Stretched Canvas vs. Canvas Panels: What Is the Difference?

There are endless art supplies and materials for you to choose from as an artist. If you’re considering which materials to use for your next painting or printing project, you may want to consider stretched canvas or canvas panels. Each material provides the unique texture of canvas with its own unique qualities as well. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between stretched canvas and canvas panels and which to choose.

Stretched Canvas Basics

A stretched canvas involves a piece of canvas cloth that an artist stretches and staples over a wooden frame. This provides a unique appearance and texture for artists painting on the canvas or consumers ordering stretched canvas prints. Painting on these canvases provides a springy painting surface due to the stretched nature of the canvas. You can also find stretched canvases in many sizes. For example, you can create a stretched canvas as large as the frames you find, which often meet or exceed 60 by 120 inches. When you need to transport a stretched canvas, you can ship the entire frame or remove the canvas to protect and ship it separately.

Canvas Panel Basics

Canvas panels are boards with a layer of canvas material over them. Artists and manufacturers can adhere (usually with glue) pieces of canvas to cardboard or foam board to create canvas panels. These panels still retain the lightweight quality of stretched canvases while being smaller and easier to work with. Canvas panels are also less three-dimensional than stretched canvases, as the canvas lies directly on top of the mounting board. They don’t offer the same springy quality as wrapped canvases. Canvas panels are easier to work with outdoors for plein air painting and for artists who like to work on smaller surfaces.

Stretched Versus Panels: Differences and Which To Choose

The biggest difference between stretched canvas and panels is the mounting method. With canvas panel pieces and prints, the canvas directly attaches to the mounting board. This makes the material more difficult to remove than dismantling a stretched canvas. Additionally, canvas panels can be less expensive than gallery wrapped alternatives due to their materials and size. For printing and display purposes, stretched canvases don’t need frames. Modern displays often go frameless. However, you may need a frame for a panel print. Overall, the choice comes down to personal preference and your budget.

Now that you know the differences between stretched and canvas panel prints, you can properly choose a printing method for your future art reproductions. You can also apply these pros and cons when choosing a type of canvas for art and painting. If you’d like to turn your pieces into reproductions for display or sale, consider checking out our professional canvas board prints at The Stackhouse. We offer both canvas panel and wrapped canvas printing.