Canvas Print Materials Explained: Polyester vs Cotton-Poly vs Cotton

The single biggest decision behind a great canvas print isn’t the image — it’s what that image is printed on. The canvas material sets the finish, the feel, how the colours read, and how long they’ll stay vibrant on your wall. At VividHome we print every design on one of three canvas types, and each suits a different kind of picture and budget. Here’s how to choose.

The short answer

• Vibrant photos, posters and bold graphics on a budget → 100% Polyester (270 g/m²), our most popular option.
• A balance of quality and value for everyday art → Cotton-Polyester blend (300 g/m²).
• Fine-art reproductions and gallery-quality prints → 100% Cotton (370 g/m²).

All three are printed with the same eco-solvent, UV-resistant inks and stretched on the same kiln-dried wood bars — so you’re choosing the surface and finish, not cutting corners on the build.

100% Polyester Canvas — 270 g/m²

Polyester is the workhorse of modern canvas printing, and it’s the material most of our customers choose. It has a slight gloss finish that makes colours pop, which is exactly what you want for vivid photography, travel shots, and bold, graphic designs. The polyester weave holds fine detail crisply and resists sagging over time.

Because it’s the most cost-effective of the three, polyester is the easiest way to get a large, colourful statement piece without stretching your budget.

Best for: vibrant photo prints, colourful abstracts, larger sizes on a budget. Finish: slight gloss.

Cotton-Polyester Blend — 300 g/m²

Our blended canvas is 75% cotton and 25% polyester, and it sits exactly where the name suggests: between the value of polyester and the premium feel of pure cotton. The higher cotton content gives it a matte finish and a more textile, “artist’s canvas” hand, while the polyester keeps it stable and hard-wearing.

If you want something that looks and feels a step above a standard photo canvas but don’t need full fine-art reproduction, the blend is the sweet spot.

Best for: everyday wall art where you want a matte, more natural look without the top-tier price. Finish: matte.

100% Cotton Canvas — 370 g/m²

Pure cotton is the gold standard for art reproduction, and at 370 g/m² it’s the heaviest, most substantial canvas we offer. Its premium matte finish eliminates glare and renders subtle tones and brushwork faithfully — the reason galleries and artists reach for cotton. The surface has a genuine woven texture that reads as “real art” up close.

Choose cotton when the piece deserves it: a favourite painting reproduction, a fine-art photograph, or a centrepiece you’ll keep for years.

Best for: fine-art reproductions, gallery-quality photography, heirloom pieces. Finish: premium matte.

At a glance

What every VividHome canvas shares

Whichever surface you pick, the important things stay the same:

• Eco-solvent, UV-resistant inks for colour that stays vibrant for years under normal indoor light.
• Kiln-dried spruce and fir stretcher bars, with wood defects removed before production to prevent warping, and wedge keys in the corners so tension can be adjusted over time.
• Made to order in Sofia, Bulgaria, then shipped across 27 EU countries — typically 1–7 days from order to your wall, with free delivery over €99 and a 15-day satisfaction guarantee.

A note on finish: gloss vs matte

The practical difference you’ll notice day to day is glare. A slight gloss (polyester) makes colours look punchier but can catch light in a bright, sunlit room. A matte surface (cotton-poly and cotton) is glare-free and easier to view from any angle — usually the safer choice for a wall opposite a window.

How to choose in one line

If it’s a colourful photo or graphic and value matters, go polyester. If you want a natural, matte everyday piece, go cotton-poly. If it’s art you want to do justice, go 100% cotton.

Still unsure? Every product page lets you switch materials before you buy, and our size guide helps you land the right dimensions for your wall. Browse the full range of canvas prints, or if you’re printing your own image in a custom size (up to 170 × 500 cm), get in touch for a quote — there’s no extra charge for custom image printing.

Frequently asked questions