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Canvas, framed print or poster
A canvas is fabric on stretcher bars with no glass; a framed print is paper behind a glazing in a frame; a poster is paper, typically 150 to 200 gsm, with neither. ArtzFolio lists framed or rolled canvas and printed framed art, and does not list posters. For the India-specific canvas against framed print guide, see canvas versus framed print in India.
Cross sections drawn to a common height. Depths are illustrative; the bar depth figure is from Fine Art America.
Side by side
| Property | Canvas | Framed print | Poster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | Woven fabric over pine stretcher bars | Paper behind glass or plastic glazing | Paper |
| Typical paper weight | Canvas about 400 gsm (one company) | Art prints typically 200 to 300 gsm | Typically 150 to 200 gsm |
| Protection | No glazing; a dent or scuff is permanent | Glazing protects from dust and contact | None; avoid touching with bare fingers |
| Weight | 24 x 32 in canvas about 1.5 to 2 kg (Fab-Art) | Framed equivalent about 3 to 4 kg or more, for a wooden frame with acrylic glazing (Fab-Art) | Light |
| Depth off the wall | Gallery wrap bars 1.5 in (3.8 cm); museum wrap 5/8 in (1.6 cm) | Frame depth | Flat |
Every source here is a seller or print shop; no museum or independent source was obtained, and the numbers are company specifications, not tests. They also disagree on poster weight (200 gsm for one company's poster, 150 to 200 for typical posters). Fab-Art's claim that plastic glazing cuts framed weight by 30 to 40 percent is a seller claim and acrylic is coming soon at ArtzFolio, so we do not use it. For how to hang any of them, check the manufacturer rating of your hardware and see the hanging guides.
What ArtzFolio lists
| Format | ArtzFolio product | What we publish |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas | Framed canvas painting; canvas painting, unframed (rolled) | Printed on canvas; framed in a moulding or unframed and rolled; wooden-stretch canvas is temporarily unavailable |
| Framed print | Photo frame print, printed (framed art) | Printed by us with its colour border printed in, ready to hang |
| Poster | Not listed | Not offered |
Sources
- Fine Art America blog: canvas versus framed prints (print seller) (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Wallpapers.com blog: poster versus canvas versus framed print (print seller) (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Fab-Art blog: canvas, art print, poster and framed print (seller guide) (fetched 2026-11-12)
- GoodMood Prints blog: canvas versus framed prints (seller guide) (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Canvas On Demand blog: canvas prints versus framed paper prints (seller guide) (fetched 2026-11-12)
Figures from these pages are paraphrased; each page was fetched and read on 2026-11-12. Where two sources differ, both are shown. Figures are seller specifications and vary by company.