Comparing Canvas Prints in Canada? Why Our Three-Coat Finish Matters

By Jay, founder of Canvas Palette

Shopping for canvas prints in Canada often means comparing local specialists with brands such as Great Big Canvas, ElephantStock, iCanvas, Canvaspop and Crib of Art. CanvasChamp and Canvas on Demand may also be on your shortlist. Alongside the image, size and delivered price, there is another detail worth understanding: how is the printed canvas finished?

At Canvas Palette, the finish is part of the artwork. Our ready-to-hang multipanel collection receives three hand-applied coats of varnish, with a Diamond clear finish or a glitter finish selected to complement the image. It is a process I have been developing since 2010, before Canvas Palette began serving customers in 2012.

My canvas-finishing journey began in 2010

I started with spray-on varnish. Even then, I felt that printing a beautiful image was only part of making a canvas I could be proud to put on someone's wall. I wanted the colours to have greater presence, the dark tones to feel deeper and the finished surface to complement the picture.

I experimented with coatings from suppliers and ranges including Drytac, Glamour, PremierArt and others. Those trials taught me that the canvas and the coating had to work together. A finish that looked promising on one material was not automatically the right match for the canvas we had sourced.

Over time, we developed our own water-based formula. My brief was demanding: an odourless, non-toxic formulation, resistance to yellowing, added UV protection and a clear finish that would enrich the printed image. Compatibility with our chosen canvas mattered just as much as the appearance of the coating itself.

That is the process I pioneered within my own business: treating the surface finish as an essential part of the print, and continuing to refine it year after year. That experience became part of Canvas Palette's approach when the business began in 2012, and it continues to shape our custom canvas prints and ready-to-hang wall art today.

Why we include a complimentary varnish coat

We include one standard hand-applied coat on every canvas we make because we consider finishing too important to skip. It adds a protective layer and helps the colours feel fuller and more connected to the canvas surface.

UV protection and resistance to yellowing were central goals in developing our formula. They are part of caring for the finished print, alongside sensible display conditions. We still recommend keeping canvas artwork out of prolonged direct sunlight; varnish is not a promise that a print can never fade.

Our ready-to-hang multipanel art goes further: all 16 designs in the current collection receive three coats, whether the finish is Diamond or glitter. The listed price includes that three-coat finishing process. The complimentary standard coat and our three-coat specialty finishes are different levels of finishing.

Diamond varnish: clear richness and depth

Our Diamond finish uses three clear coats to give the image a rich, finished presence without added glitter. “Diamond” is our name for this clear finish; it does not mean the varnish contains diamonds.

On traditional-style floral art, the effect I look for is greater depth in the shadows and a fuller appearance in the petals and painted details. On a landscape, it is the relationship between darker foreground tones and lighter sky. The finish can make the printed scene feel more dimensional while allowing the image to remain the focus.

This is why I care about the match between canvas, printing and varnish. Three coats alone are not the whole story. The result depends on how the materials work together.

Glitter canvas art: when city lights seem to dance

A skyline is where our glitter varnish can feel especially expressive. Imagine deep blue water, bright windows, stars and the illuminated lines of a bridge. As light catches the finished surface, tiny points of sparkle appear and disappear. Move across the room and the highlights shift again, echoing the movement of real city lights and reflections.

That sparkle is in the physical, hand-applied finish. It is not simply a glitter pattern printed into the picture. We work with gold, silver and multicolour glitter effects to complement the artwork, rather than overwhelm it.

The effect changes with the room lighting and your viewing angle. A still photograph cannot fully communicate that movement. For me, this is where a canvas becomes something you keep looking at: the image stays the same, but your experience of it changes with the light.

Great Big Canvas, ElephantStock, iCanvas and more: what should you compare?

There are good reasons to compare canvas-printing companies carefully. Their artwork, materials, formats and finishing descriptions differ. The points below come from the linked companies' own published information, reviewed September 27, 2026; they are not the results of a physical side-by-side test.

• Great Big Canvas: its canvas construction guide describes a UV coating for protection against fading and moisture. When comparing Great Big Canvas with Canvas Palette, ask about the particular coating, its appearance and the number of applied coats.
• ElephantStock: its materials guide describes canvas stretched over North American pine. For an ElephantStock alternative, compare the exact panel dimensions and finish as well as the artwork.
• iCanvas: its quality page emphasizes its inks, materials and handcrafted production. If you are comparing iCanvas and Canvas Palette, ask how the finished surface looks under your room's lighting.
• Canvaspop: its large-scale art guide discusses personalised wall art and triptych layouts. When comparing custom canvas prints, check the crop, panel arrangement and available finishing options for the product you intend to order.
• Crib of Art: the Rose Onyx product page distinguishes paper prints, stretched canvas and floating-frame canvas. Compare the same material and presentation before comparing prices.
• CanvasChamp: its canvas-production article discusses a lamination option. Check the current product configuration to see what finishing is included or optional.
• Canvas on Demand: its canvas-print information describes a UV-protective coating. Protection is therefore something to compare in detail, not something to assume other companies omit.

Our proposition is specific: three hand-applied coats on our ready-to-hang multipanel art, a formula developed around our canvas, and Diamond or glitter finishes that make the surface part of the visual experience. We do not claim that no other company uses varnish or protective coatings.

Choosing a multipanel canvas for your room

For a contemporary living room, consider a skyline or a broad coastal view. For a softer room, floral art can bring warmth without overpowering the furniture. A triptych offers a simple arrangement, while a stepped five-panel canvas creates a wider feature over a sofa or console.

Compare the individual panel measurements, not only the overall wall footprint. The spaces between panels add width to an installation, but they do not add printed canvas. Also check whether the price covers the entire set and includes the finish you want. When comparing a Canadian store with a US retailer, confirm whether prices are in CAD or USD and compare shipping, taxes and any applicable cross-border charges.

Explore Miami Skyline After Dark, Blush and Ivory Peonies or Blue Stillness Wooden Pier. Each product page shows its available layouts and current prices.

Questions about three-coat canvas varnish

Do both Diamond and glitter finishes receive three coats?

Yes. Both finishes receive three hand-applied coats on our ready-to-hang multipanel collection. Diamond is clear; glitter adds reflective sparkle.

Is varnish the same thing as a floating frame?

No. Varnish is applied to the printed canvas surface. A floating frame surrounds the stretched canvas. They serve different purposes.

Can I print my own photograph?

Yes. Use our custom canvas builder to upload your photograph and explore its available options. Check the finish options and pricing shown for that custom product; the ready-to-hang collection's included three-coat offer is described separately above.

The image catches your attention. My goal is to make the finish reward a closer look.

Brand names belong to their respective owners. Canvas Palette is independent of the companies mentioned.  Our process history and finishing descriptions are provided by founder Jay.