Quick answer
Giclée on cotton rag for detail and art editions (framed under glass); canvas for large painterly pieces without glare; metal for vivid colour, bathrooms and humid rooms; acrylic face-mount for gallery gloss.
The same image can look completely different printed on paper, canvas or aluminium. Here’s how to choose.
Giclée on fine art paper
Best for: artwork reproductions, fine art photography, limited editions.
Pigment inks on 100% cotton paper give the finest detail and the widest tonal range. Paper prints need a frame with glazing, which adds cost but also protection. Choose matte cotton rag for paintings and illustration, and baryta or satin fibre papers for photography. More in our fine art printing guide.
Canvas
Best for: large living-room pieces, painting reproductions, spaces with glare problems.
No glass means no reflections and lower cost at big sizes. Quality varies hugely: ask for pigment inks on cotton or poly-cotton canvas with a protective varnish, stretched on solid bars. A floater frame gives it a finished edge.
Metal
Best for: landscapes, cars, architecture, bathrooms, pool houses, humid coastal homes.
Dye-sublimation prints on coated aluminium are extremely vivid, waterproof and wipe clean. They hang on a hidden float mount so they appear to hover off the wall.
Acrylic face-mount
Best for: contemporary photography, offices, hotel lobbies.
The print is bonded behind clear acrylic for depth and gloss. Stunning under good lighting; keep it away from direct sun and clean gently.
Room by room
| Room | First choice | Also consider |
|---|---|---|
| Bright living room | Matte giclée + museum glass | Matte metal |
| Bedroom | Canvas or framed giclée | — |
| Bathroom | Metal | Sealed acrylic |
| Office | Acrylic face-mount | Metal |
| Kids’ room | Canvas | Acrylic-glazed frame |
Who prints what
See our 2026 fine art printing ranking for studios that print on each material — Lumber Frames, for example, covers giclée, canvas, UV and metal printing under one roof.
Frequently asked questions
Which print type lasts longest?
Pigment giclée under UV glazing and dye-sublimation metal prints are the most durable options.
Is canvas cheaper than a framed print?
At large sizes, usually yes, because there’s no glazing or mount. At small sizes the difference is smaller.
Can I hang a metal print in a bathroom?
Yes — metal prints are water-resistant and wipe clean, which makes them one of the few safe choices for humid rooms.