the 1990s most people hung traditional framed photographs or generic prints on their walls, then the use of canvas in popular culture took hold and changed things dramatically.
The advantages of working with canvas
Artists have actually been choosing to draw on canvas since round the 16th century, mainly because the tightly woven material is much easier to work with than others which can be seriously affected by wet or humid weather conditions. Canvas is flexible, durable and not prone to cracking, warping, or absorbing moisture. They are, of course, also much lighter than traditional canvasses, making larger sized pieces suitable for all kinds of walls.
These positive points are just as important today as they were then, and help explain why the emergence of canvas as a favored display choice for both art and photographs both took hold, and then held on to its popularity.
Photographs and canvas prints
Unsurprisingly, since the 1960s some photographers have switched to working exclusively onto canvas, while others indulge alongside their more traditional print work. What I really great news is that this persistent interest in canvas based photographs has opened a world of new opportunities for ordinary, everyday people with no background or special interest in either art or photography to create stunning canvas artwork of their own, by simply having their own photographs converted to canvas prints. Making these also make great personalized photo gifts for the holidays.
A simple guide to getting your photos converted to canvas prints
The great news is that it is really easy to put your very own camera shots onto canvas. Imagine being able to create an original and truly meaningful piece of art which you can either keep or gift, as you choose, with absolutely zero technical skills! It really is as easy as that with our step-by-step guide.
There is some work involved on your side, but it’s more about decision making than specialist knowledge.
Ready to get started? Then let’s go …
Step #1 – Choose the type of canvas you want
The two choices are generally cotton (plain white is a good base for large photographs), or a poly canvas made from a plastic base.
Step #2 – Decide on the style of image your photograph will look best in
Most people automatically go for a regular transfer of image from one medium, (the photograph), to the second, (the canvas), but some printing companies offer options to alter the image, reflecting say more of a modern art look, or to be Andy Warhol-like, or into something slightly mystical.
Step #3 – Think about how many images will feature on the canvas?
This depends on both the subject of the photo and the reason for it being on canvas. Landscapes and general photographs of scenes without specific people or pets featuring in them do well as one image, but you may prefer a set of images of say, family members, one person or several, a pet at different stages of their life, or a collage of many images. For commemorative canvases an image may be accompanied by text, to celebrate say a baby’s birth or a wedding.
Step #4 – Choose the finishing you think suits the overall image best
The two most popular are either a white or colored edging, which provides a clear definition of the image portrayed, or a wraparound finishing which gives the final product quite a different look altogether. The latter is generally more suitable for non-portrait photographs, or those where the major image (say person, animal or landmark), doesn’t dominate the picture.
Step #5 – Check the image is good enough to be used
It is hard to transfer a good image of a photograph to a canvas if the resolution is too low. The ideal dpi (dots per inch) is 300, so check that before making our final selection. If you plan to take the photograph especially you can set the camera accordingly, often on a camera phone too. (Clear the phone’s memory to release more pixels before shooting.) You can reduce shadow by taking the photograph in natural light, without flash, and the sun behind you, and minimize blurring by using an actual or an improvised tripod.
Don’t rush and choose any old thing; it’s more important to pick an image you love, and check it carefully from all angles to make sure it will look fine when made bigger.
Step #6 – Source a great company to convert your photo to canvas
For the best possible photo canvas prints choose a well respected, highly reviewed company. Make sure they can meet all your needs within the budget you have set, and always ask for a proof copy of the final image if it is not automatically offered.
Step #7 – Enjoy the amazing results
Converting photographs to canvas prints is a great way to enjoy those snapshots of memories which would otherwise be generally left to linger in an old photo album or sit in a smartphone memory forgotten about. They provide a unique decorative piece of art, and make fabulous presents too. So now you know just how easy it is to make this happen why not give it a try?
