Canvas wrapping determines how your image extends around the edges of your canvas print. It decides how the sides of your canvas look, and whether your whole design stays visible from the front.
What is canvas wrapping?
When your image is printed on canvas, the canvas is stretched over a wooden frame. About 4 cm of material folds around the frame on every edge, and at some production facilities it is closer to 6 cm. The wrapping option you choose determines what appears on those sides, the parts you see when you view the print from an angle.
Two of the three options build the sides for you and leave your design untouched. The third takes the sides out of your own image. It is worth knowing which is which before you pick one.
Available wrapping options
Mirrored edges (default)
The outer strip of your image is reflected onto the sides, creating a seamless continuation around the frame. Your whole design stays on the front face.
Best for: most images, especially those with less important detail near the edges
Visual effect: an artistic, continuous look
Your design: nothing is cropped from the front
Popular choice: most sellers choose this one
Stretched
Your image is enlarged so that its outer band folds around the frame. The middle of your design lands on the front face and the outer band goes onto the sides, in one continuous piece with nothing duplicated.
This also means that band is no longer visible from the front. The frame swallows roughly the same few centimetres whatever size the canvas is, so on a small canvas it takes a much larger share of your design. On a 30×30 cm canvas it is about 10% off each side. On a 100×100 cm canvas it is about 4%. On the smallest canvases it can reach 15%.
Best for: photographs and abstract artwork with nothing important near the edge
Visual effect: the design runs round the edge as one piece
Your design: the outer part of it moves off the front face
Avoid if: your artwork has text, faces or a border near the edge
Solid color
The sides of the canvas are filled with a flat colour of your choice. Your image appears only on the front face.
Best for: gallery-style presentation, and any design you want to keep completely intact
Visual effect: a clean, professional look with coloured edges
Your design: nothing is cropped from the front
Customisable: choose any colour that complements your artwork
Which one should I choose?
If you are unsure, choose Mirrored edges. It gives the wrapped look most buyers expect and keeps your artwork complete.
Your design has text, a logo, a border or a face near the edge: choose Mirrored or Solid color
You want a plain, gallery-style edge: choose Solid color
Your artwork is a photograph or abstract with empty space around it: Stretched works well
Your choice is saved with the product, and every order keeps the style it was sold with. If you change the style later, it applies to future orders only.
How to select your wrapping option
During product creation, you will see the wrapping options once you select canvas as your print type
Choose your preferred option by clicking on the visual preview
For solid colour, a colour picker opens automatically so you can choose your edge colour
Preview your choice before you finalise the product
Colour selection for solid colour wrapping
When you select solid colour wrapping, you can:
Pick from preset colours using the colour buttons
Enter a specific hex colour code if you have an exact colour in mind
Use the colour picker to find the perfect shade
Preview your colour choice before confirming