With its origins beginning in the early 1990’s wide-format, digital printing is all the rage right now. Canvas is one of the popular materials that is used for wide-format digital printing and to create a canvas print; one simply has to print their photo of choice on the canvas material which is usually fabric made from hemp that is not only strong but also durable. The canvas is then enlarged through stretching, and thereafter it is fastened on to a frame for display.
The sturdy plain weaving design of canvas and the fact that the material evokes an artistic feel similar to that of acrylic and oil paintings are the main reasons why canvas is preferred printing material in comparison to other materials such as paper. But the question that still lingers in the minds of many is whether canvas prints fade over time. The durability of canvas prints is determined by several elements which we discuss below.
The Ink
The ink used to create the canvas print plays a key role in the lightfastness of the print. Some inks are extremely prone to fading especially when exposed to UV light and it is, therefore, crucial that when selecting your canvas print, you ask if the company creating your print uses products that are UV resistant. Giclee inks, for example, can last for up to 100 years or more. Similar to the lightfastness, you can inquire about the rubbing fastness of both the canvas material and the ink to ensure that they are both good and will not be fading for a long time.
Canvas Print Care
How you care for your canvas print is another factor that will likely determine if your canvas print will fade. Regardless of whether your canvas print has great lightfastness amongst other qualities that promote durability you can ensure that your prints do not fade for a long time to come by keeping them out of contact with direct sunlight. You can additionally have a protective glass frame installed on top of the print to further protect it from other external elements such as water, dust, vaporous toxins amongst others.
Using Protective spray
There are different types of protective sprays that are available for canvas prints and have UV inhibitors that ensure the prints last for a long time. Typically, one has to spray an even coat of protective spray on the canvas print. However, it is important that the protective spray is applied only after the print is cured and that it is compatible with the canvas print or else it will not work and will result in issues such as the print cracking. The protective layer will ensure that the print does not fade as a result of exposure to things like water.
Conclusion
Canvas prints do fade with time, but the speed at which they fade is determined by the different conditions under which the prints are placed. Archiving the prints and controlling the previously discussed external elements is a great way of ensuring that your canvas prints do not fade as quickly as they would.